Page 143 of Break the Rule
“Where is she going?” Charlie asks, watching her disappear.
“You’ll see soon enough.”
Soon enough turns out to be maybe twenty seconds later when Ella comes barreling back into the bedroom, only this time she crashes into Charlie with all the force of a hurricane, shovinga small, crudely wrapped gift at Charlie before hurrying back to Eden and inching behind him.
“What’s this then?”
“A present,” Ella answers, fisting her hands in Eden’s skirt. She peers around his legs, those giant brown eyes of hers trained on Charlie.
He might have only known her a few weeks but he’s done for. A goner. She’s got him wrapped around her little finger. He would do anything to make this sweet child happy.
“Is it for me?” Charlie gasps, pretending to be shocked. He’s delighted when Ella nods.
“Is it for Christmas?”
“Open it now,” Ella blurts.
“You sure I won’t get in trouble? I don’t wanna be on the naughty list.”
“Momma said there’s no such thing as a naughty list because there’s no naughty kids,” Ella says.
“Your momma is very smart.”
Ella beams, standing up just that little taller. She’s so cute. Charlie’s parents are going to fucking adore having a grandchild in the family. Maybe he’s getting ahead of himself, maybe he and Eden aren’t quite there yet, but if Charlie has his way it’ll be official at some point. For now, Eden is family, meaning Addy and Ella are too, and that is all that matters.
“I wonder who wrapped it,” Charlie muses, turning over the gift. It’s something tiny wrapped in a ball of paper which upon closer inspection turns out to be a piece of coloring page held together with what seems like an entire roll of tape.
“Me,” Ella answers.
“Well, it’s very beautiful.”
Impossibly, Ella’s smile widens, in turn making Eden smile. Eden’s smiles might normally be few and far between, but when Ella is around there are infinitely more, and it’s a beautiful thing.
Returning his attention to the small gift, Charlie carefully tries to peel back the tape, unsure how to manage without ripping the paper entirely. Eventually, he manages to get one side of it open, turning his palm over and tipping the gift sideways. Out tumbles a friendship bracelet, bright rainbow pony beads and the name Eden spelled out in bold block shaped letters.
Charlie turns the bracelet over, smoothing his fingers over the cool, plastic beads, unsure why he wants to cry.
“It’s so you can have Eden when he’s mine,” Ella announces with pride. “Because you miss him.”
“I do,” Charlie confirms, marveling at her emotional intelligence.
“It’s okay, I’ll share him tomorrow.”
“You two always talk about me like I’m a toy,” Eden snorts, his smile still in place. He might balk but Eden loves it, even if he won’t admit it. After a lifetime of being unwanted, there’s a part of him that craves being so wanted.
“You’re much cuter than a toy,” Charlie points out.
“And you give better hugs than my plush,” Ella adds.
“Thanks so much,” Eden laughs.
Charlie slips the bracelet on his left wrist, making up his mind to never take it off. “Thank you for this, Ella. This is the best present I’ve ever gotten.”
“You’re welcome,” Ella says.
“Alec and Theo are here,” Andrew yells from the other room. “Oh, Jason and Emerson too, with both dogs.”
“More dogs,” Ella gasps.
