Page 115 of This Changes Everything

“What a nightmare.” I burrowed my face into his chest.

“Do you want to press charges?”

I didn’t want to admit that I feared an earthquake would tear my life apart if I did anything. I recalled an old boss, sitting at the head of a conference table, laughing with other executives over lunch that it wouldn’t be difficult to ruin one’s life. All it would take was six phone calls, and they’d never work again. What if that was the end of my career? Every sacrifice I’d made, every person I’d loved and lost . . . would it have been worth it? What would “one of the good ones” do? What would a precocious little girl nicknamed “Hollywood” do? What would the girl on the plane do, leaving her love and life behind, determined to figure out what she was made of ? What would fourteen-year-old Ellie do, driving through the Airport Tunnel, dreaming of her future?

“I just need to think,” I answered, not moving.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.” Rory sat up and pressed his back into the headboard.

“Don’t be sorry. I just don’t know what I’m going to do.” I traced my fingers along the indentations of his abs.

“It’s whatever you decide. You want to rebuild, I’ll get the bricks. You want to burn it all down, I’ll bring the lighter. You want to run, I’ll lace up our shoes.” Rory pulled me onto his lap.

I adjusted myself to straddle his body and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Only you, Rory. I love you. I’m sorry I didn’t get to say it yesterday. I forgot how to talk.” I kissed him, and our tongues folded together.

Rory’s hands moved up my sides beneath my shirt. His mouth trailed along my neck and jawline with a series of kisses until he pulled me into him for a tight, warm hug.

“Yesterday was pretty shitty . . .” I murmured.

Rory pressed his face into my neck and inhaled deeply. “Yeah . . . Have you thought about talking to Ken?”

“I don’t know. You should have seen it. I think Ben knocked Craig out. Then we were out of there like we were Bonnie and Clyde.”

“Remind me to buy Ben all the alcohol that’s left in the world,” Rory said. I laughed softly as Rory placed his head against the headboard. “Hearing you go through that over the phone and not being able to do anything about it . . . was difficult.” Rory squeezed his eyes shut. I pressed my fingers into his twisted brow, smoothing it as best as I could. He let out a deep breath and opened his eyes, then pulled my hand down and kissed my palm. “It took me ten hours to get to you. That was the longest ten hours of my life.”

“You’re here now.” I leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

“Yeah . . .” He swallowed, and his face crunched together again.

“What?”

“Blair and Cameron both reached out separately to ask for help while I was on the plane. My mom put the house up for sale without telling anyone. I don’t think she’s doing well right now. They plan to talk to her tomorrow, and I need to be there for that.” Rory rubbed his palm into his eye, clearly frustrated.

“Oh no. I hope she’s okay. So are you leaving today?”

“Yeah, but I’m coming right back after we see her. I didn’t tell my brothers what happened, but I said I needed to be here to sort through some things. They didn’t ask questions, so I’m assuming they realized shit was hitting the fan. I saw Zoë texting Cameron last night. I think he’s worried about you.”

“You should stay in Vancouver. I don’t want you to not be there for your mom or your brothers.”

“Ellie, I’m showing my face and will be there for them, but I’m coming back tomorrow night. You are my priority.” Rory brought his hands to the outside of my thighs and gently rubbed my legs. He let out a giant sigh before continuing. “You should know that Ben’s still here. He slept on the couch, and he’s making breakfast this morning.”

The surrealness of having Ben in my kitchen and Rory in my bed was overwhelming. “Did you guys stay up late?”

“Yeah. After Zoë went to bed, we talked and had some drinks. It was good.” Rory stretched his body beneath mine. “I like him. I liked him when we met in New York, too, but it was impossible for me to say back then.”

“Is it weird for you that he’s in the other room right now?” I hadn’t decided if it was weird for me yet.

“No. You and me are getting married soon, so I’m pretty sure I’ve got nothing to worry about.” Rory smirked impishly. His brown eyes bounced between mine.

“Have you already proposed, and I didn’t know it?” I let my tired smile reach my eyes. I could feel myself coming back together again, piece by piece.

“When I do, you’ll know it’s happening.”

I became grounded again in Rory’s presence, with his love surrounding me and centering me.

He brought his hands to my cheeks and pulled me in for a soft kiss before saying, “Come on, baby. Let’s go eat.”

Chapter 40