“I don’t want to fight anymore while we’re here,” she said softly behind me.
Stacking wood inside the hearth, I nodded. “I don’t want to either. It got ugly, and I apologize for that. I said some pretty cruel things that you didn’t deserve.”
“We both said things we shouldn’t have.”
“And you were right,” I confessed as the fire ignited. I walked back to the bed and crawled in beside her. “I am a perfectionist. I do care what people think. I’m an overachiever to the point of it being a sick obsession at times. And I know I was pulling you into that addiction of mine. For that, I’m also sorry.”
“I’ve had to be perfect my entire life,” she said as she drank the last of her tea and put down her cup. “So I understand.”
“But I shouldn’t have been one of those people in your life. I shouldn’t have expected you to be anything but the Bellamy that I… that I care for. You are perfect. You don’t need to try.”
I didn’t mean for my confession to flow so easily from my tongue, but now that I admitted my truth, there was no turning back.
Bellamy studied my face for several moments and then said, “You don’t need to be someone you aren’t around me, Emmett. I like the man you are. Just the way you are.”
She reached for the empty teacup on the nightstand and poured me some. Handing it to me, she asked, “Truce? No more battling each other. Let’s battle our enemies together from now on.”
Taking a sip of the tea, I watched the fire lick the wood in a mesmerizing way. “Truce. We’re almost done with the Trials. I think ending them as a team is wise. We’ve gone through hell to get this far, and we’re close to it all being over.” I placed the cup down and turned my body to face her.
I considered kissing her. God, I wanted to kiss her.
But I didn’t want to push too hard. She went through a lot tonight, and I didn’t want to turn the night to be about me and my needs. It was about Bellamy and her feeling safe again. At least with me. I wanted her to feel safe with me.
“It hasn’t been all hell,” she said with a big yawn. “I’m glad I got to meet the real Emmett. Not the boy from high school, or the rich businessman I only see at social events. I’m glad to have finally met you.”
“I’m glad I chose you, Bellamy. I don’t think I’ve told you that before, and I know I definitely haven’t always shown it. But I’m really glad it was you I chose.”
She smiled warmly and snuggled down in her pillow, pulling the blankets up around her chin. She yawned again as her eyes grew heavy. “Goodnight, Emmett. I’m glad you chose me too.”
15
BELLAMY
The next morning, all my limbs were sore, and my head felt thick, like I’d been out partying the night before.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Emmett said when I turned over and rubbed at my eyes. He was in bed beside me with his laptop, smiling down at me.
My heart did a weird fluttery thing at him being there instead of at his desk.
I looked around, still squinting. “What time is it?”
“Almost ten.”
I scooted up to a sitting position, pushing my hair back from my face. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I slept so long.”
He closed his laptop. “You needed the rest. I told Mrs. H to hold breakfast for us.”
“Oh.” I blinked, pulling up one of my legs to my chest and circling it with my arms. “Thanks.”
“You hungry?”
I thought about it for a second and then nodded vigorously. Come to think of it, I was starving.
“Great.” He stood. “I’ll let her know we’re coming while you get dressed.”
I nodded, still a little stunned by his solicitousness after our two-weeks-long cold war. He disappeared from the room, and I hurried into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, we were seated in the breakfast nook that overlooked the grounds, with Mrs. H serving up scones and Devonshire cream. “Eggs and bacon will be up shortly,” she said, and Emmett nodded.
“Thanks.” I reached for a scone, feeling timid, which was very unlike me.
After Mrs. H hustled back out again, I looked over the table at Emmett. He looked crisp and put together, like always. He was in a pressed button-up shirt and slacks—Armani by the look of it.
I’d just pulled on a shirt and leggings. I reached for a scone and picked it apart on my plate. “So um, I’m not sure if I said it last night, since everything feels like a blur.” I looked into his eyes. “But thanks. Thank you. I really mean it. It, um…” I dropped my eyes to my plate and cleared my throat. “It meant a lot that you stood up for me like that. And for saving my life too, obviously.”