Page 126 of Love Notes & Lifelines
When I pull back enough to see her, I find my entire world in two swirling pools of amber.
“It’s only money, Stella.”
She blinks, and Laura’s words haunt me. Stella grew up living paycheck to paycheck. It’s something I never thought about until I was an adult, and I need to keep that in mind.
“Let me rephrase that. It’s money that I have more than enough of and that I want to spend on us. It’s an investment in us, okay?”
“I don’t want your money, Beck. I don’t just take money. Not anymore.”
Anger rolls hot in my gut. I lift her chin until her downcast gaze meets mine.
“I am not Silas, Stella. This will never be a one-sided relationship—not ever. We’re equal partners, and that means what’s mine is yours. That’s how this works.”
“It’s not equal, Beck. Don’t you see that? I can’t contribute a quarter of what you can.”
“For fucks sake, Stella. This isn’t tit for tat. What I have in money you have in heart. Some things don’t have a monetary value because they’re priceless. What you bring to this family is worth more than any dollar amount I might have in the bank. You have to understand that. You have to believe that because it’s the truth. You’re our glue. You’re the reason we work. You’re the reason we’ll get through all this shit. You’re the backbone of this goddamn family. Why can’t you see that?”
She juts out her chin to keep it from quivering. How do I make this stubborn woman understand? She’s my pot of gold at the end of a very long rainbow.
“What happens when…”
“Don’t say it, Stella. We’ve been over this already. Our family will grow and change just like every other family out there. We will grow and adjust with it. You will never be obsolete—but you will always be ours.”
“God. I’m such a mess.”
I hold her tightly in my arms. “You were broken down by the worst kind of person. I’m the lucky bastard who gets to help build you back up. I understand some of these concepts will take time to override what you’ve been conditioned to believe, but I have all the time in the world. Trust me, sweetheart. Trust us, please.”
Her shoulders droop with a heavy exhale. “It’s uncomfortable for me to spend your money, Beck. I’m not sure that that will ever change.”
“Money will not be the thing that comes between us, so add it to the list of shit for me to figure out.” I bend at the knees and swipe my nose along hers. “Did you have any fun at all?”
Stella’s lips kick up at the corners in a way that makes my heart skip a beat.
“I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t have a good time trying on wedding dresses,” she admits.
“Did you pick one?” After my conversation with the attorney this morning, speeding up our timeline is our best bet.
Her eyes glow and her cheeks heat. “I did. But we only got the engagement dress. Buying a wedding dress without a wedding was where I drew the line.”
“Oh, honey. But there will be a wedding. It’s why I’m here,” Elijah says so loudly it breaks through our spell like a wrecking ball.
“Elijah,” I snap, but Stella’s already pulling away.
“What?” She wrings her wrist so roughly she’s already created an angry red mark.
“Thanks a lot, asshole.”
“Sorry.” Elijah shrugs then flops onto the sofa as though he’s about to watch a movie.
“I want to marry you,” I begin, and the panic flares to life in Stella’s eyes. “I know I said we could wait, that the piece of paper didn’t matter?—”
“But it does.” Her voice squeaks like a cat toy.
I nod.
“Beck. This is crazy. It’s too soon. Too fast. We—We haven’t even been together that long.”
Her head is on a swivel, and she pauses when she lands on Lucía standing in the doorway. The older woman is a mother figure to her, and since she’s been in my house, I’m thankful for her too. She cares about Stella, and the girls. Hell, she might even care about me.
