A Thousand Glittering Lights

Chapter 23

“Yes, Dad.”Ellie walked around her kitchen speaking into her earbud while she made toast.

Josh was sitting at her kitchen table wearing jeans, but no shirt. His hands were wrapped behind his head while he watched her, stretching out his naked torso, showcasing the lines of ink wrapped around his bicep as it flexed.

She could slide onto his lap and run her hands up his chest, through the smattering of hair, circle his nipples. She could bite?—

“Ellie! Are you listening to me at all?”

“No.” The word blurted out before she could hold it back.

“What did you say?”

Normally that tone, the unbridled censure, would have sent shards of ice through her. She would have already started working to placate and fix. But not this time. This time, she was too relaxed. Too sated. She was finding her feet on the earth.

Josh smirked and leaned back, abdominals rippling as he ran his hand roughly through his hair. She flushed, and his grin grew. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“All I meant,” Ellie spoke into the phone, trying to regain control of the conversation, “was no—my firewall was not breached. Whoever he was, he didn’t get access to my system or my IP.”

“Good.” Warmth returned to Steven’s tone. But then he added, “So the sale can go ahead.”

And just like that, the old feeling of dread returned. Ellie turned away from Josh and looked out the window at the soaked, wind-battered garden and the gray skies.

She should be used to it by now. Should have known her father hadn’t called to check on her. And she knew how badly he was going to take her decision—which was why she’d put off telling him that she’d already declined the sale.

And then she felt him. Josh wrapped himself around her, his chest at her back, his hands on her hips, his chin on her shoulder. She could see him reflected in the kitchen window, just as she’d watched him in her bedroom mirror.

Their gazes locked, filling her with that same sense of connection. That same deep knowledge that he saw her. Just as she saw him.

Her work had meaning. Her life had meaning. She had meaning.

“Dad.” Ellie took a deep breath and injected all the confidence, all the assurance she could muster into her voice. “I’ve decided not to sell.”

“What are you talking about? Of course you’ll sell. You wouldn’t back out and embarrass me like that. You need to?—”

“No, Dad. I won’t. I’ve already called Max to let him know, and we left it on friendly terms. I’m sorry this is embarrassing for you, but that’s not a good enough reason for me to give up on everything I’ve worked for or on this incredible community I’ve been building.” She lifted her chin. “And to be clear, please do not set up any more deals.”

Steven spluttered for a moment before falling silent, his stunned disapproval clear even down the phone.

“I would like to move past this,” Ellie continued. “We’re still a family. We can support each other in better ways.”

There was another long moment of icy silence before her father began to speak, hard and cold and vehement. A tirade of how Ellie should do as she was told, how she didn’t understand her own business, and how weak this made her look. But he was wrong. Loving something didn’t make her weak. And for the first time in her life, Ellie said goodbye while Steven was still speaking and then disconnected the call.

God. She wanted to be sick. Her body was shaking and cold, and she had to drag in slow, shuddering breaths for long moments before she was certain she wasn’t going to pass out.

“I’m so proud of you,” Josh whispered, and it nearly brought her to her knees. She twisted in his arms and held him, soaking in his strength, his belief in her. And after a moment, a new emotion unfurled inside her. She was proud of herself.

Proud and a little terrified. Because it was time to tell Vic. And it was going to hurt.