Chapter Nineteen #3
I exhale. “I just…sometimes, it all hits at once, you know?
Another move. Another city. Packing up. Leaving because you left. Leaving
because I need to. Leaving because we’re always chasing where your life goes
next and hoping mine can follow.”
He cups my chin, so I have to meet his eyes. There’s no
hesitation there. No uncertainty. Just steady, unwavering love.
“Ella Rose,” he says quietly, “I know our lives are a bit
unconventional, but we know it won’t be like this forever. I am so incredibly
thankful for you because I would simply be existing through all these moves if
you weren’t here beside me.”
“Christian…”
“No, I’m serious. Because you’re brave and strong and you’re
not afraid to build a life instead of waiting for one to happen to you.
Everything we have is because of you. You take care of me. Us. I know I can
handle any move, any trade, because you’re beside me.” His thumb brushes
beneath my lip, tender. “But yeah… I know it’s a lot. I know I ask a lot of you
by…existing the way I do. By doing what I do.”
“You never ask,” I whisper. “And that’s almost worse. You
never ask, and I still go.”
He smiles as if it physically aches. “That’s because we’re a
team. I don’t need to ask. You wouldn’t for me either. There will come a time
when I will blindly follow you. We do things together. Always.”
It settles something inside me that’s been rattling ever
since I got on the plane yesterday.
“I just hate when we have to live in separate places,” I
admit, my voice small. “I hate missing you.”
His forehead presses against mine, and everything inside me
quiets.
“Me, too,” he murmurs. “More than I’ll ever be able to
explain. But tonight…you’re here. I’m here. We’re not missing anything. We’re
exactly where we’re supposed to be.”
And just like that, every sharp edge softens. Every tight
knot loosens.
He kisses me then—slow, patient, reverent. Not the kind of
kiss that says he hasn’t seen me in weeks, but the kind that says he intends to
keep seeing me forever. The kind that feels like vows without words.
When he pulls back, I’m smiling, and I don’t even realize
it.
“Welcome back to Arizona, Mrs. Lucas,” he whispers.
“Yeah,” I breathe, brushing my nose against his. “It’s good
to be home.”
Even if home is a hotel suite in Phoenix.
Even if that home moves.
Because really, home is…him.
Home.
Ha!
Last night feels like a distant memory in the light of day,
because we’re immediately back to the real world. Christian’s at the stadium,
and I’m at the hotel, looking at apartments online. I know by now that they
don’t have to be perfect. They only need to be functional.
They all look the same to me, and I know it doesn’t matter
which one we pick; it’s temporary.
Always temporary.
I’m sipping tea and having a pit-tea party when my phone
rings. Seeing Tracy’s name makes me smile.
“Hey, Tracy.”
“Ella,” she begins excitedly. “Are you in LA or Toronto
right now?”
“Neither,” I reply with a laugh. “I’m actually in Phoenix.”
“Phoenix? What on earth are you doing there? Did you decide
to meet Christian for a game?”
“No, um…” I guess it’s not really a secret since he
officially played on the roster last night. “Christian got traded here. So…here
I am.”
“Oh, my goodness. This is amazing! That means you can get
back to LA quickly.”
I’m certain she has an audition for me. That’s the nature of
our relationship, and one of the few reasons she calls. So, she’s not surprised
when I ask, “What’s the role?”
“Sweetie, this is going to be the biggest thing of your
career. Bigger than The Echo Wars. Bigger than Ashla.”
Okay, she definitely has my attention.
“What is it?”
“How do you feel about superhero movies?”
“Um…”
“You know Storyteller just inked a deal with a major
franchise, right?”
I nod, even though she can’t see me.
“Well, they’re casting for their first big movie, and they’re
looking at their in-house talent first,” she tells me. “Your name came up
repeatedly. I don’t want to say the role is yours, but…this role could most
definitely be yours.”
“Oh, my gosh…” I’m breathless and shaking, and I immediately
get up to pace. “So, this is a major…”
“A major motion picture, Ella. This is everything we’ve been
working for! So, how soon can you get here?”
I can barely remember what day it is. Monday? Tuesday?
Tuesday. It’s Tuesday.
“I can be there Thursday, Tracy. I’ll text you as soon as my
flight is booked.”
“Excellent! It’s finally happening, and I am beyond thrilled
for you. Here’s to great things.”
I lift my teacup, but words escape me.
“I’m emailing all the information to you now—everything I
have regarding the audition—so you know what you’re looking at. We’ll talk
soon, Ella. Bye!”
I hang up and feel overwhelmed. I need to talk to Christian,
but that won’t happen until tonight. In the meantime, I look at my flight
options but don’t book anything. I can always text Tracy later. My mind wanders
to what a role like this could mean. I stop myself before my imagination goes
any further.
I haven’t even showered yet, and I feel like I’ve run a
marathon.
But I can’t wait to reach the finish line.