Page 41 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

Chapter Four

DEMI

I tried not to let the panic settle in, and yet it was all I could do.

Crushing weight settled onto my chest as I took a deep breath and reminded myself that it was okay. That nothing was wrong, and I was going to be able to fix this.

And yet in no way did that sound as if it was going to happen.

“Jess, what is going on in your head?” I asked.

That probably wasn’t the best way to go about it, but as she began to pace, pulling that gorgeous red hair away from her face and into a ponytail, I realized that maybe I wasn’t the only one on the verge of having a panic attack.

“All I know is that we were doing just fine, having a wonderful morning, until you saw him.” A horrible feeling sank in, and I blurted out the question before I thought better of it. “Do you still love him?”

She whirled, her eyes going wide. “Of course I don’t. I haven’t loved him in a long time. But I was in love with the relationship I thought we had. I gave him eight years of my life, and I thought we were endgame. And it turns out he was cheating on me for how long?”

I tried to do the math in my head, and I could feel the blood rush from my face. “You don’t think?—”

“The timing isn’t right from what you said.

No, I don’t think he was cheating on me with your sister.

And even then, it wouldn’t be her fault because he’d have been the liar.

But I cannot believe that he’s dating her.

Of all the people in the world, it’s your sister.

Who you love and is the sweetest person in the world from what I can tell from your stories, and yet she chose him . ”

I didn’t know what Elena saw in him other than she’d seemed happy. And now I felt like a horrible sister for not knowing more about this man—something I’d be changing soon. “Just talk to me. Don’t push me out because you’re scared.”

“But shouldn’t I? I fell into this so quickly. One minute I’m getting a tattoo, the next minute we’re joking about U-Hauls.”

I press my lips together, trying to calm down. “It was just a joke.”

We had woken up that morning, both of us naked and sated and realized that I was out of clean jeans.

I borrowed a pair from her, and while we weren’t exactly the same size, it had somehow worked.

I just rolled up the cuffs, so it looked as if I was going for that look rather than them being too short.

I had made the joke that I should just move in, and rent the U-Haul, a common joke with our friends, and she had smiled right back to me. Had given me a fucking drawer.

And maybe that was moving too quickly.

I rubbed my fist over my chest, between my breasts, and tried to steady myself. “It’s not like we’re strangers. And it’s not like I met you yesterday. We’ve had months.”

“Two.”

“And we knew each other before then.”

“We knew each other when we were younger,” she corrected.

“Fine. But time doesn’t make the connection. Time doesn’t change who we are. If you want to know more about me, just ask. I won’t say that I’m an open book because those who say it are usually the most closed off, but all you have to do is ask.”

“That’s the problem. I know you’ll tell me anything. And I want to know every inch of you, every mistake and glory and praise. I want to know it all. Just like I want to tell you everything.”

“Then what’s wrong with that?”

“Because I thought I was doing it right the first time. I believed in it. And he lied to me.” Tears splashed down her cheeks as her voice cracked, and I moved forward, cupping that beautiful face.

“I hate him for hurting you. And I hate that he’s dating my sister right now. Something that I’m going to talk to her about.”

“I don’t want to break her heart because mine was shattered.”

“Then let me piece it together. It doesn’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to be perfect. But don’t shut me out because you’re afraid of him.”

“I’m not afraid,” she lied, pulling back.

I let my hands fall as she paced again. “Maybe not of him, but what you’re feeling. And so this is probably the worst time for me to tell you that I love you.”

She froze for an instant, as the volley was thrown, my heart in my hand, hoping she would take it from me. She faced me then, that pale face growing even paler so that her freckles stood stark in comparison.

“You love me? How?”

“How could you even ask that? I love the way you make me feel, the way you laugh. I love how you see the world. I love that you opened your arms to me and introduced me to your circles knowing that I was still finding my way here. I did not grow up here, but this is my home. And I want you to be my home too. I know it’s too quick, but who cares?

We’re not kids. We’re not Romeo and Juliet. ”

“First off, it’s a tragedy, and those were, what, thirteen-year-olds who were going through puberty?”

“Yes. Exactly. We’re not them. This doesn’t have to be a tragedy. We can slow down, I promise. But I can’t lie. I love you.”

She was silent for so long that I was afraid I was making the worst mistake of my life. Baring all when I had jumped without looking. “I love you too,” she whispered, and it felt as if the world had frozen all around us, time standing still as I waited for the next ball to drop.

“Then why do you sound so scared saying that?”

“Because I loved him.”

“And you don’t love him anymore. And I’ll take however long you give me to try to heal that heart of yours. But let me love you.”

A tear slid down my cheek now, and she moved forward, wiping it from my face. “I’m just so scared.”

“You are the most fearless person I know. You jump in headfirst to everything else. So jump with me now.”

“I wasn’t supposed to fall in love again. I was going to take time.”

“Take time with me.”

Her lips quirked into a smile as my heart raced. “I don’t know if that’s how it works.”

“Then we’ll make it work this way.” I sucked in a deep breath. “You said you love me.”

“You said it first.”

And then my lips were on hers, and I couldn’t hold back. She wrapped her arms around me, and I kissed the woman that I loved.

It didn’t matter that it had only been a couple of months, I had fallen head over heels, and there was no going back.

“You know what’s the funny thing?” I ask softly, as we held each other.

“What?”

“When I moved back to England, I kept wondering if it could be you. What if it was you?”

“You’re going to have to hold me back when I have another panic attack about something.”

I nodded, elation threatening to take everything over. “As long as it’s not about him. He doesn’t deserve our time.”

“Okay. So I guess I should go rent the U-Haul?” she asked, and I burst out laughing, sprinkling kisses all over her face, before tugging her down to the couch and showing her exactly how much I loved her.

* * *

SIX MONTHS LATER.

“I’m so excited you’re closing on the house soon,” Elena exclaimed as she taped up the final box in our living room.

In the time since we had finally said we loved each other, I had indeed moved in. However, I still had a lease on my place, so Elena had taken over the apartment. And now Elena would be moving into Jess’s home so we wouldn’t have to sell it and it would be closer to Elena’s classes and work.

Jess and I had bought a house.

Apparently, we were going full blazes and not looking back.

“Things moved quickly, but it’s the perfect place,” Jess said as she came forward, tape and Sharpies in her hands. “Where is the clipboard? I feel like I need my clipboard.”

“I’ve got it,” Justin said as he walked forward, clipboard in hand. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Elena’s lips, and my sister beamed up at her new boyfriend.

Clive had been out of the picture right after brunch. Apparently, he hadn’t stopped his cheating, and he was lucky he had run with his tail between his legs, because he would have had to deal my wrath if I ever saw him again.

Now, Elena was dating a man that we all loved, and they were taking it slow. At least slower than Jess and I were.

Alecia and her wife were in the back room, boxing up the last of our offices, and we were getting things ready to go.

Time indeed moved quickly.

“Thank you,” Jess said as she took the clipboard from Justin, and the bearded and inked man went to go lift another box.

I smiled over at Elena, feeling lighter than I had in years. “I’m really glad that you brought him, because while I am strong, I really do like his muscles.”

“You’re welcome,” Justin said as he flexed, and the rest of us laughed.

“Are you hitting on your sister’s boyfriend?” Jess asked, wrapping her arm around my waist.

“Of course. I can’t help it. He’s so swoon worthy.”

“He really is,” Elena said as she stared off at him, and we all watched the way his ass moved in his jeans.

“Seriously, thank you for bringing him along,” Alecia said as Emma laughed beside us.

“I feel like a piece of meat here, ladies,” Justin said, but then he bent over slowly to pick up another box.

Laughing, I kissed my sister’s cheek, and then smacked another kiss on Jess’s lips. “Okay, we have to finish this up, and then we have reservations at the new brunch place.” We had found a closer place with cream cheese stuffed French toast, and honestly, I was excited.

“This is why I’m here, not just for the ogling, but the French toast,” Justin called out, and we all laughed, settling in.

I had always known that this would be my home, maybe not this place, maybe not these people, but the mountains and this air.

And yet, that invisible string that tied me to the woman that I loved had tugged me back when I hadn’t realized it.

Jess smiled at me, before laughing at something Elena said, and I knew that this was my family.

The woman that I had let walk away after one evening of pure happiness, and now I would never let go of again.

And all thanks to the ink that had started it all.

And surely it wasn’t our last.