Page 138 of Break the Rule
“Small child with good hearing incoming,” Addy yells from twenty feet away.
Eden rolls off Charlie with a grunt, rising to stand and holding his arms out for Ella, who takes off at a run and slams into Eden’s arms.
“Were you two kissing?” she asks conspiratorially.
“We were,” Eden confirms, turning around in time to see Charlie stand almost nervously, Birdie’s leash in one hand and the other shoving his sunglasses on top of his head.
Ella hums but says nothing, and a knot of tension pinches in his chest. Despite her many questions this morning, it’d been clear Ella wasn’t sure she liked the idea of sharing Eden. He reassured her that Charlie wasn’t going to take him away, that having a boyfriend didn’t mean he was moving out or replacing Ella, but judging by the way her small hands have a death grip on Eden, she’s clearly not convinced.
“Well, hello,” Charlie says.
“Hi,” Ella replies.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ella. I’m Charlie.”
“I know,” Ella says, wrapping her arms around Eden’s neck. “My Eden told me.”
Charlie’s lips quirk up in the corner. “He’s a very good Eden, isn’t he?”
“Uh-huh.” Ella eyes Charlie with clear apprehension. “He’s mine.”
Holding his breath, Eden waits—the presence of Addy’s hand at his lower back now that she’s beside him settling some of his nerves.
“Maybe if I’m lucky you might share him with me,” Charlie suggests.
Ella straightens her back. “I’m good at sharing, but you gotta give him back.”
“Of course,” Charlie agrees. Part of Eden wants to point out he’s not a toy to be shared, but he’s too happy at the way things are going to argue semantics. “Speaking of sharing, I brought my dog. Would you like to meet her? I could share her with you if you like. I’ve got three cats and a hamster at home, too.”
He’s clearly pulling out all the stops, and it makes Eden like him all the more for how hard he’s trying to win her over, for how much he understands what Ella means to him.
Ella’s attention is drawn down to Birdie for the first time. She turns her face to Eden, the question clear. “You can play with her if you want.”
She wiggles to be put down, sprawling across the blanket to get closer to Birdie, who licks Ella’s offered hand and rolls onto her side to bare her belly for pets.
“She’s old and likes lots of attention and pets. Think you can do that?”
“Uh-huh,” Ella hums, running her hands over Birdie’s tummy. “What’s her name?”
“Birdie.”
“Birdie,” Ella echoes. “But she’s a dog.”
“My little brother named her,” Charlie laughs.
Inching closer, Ella all but drapes herself over Birdie, her lifelong dream of having her own dog at the forefront of Eden’s mind as he watches her pet Birdie and tell her what a good girl she is.
“Can I walk her?” Ella asks suddenly, playing with Birdie’s leash.
“If your mom says yes,” Charlie answers, deferring to Addy. “Birdie’s well-trained so she won’t run.”
“You can if you stay right here in this grassy area. Don’t go past that tree,” Addy says.
“Okay!” Ella holds the leash tightly. “Come on, Birdie, let’s play.”
Birdie lets out a little bark of excitement, following Ella with a wagging tail and an easy stride.
“She’s sweet,” Charlie says, turning his attention to Addy. “You must be a great mom.”
