Page 71 of A Mutually Beneficial Proposal

“Because your best friend thought that it would be better if I gave you space. Believe me, I didn’t want to, but I also didn’t want to hurt you anymore.”

Her eyes darken. “Kenzie? Is she how you found me here?”

I nod. “But she told me nothing else. Don’t be mad at her. If you’re still angry, yell at me.”

Ella sighs and rubs her hands over her face. “I’m not angry, Owen. I’m hurt, and I’m scared, and I just want to jump off this bridge.”

“Then, let’s do that. Let me jump with you,” I say, even though I’ll probably die from a heart attack before I get to the bottom.

She lowers her hands from her face. “You’d do that even though you’re about to piss your pants right now?”

I finally reach for her, gently gripping her hand. “I’d do anything for you, Ella.”

She sucks in a breath, and I badly want to kiss her plump pink lips, but instead, I let go of her hand and walk to the van where the employees are trying and failing to hide that they’re listening to us.

“So, can I jump with her?” I ask.

A woman with a huge smile and tears brimming in her eyes nods. “This is the sweetest thing ever. Of course, you can jump. The other guy canceled anyway. Too scared of dying.”

I cringe. “I didn’t really need to know that.”

“Right. Sorry.”

A guy slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s get you strapped in, man.”

This is insane, and I never should have told Ella I’d jump, but I couldn’t let her do this without me. I need her to know that no matter how afraid I am, I’ll always be by her side. I won’t be like her exes. I won’t cheat. I won’t leave. I won’t ever let her go.

I just need Ella to give me a second chance.