“I would never ask you to quit your job for me.” I shake my head, and he cups my cheeks.
“I know, and you would never have to, but I need you to know that you will always be my first choice. No matter what. No matter where. No matter who. I will always chooseyou.”
“But—”
“No more buts, Snow. Just admit that you love me so we can go back inside and I can film the breakup scene I’ve been so eager to do since Jude calledactionfor the first time.” He chuckles, placing a soft, yet desperate kiss on my lips, and I laugh against it. “Once this day is over, I promise to explain it all to you, but I need to get this shit done.” He threads our fingers together.
“I love you, Cole.”
“I know you do.” I feel his mouth curve into a smile against mine, and I swat at his chest.
“Say it back,” I lightly beg him before kissing his lips again.
“I love you too, Snow.”
Five words I never thought I’d hear from a man in my life, are now the only words I ever want to hear for the rest of it.
Chapter forty-six
Cole
“I rarely do thingslike this,” I begin, speaking into Laurel’s microphone that I took from her grasp, and it gains the attention of everyone in the room. “But I need to clear a few things up before we finish this job we all started three months ago.” I see Mara’s head snap in my direction, but I ignore her, and it feelsgood.
My focus is solely on the girl standing next to me with her head resting against my shoulder, and her fingers laced through mine.
“This girl beside me; she is who I belong to, every part of me. No amount of money, stardom, or fucking stupid gossip will make that stop.” Mara rolls her eyes, while Jenna squeezes my hand in support. “Not even someone who throws herself on me while I’m barely conscious, and tries to make people think she slept with me,” I say, and that’s the only time I allow myself to look at Mara, and I watch as all the color drains from her face.
“I’m almost certain there’s a word that could describe that scenario, but I want to give the person in question the benefitof the doubt, and hope once this is all over that she takes a step back to reevaluate all the shit she did to try and break us apart. And maybe a lot of therapy.”
Silence.
Well, not completely.
I hear a door slam somewhere, and given Mara’s seat is now empty, it’s obvious who was the culprit.
“Do I make myself clear?”
Everyone nods in unison.
“Good. Now let’s finish this. I have a life I can’t wait to begin back in California.”
***
“Alright, who’s ready for round two?” Harley asks, opening the front door to his home for Tate, Jenna and me to enter. He and Cassandra offered to throw us a little farewell and mini wrap party, but—thanks to Lizzie—it turned into another games night.
I’m not mad.
The last games night was a lot of fun for many reasons, but I don’t foresee a repeat happening.
At least, not under this roof.
But the night is still young.
“Don’t tempt me with a good time, Wingrove,” my brother grips his shoulder before stepping out of his shoes and walking inside the luxurious home.
“Mind out of the gutter, Green,” Harley retorts with a hearty laugh, closing the door once we’re all comfortably inside. “Beers and white wine are in the fridge. Herring is making cocktails. Help yourself to whatever you want.”
Everyone—minus Robbie, Bea and Laney—is already here, deep in conversation by the time we make it inside.
