Bad Romeo Christmas: A Starcrossed Anthology (Starcrossed #4)(19)
Wow, that's polite. It also uses more words than, "Fuck off, manipulative cow," but whatever. Ethan's clearly more evolved than I am about this woman. I scan the next collection of texts.
"What the hell?" The bitch has the nerve to say they still have chemistry and then sends a full-length picture of herself in lingerie?!
That's it. I'm going to kill her. I'll do it slow, too. She won't die for days.
I squint at the screen. Wait a second. I have that exact set of bra and panties. Ethan bought it for me.
I scroll down and snort when I read Ethan's reply.
<Vanessa, sorry you thought there could ever be anything between us again. There can't. I hate to say it, but you’re not a good, kind, or particularly well-adjusted person, and I’m having trouble remembering what I ever saw in you. I apologize for my bluntness, but considering the nature of your recent texts, I figure you need a dose of cold, hard facts to banish any misconceptions you may have. The truth is I’m lucky enough to be deeply in love with the most spectacular goddamn woman on the planet, and as tough as this may be to hear, she looks waaaay hotter in that Chanel ensemble than you. So, goodbye Vanessa, we won’t be speaking again. And to prove how not-interested I am in keeping in contact, I'm blocking your number. Take care and Merry Christmas. Ethan.>
The passion in his words makes my throat close up. I’ve never seen a more perfectly worded smackdown. I look over at him. “You know, I do look better in that lingerie.
He gives me a smug smile. "Yeah, you do."
I walk over and slide the phone back into his pocket. "So, I guess you're not leaving me for her?"
"Jesus, sweetheart, why would I do that? Besides the fact that you’re the love of my life, she's a goddamn sociopath." He puts his arms around me. "But you know what? Even with her mind games and manipulations, I’m not angry about what she did in the past. I mean, I've imagined what I'd do if I ever ran into her, and honestly, most of those scenarios involved me running into her with my car. But when I was faced with the actual woman standing there, all I felt was ... grateful."
Okay, wasn't expecting that. "Why grateful?"
"Because if it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be who I am today. And I really like who I am. I mean, despite what you keep telling me, I know I'm not perfect –"
"Lies," I say and wind my arms around his neck.
"And I still tend to be an * on the regular, but I'm a happy *." He cups my face and rubs his thumb over my cheekbone. "An * who's lucky enough to be marrying the most beautiful, sexy, talented, incredible woman in the world. And in a way, I owe that all to Vanessa."
He leans down and kisses me, and his mouth is warm and sweet, and affects me in too many ways to describe. In that moment, I know for sure that he never kissed Vanessa with this much passion.
When he pulls back, we're both breathless.
"I'm sorry," I say. "For doubting you. For being a paranoid mess."
He presses his forehead to mine. "Don't apologize. In this situation, paranoia is normal. But trust me when I say that you never have to worry about me having feelings for someone else. As far as women go, I have tunnel vision. All I see – all I want to see – is you. And as for Vanessa, I actually feel sorry for her, because she's never going to know a love like ours. She's incapable of it, and that's a f*cking shame. Because everyone should get to feel how I feel about you."
His expression turns serious, and goosebumps flare across my skin, and even though his voice is quiet, I can feel the heat of his intensity.
"How I love you, Cassie? It's like heaven and hell all wrapped up into one. I love you so much I worry that my chest will crack open most days. You know that old saying when life is good, that your cup runneth over? That's how my heart feels. It could be the size of a planet and still not be big enough for all the love I have for you."
"I feel the same way." I take a breath, bracing to voice something that has always played on my mind. "But Vanessa has one thing over me I can never compete with. She was your first love. And no matter how much I hate that, I can't do anything about it."
He's silent for a moment, and when I look up, I watch his expression morph from sympathy to determination, before he levels me with a steely gaze.
"Cassie, listen to me when I say this, because truer words have never been spoken. You are my first love. I didn't even know the meaning of the word until you crashed into my life, and I wouldn't change that for anything. You made me a better man, and every part of me loves you more than I can even describe. Compared with you, I didn't even like Vanessa."
The joy I feel is visceral and intoxicating. After so many years of thinking I'm his second choice, I'm beyond relieved to find out I've been wrong.
He tightens his arms around me when he sees my expression. "Cassie, you are my first, my last, and every love in between. How do you not know that by now? You're my one and only. And that's something no one else will ever be. And if you don't believe my words, then I'll sure as hell make you believe my actions."
When he kisses me, it isn't gentle. He tangles his fingers into my hair and pulls my head back so he can cover my mouth with his. I gasp when our tongues touch, and that only makes him kiss me more deeply.