Page 25 of Monsters, Vows, and Growls
“For what?”
“For not pushing.”
I looked over at her. “You’re worth the wait.”
Thorne grumbled.Oh, now you decide to say something right. Maybe tomorrow you can grow a spine and actually ask for a second picnic before we die of old age.
She blinked fast, and I watched her throat as she swallowed before she turned her head away. Was she crying? I wanted to reach out and touch her, but I worried I'd overstep the fragile bridge we were building and fall down into the canyon between us.
After a while, I said. "This was nice."
Her head turned toward me, and I was glad not to find any tears in her eyes. "Yes, it was. So you liked the food?"
"Liked?" I forced a laugh to get back to our easy conversation style from earlier, "I freaking loved it."
"Patrick?"
"Yes."
"We're grown ups now; you can say the wordfuck."
I laughed again, and this one wasn't forced at all. Ella had always had the ability to make me laugh.
"Alright. Ifuckingloved your food."
This time, there were no barriers in her smile; it was all Ella, open, wide, and honest. And God, did I want to kiss her. I would have given everything to pull her against me and devour her mouth, to feel her body pressed against mine again.
You will, I promised myself. Soon. You will make this right.
Soon after, I pulled into the gravel parking lot in front ofSmoke & Ember, where her car was still parked. She unbuckled her seatbelt, and I raced around the truck to open the door for her. That was when Thorne kicked me. Not metaphorically. Not gently. A full mental shove like a freight train, all teeth and demand.
Say it.
What?
Say it. Ask her again. I liked her food. I want more. And I want her to look at us like that again. Like we’re hers.
You’re impossible, I shot at him.
So are you. Ask the damn question.
I opened the door and cleared my throat, feeling like a teenager again. “Ella?”
She paused, half-turned toward me, one foot midway out of the truck. “Yeah?”
“I know I said I’d wait… and I meant it. But I want to say it again. Just once. So it’s out there.”
I could see her guard returning, so I hurried and said, “Will you have dinner with me? Not for the restaurant. Not for feedback. Just… us.”
With bated breath, I watched the turmoil in her eyes.Say yes, say yes, say yes,my mind repeated like a prayer, as if my silent cheering would sway her mind. She set her chin, and I prepared myself for a rejection. “Yes, I would like that.”
I hid the deep breath I was taking and let out slowly, while Thorne let out a satisfied rumble that echoed through my chest like a promise.
Finally.
"Yes?" I checked.
She smiled, "Yes. Pick me up tomorrow night at six."
