She dips her head, grinning.
“I almost forgot.” I reach over and pull the lid off of the last covered plate on the table.
Ellyn covers her mouth.
“Sheila makes a hell of a coconut cake. I know it’s breakfast and all, and dessert should be saved for last, but?—”
She cuts me off when she throws her arms around my neck and pulls me into a kiss.
“How did you know I was craving coconut cake?”
I smirk. “Because it’s your favorite.”
Immediately, her eyes water. My heart starts to hammer inside of my chest.
“What? What’s wrong?” I glance over at the slice of cake sitting untouched. “Is it not the right?—”
“It’s perfect,” she whispers, but then rises to her feet and begins pacing the room. Ellyn swipes at the tears streaming down her face.
“Darlin’, you’re breaking my heart,” I say as I move to her.
I take her wrists into my hands. “What did I do wrong? Tell me so I can fix it.” The desperation in my voice can’t be hidden.
“Nothing,” she blurts out through tears. Then she laughs but it’s filled with a kind of awe or confusion. “You did absolutely everything right.”
“Then why are you crying?” Panic laces my tone.
She chuckles and then wipes her eyes. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s …” She pushes out a breath. “I was married to a man for twenty-six years, and he never bought me coconut cake.”
Giggling, she shakes her head.
“Did I ever tell you about the moment I decided it was time to end my marriage?”
“You said because he didn’t know you,” I remind her.
She nods and her eyes go over my shoulder toward the table, staring at the cake.
“How can you be with someone for so long and not even know their favorite fucking cake?” She rolls her eyes. “I’m glad I cursed him out when he called the other day.”
“What did you just say?”
Ellyn’s eyelids flutter and she takes a pause as if needing to remember what she’d just said.
“He called you?”
“Looking for Shanice.” She proceeds to tell me about the conversation between her and her ex over their daughter.
“I doubt I’ll hear from him anytime soon.” She shrugs. “Anyway, he’s not the point.” She moves closer to me, her hands going to my chest.
“What is the point?” I murmur.
Her lips spread, her smile turning sensual. “You,” she answers, breathless. “You are the point. The love of my life that I had to wait fifty-five years to find. I know it’s only been a short while, and who knows where this is going, but?—”
“I know exactly where this is going,” I murmur before cutting her off with a kiss. Words are no longer sufficient for all that I want to say.
CHAPTER 32
Ellyn
