Page 58 of Drive Me Crazy
THE LOOK on Ella’s face when we walk into the dining room is worth every hour of planning and every pound I’ve spent. If I could bottle up her smile for all my dark days, I’d be sitting under sunny skies needing sunscreen. Her eyes are unblinking as she takes in her surroundings. The room is filled top to bottom with floral arrangements, featuring the same flowers I’d brought to her earlier. It rivals the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. I’ve never bought a woman besides my sister flowers before, so this is a first for me.
“How did you—” Her face crumples into a scowl. “Wait. Did you just assume I’d come to dinner with you? Is that why you were wearing a tuxedo?”
“Josie told me I’d look more distinguished and serious in a tux,” I admit with a chuckle. I don’t mention that she also canceled their dinner plans tonight, so I knew Ella would be available. “And it’s been like this since Wednesday.”
I cashed in a lot of favors to get celebrity floral designer Paolo Berlusconi to bring my vision to life. Well, my vision was filling the room with a ton of flowers. Paolo’s vision was to bring Ella’s personality to life through flowers. He’s used tocreating floral installations for celebrity events and royal weddings, so this was a walk in the park for him. Lucas claims I’ve cleared out every flower in the entire country to make this possible. He may not be wrong, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’d chosen yellow tulips for how happy she makes me, purple hyacinths for forgiveness (and it’s her favorite color), amaryllis for her beauty inside and out, and white camellia for affection and adoration.
Ella walks around the room slowly, her amazement growing. She keeps glancing back at me, confirming she’s not imagining everything and that I’m still there. Convincing the hotel manager to shut down the dining room for the past week was no easy feat. And then making them put every table but one in storage so Paolo could work his magic … I don’t think McAllister will be allowed to stay here ever again.
“They’re beautiful, Blake.”
“You’re worth it.”
She stays silent as we make our way over to the sole table in the center of the room. She’s in boxer shorts and a sweatshirt with mismatching socks peeking out of her hotel slippers. Her hair’s in a haphazard bun and she’s not wearing an ounce of makeup. She’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
I love that she didn’t feel the need to change into something different. It was me who had to insist on changing for dinner. We’d been in the elevator down with a group of girls who looked like they were going out for a night at the club. They’d given Ella a not-so-subtle once-over and she couldn’t have cared less. She even complimented one of their purses.
She’s unapologetically herself and that might just be the sexiest thing about her.
There’s a McDonald’s Diet Coke waiting for her when she sits down. Finding Diet Coke instead of Coke Zero in Europe was a challenge; finding a McDonald’s Diet Coke instead ofCoke Zero … nearly bloody impossible. But Ella says their “pop” is superior to all other forms—plastic bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans (both mini and full-sized), liters—so that’s what I got. There’s a ranking system I’m completely unaware of because I don’t drink soda.
I don’t need to see Ella’s legs to know she’s sitting cross-legged. She happily sips on her drink as four waiters come out from the kitchen carrying trays of food. I wait patiently. They set down spinach artichoke dip, matzo ball soup, spaghetti and meatballs, garlic and parmesan roasted smashed potatoes, cornbread, and every single flavor of ice cream known to mankind. Two appetizers, one main, two sides, and dessert.
Her face lights up, making the hundreds of flowers look dull in comparison. It sends a jolt of warmth straight into my stone-cold heart.
“My death-row meal for when I’m sad,” she says softly.
It sounds ridiculously morbid out loud. As if this colorful room is really a ruse for a hidden electric chair.
“Can we just call it your favorite meal? ‘Death-row meal’ sounds entirely unromantic.”
“Nope.”
Her eyes move back and forth between me and the food like ping-pong paddles during an intense game.
“You were right when you said I was too blind to see what was right in front of me”—I break the silence—“but I really hope I’m not too late.”
She rests her cheeks in her palms. “What’s changed, Blake? Because a month ago you were dead set on staying single. I meant it when I said I can’t do casual with you.”
I nervously push my fork around in the pasta.Inhale. Exhale.Ella puts her spoon down on the table, giving me her full attention. Knowing I beat out matzo ball soup pushes me forward.
“You know how I said my mum left when I was a kid?”
Ella nods but stays quiet.
“I-Iguess I always felt like it was my fault or something I did, y’know? Then my dad pretty much gave up on being a parent, so I always thought something must be really wrong with me if neither of them wanted to be in my life. It was easier to push you away than pull you close because I didn’t want you to realize what they both did. That I wasn’t good enough or worth sticking around for … then you’d leave too.”
Ella gazes at me softly, her head tilted slightly to the left. “Of course you’re good enough, Blake,” she says affectionately.
“Am I?” I shrug. “Couldn’t get two parents to stay and they’re the ones who are supposed to love you unconditionally.”
The beautiful girl in front of me is out of her chair faster than I can ask her what she’s doing. Ella curls up in my lap and snakes her arms around my waist, squeezing me tight. I feel like a ton of bricks has been lifted off my back. My arms instinctively wrap around her, pulling her against me. It’s a puzzle piece finally falling into place.
“It’s ridiculous how enough you are, Blake Hollis.”
Her words calm my rapid heartbeat. Ella’s a terrible liar and right now her face is completely open and honest. I intertwine my fingers behind her back, keeping her close.
“My sister hired a private investigator to look for our mum last year,” I admit slowly. “After having kids of her own, she wanted to understand how she could just up and leave us like that. I know my dad wasn’t the greatest guy, but to leaveus? Just didn’t make sense.”
