“Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars! Holy shit!”
He chuckles at my excitement. “Hell yeah!”
“I’ll come,” I blurt out, as if my body couldn’t hold it in any longer. I think my heart knew all along what I would say, but my brain tried to talk her out of it. I don’t know which one I should be rooting for.
Jamie’s brow lifts. “What?”
“I’ll come with you,” I tell him, almost breathless. “To New York. I’ll live with you, and I’ll go back to acting, and I’ll be closer to Lainey and Gwen. I’ve made up my mind.”
Grabbing my hands in his, his expression turns serious. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel forced to do anything you don’t want to—”
“I’m sure,” I say with certainty. For once, I’m actually content with my decision. I’m going to do this. I let him go once, and I can’t do that again. I hate to need him, but I do. I need him in my life. I need him in my soul. I need him physically and mentally. I’m done fighting it. I’m giving in.
“I fucking love you, Ellie Monroe. I promise, you won’t regret this. I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for what I did,” he assures me, and I actually believe he will.
“I love you, Jamie Patterson.”
“Ellie!” The squeal comes from behind me and I automatically know who it belongs to. I spin around so fast, I could’ve given myself whiplash.
“Lainey!” I squeal back as she runs into my outstretched arms. We jump up and down like teenagers as we hold onto one another. “I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too! Gwenny was going to come but she’s feeling a bit under the weather,” Lainey explains. “I guess morning sickness isn’t always in the morning.”
I nod in understanding. “Of course, yeah. It’s okay. I’ll call her later. What did you think?”
“Oh my god, it was great! You did amazing. I can’t believe you did all that in such a short period oftime!” Lainey exclaims, her eyes focusing on something behind me. “Is that him?”
“Yes, I have some things to tell you later,” I warn her. She gives me a curious look before I hear Jamie’s name being called from somewhere down the crowded hall.
Oh shit. I know that voice. I turn just in time to see Holland storming toward us, his face red with anger. Oh no. Before I can stop him, Holland’s fist connects with Jamie’s jaw, his head flying back from the force. Everyone stops what they’re doing and looks on to see what just happened.
“Holland!” I yell, my voice filled with rage. I can’t believe he would cause a scene, here of all places.
“What the hell?” Jamie barks, crimson blood on flowing from his lip.
“That’s for fucking breaking my sister’s heart, asshole!” Holland seethes.
For the love of God, is he serious?
I cut in, my voice sharp. “Holland, stop. You’re causing a scene.”
Jamie straightens slowly, wiping the blood from his lip and looks utterly pissed, but he doesn’t swing back.
Lainey grabs Holland by the arm and ushers him out of the building. I stop in front of Jamie, my hand reaching up to gently touch his face.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, cringing with embarrassment. “I can’t believe he did that.”
Jamie shakes his head, the anger leaving his body as he looks at me. “I’m fine. It’s fine. He’s defending his sister, I get it.”
“It’s not fine. I’ll talk to him.”
“Ellie, it’s okay. We don’t need his approval. We don’t need anyone’s approval. Okay?” He caresses my cheek, his eyes searching my face.
I nod. “Okay.”
“Good. Let’s get out of here and go celebrate,” he suggests with awink, and I agree.
Chapter 41
