A Love Like This by Kahlen Aymes Read Free Book Online Page B

amazing and I told myself once more how lucky I
was.
    My phone was on the table in the entryway
where I’d left it with my keys and I heard it vibrate from the
other room.
    “Hey, babe,” I answered on the third
ring.
    “Hi. Where are you?”
    “I just got back to the room. Are Jenna and
Aaron gone? I wasn’t there to see them off, but Aaron isn’t big on
pomp and circumstance and I’m wiped.”
    “Mmm huh, they left a few minutes ago.”
    “Are you still with Ellie?”
    “Yes. Although I think I’ve talked her into
speaking with Harris, or at least letting him back in their room
tonight. She just called him.”
    “It sounds like a fucked up mess to me. I
talked to Harris but I’ll tell you about it tomorrow on the
plane.”
    “I’ll try to get back before too long. Don’t
wait up, honey. Get some sleep.”
    “Will you wake me up when you get here?” I
asked softly, not able to bear the loss of any time in her
arms.
    She sighed into the phone. “Ryan, you need
sleep so badly. Tomorrow night you have to work and I want you to
be rested.”
    “I can sleep when I’m dead and the flight
isn’t until two in the afternoon so we can sleep in a little. Even
if it’s just to talk to you or hold you, I want you to wake me up.
Please don’t argue. Fighting is the last thing on my mind tonight,”
I murmured and I could picture the soft smile lifting the sides of
her luscious mouth. “I want to kiss you goodnight.”
    “Okay.” She sighed softly.
    “Promise?”
    “Yes. I promise. Love you.”
    “Okay, babes. Love you.”
     

    Ellie was in the bathroom. I glanced at my
watch, wondering when Harris would come up to the room. My friend
was a disaster. There was no other way to put it. She’d worked hard
to keep the problems to herself and not let Jen or Aaron in on the
drama during this weekend, but Jenna could sense it as easily as I
could. Both she and Harris had put on good game faces and got
through it, but they were struggling and my heart was breaking for
them.
    Ellie was taking a bath in an attempt to
calm down and I dug some Advil out of my purse and put it on the
bedside table with a glass of water. I also had Tylenol PM, but
since she’d had wine tonight, I decided the other would be
best.
    “Julia?” she called from the other room.
    I stood up from the edge of the bed and went
to the door. “Yes, Ellie? Do you need anything?”
    “Thank you for being with me so much
tonight. I get that Ryan is unhappy that you’re with me instead of
him.”
    I put a hand on the door. “He’s okay. He
understands and he loves you, too. He wants me to take care of you.
You’ve done so much for us, so don’t worry.”
    The sound clicking as the keycard was
inserted on the other side of the door alerted me to Harris’s
arrival. “Harris is here, Ellie. I think I should go now, okay?
Give you guys some privacy?”
    “Okay, Julia. Thank you. Will I see you
tomorrow?” Her voice held prevalent evidence from her tears, her
nose clearly stuffed up.
    “We don’t leave until the early afternoon,
so sure. Just call me when you get up.”
    “Okay.” I heard the water slosh as she got
out of the tub. I turned to see a weary Harris enter the room. My
arms opened and his folded around me automatically. He buried his
face in my neck.
    “I’m so sorry for the both of you, sweetie,”
I said softly and stroked the back of his head. “I hate to see you
suffering like this, but don’t give up.”
    He nodded against me and then moved out of
my arms to pour himself a drink from the refrigerator that was
hidden in the armoire below the television. They didn’t have a
suite like Ryan and I did, but the room was still very nice.
    “Thanks, Jules. You and Ryan are good
friends.”
    “Ellie told me you’re going to Canada early.
What time is your flight?”
    “Six AM,” he said sadly. “Did she tell you
that she thinks I fucked a groupie? Because, I didn’t.”
    I sighed, my heart tightening in my chest.
“I