Page 153 of Indulge
“I’m sorry I’m putting you both through this,” she sniffles.
The honesty in her voice guts me. I close my eyes and draw in a slow breath.
“Don’t apologize for making me the happiest I've ever been in my damn sorry life. And I think that’s the same for Reggie, too.”
I press my lips against hers, this time just to show her that I’m here. A quiet way to tell her that I’ll never leave her.
“I’ll choose you, over and over,” I tell her.
And I mean it. She is it for me. Regardless of what happens next.
My heart belongs completely to Bella King.
The ride home is silent at first.
Bella sits in the backseat between us, her hand tangled with Reggie’s, her head resting against my shoulder. I can feel her exhaustion, the weight of all of it pressing on her chest.
When she finally falls asleep, Reggie exhales.
“She deserves a choice,” he says quietly.
I turn toward him. “You knew about this.”
He nods once. “I didn’t want to say anything until I talked to Bella. This was her decision. I wanted to figure out why.”
My jaw flexes. I can hear the hurt in his voice.
“And what did you figure out?”
“That there’s no right answer.” He looks out the window. “ This marriage, the politics—it changes everything.”
I lean back, eyes on her reflection in the glass. “And do you think we can share her like we did last night? When a ring gets involved?”
He shakes his head slowly. “It’s a ring. She’s still ours.”
Silence again. Only the hum of the road beneath the tires.
I drag a hand over my face. “If she picks you, I’ll stand by it. But I won’t walk away completely. I can’t.”
He glances at me, something almost like understanding flickering in his eyes. “I wouldn’t ask you to.”
“Then what the fuck do we do, Reg?” I mutter. “You really think either of us can handle watching the other marry her?”
His jaw ticks. “No. But we don’t get to decide this part.”
I stare out the window again. The city lights blur past like sparks on water.
“Yeah,” I say finally. “We’ll let her decide. But whatever she chooses… someone’s heart is going to break.”
He nods, voice low. “Maybe all three.”
Maybe we should just enjoy existing like we are now for a few more days before the bomb drops.
76
BELLA
As I walk through the door, I’m greeted by Finn holding Sassy in his arms and looking particularly unamused. Then I spot the scratches on his face, and I hold back a laugh.
