Bet in the Dark

I love you, Ellie. You came into my life and demanded that I paid attention. I’m not letting you go, I won’t. I’ve let a lot of things go in my life, things that needed to be set free, things that if I didn’t release I would have become bitter and empty. You are not one of those things; you are one of the rare, beautiful things that I am desperate to keep. I want you forever, Ellie.

All I wanted was my money. Instead, I got you. You, the one person in the world I have to convince I’m charming, and on top of that I find out that my texts are annoying.

And Ellie, if Fin is offering his heart to you, it’s just a formality because believe me when I say you already have it.

I blamed this on Kelly Clarkson. On Kelly-Freaking-Clarkson. The angry man standing across the kitchen island looked like he was about to throttle me. I had visions of large hands gripped firmly around my neck shaking me like a rubber chicken. His eyes flashed with frustration and I cursed Kelly Clarkson straight to the grave.

He groaned as if frustrated and then whispered almost so quietly I didn’t hear him, “I’m going to keep you.

In that moment, that exact moment, I knew Fin Hunter was going to change my life forever. I didn’t know if it would be better or worse when he was done, I just knew that he was blowing through everything I thought I wanted and needed like a tornado of change and I was helpless to stop it. I was helpless against him.

Finally, after several more breathless moments, he straightened, disentangling his limbs from mine. “That’s how you should be kissed. Every single time.” And then he patted my head like a small child and walked away.