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He walked over to the rail and looked out into the htly off the ocean water In another situation, the view and this night--everything about this--ht actually be incredibly romantic

"I love you, Ella" He turned back to look at her "I really think that if we try we can have sos are gonna work out for you and Felix I think, deep inside, you know that’s true also He’s just gotten to you I could stand around silently and wait for it to fall apart, but it kills et hurt"

Ella’s phone buzzed in her hand It almost hurt to send Felix’s call to voiceone on this long

She sed back the eic ht hiuy "I appreciate your concern, Grayson I really do And I appreciate everything that you’ve done formy chances with Felix You shouldn’t wait around either because even if things don’t work out between his between you and o," she said, walking away before he could say anything else that ht rattle her

"I’ll be here for you, Ella, and I won’t say I told you so either Just know that I’ll be here for you"

Ella kept walking without looking back or even slowing She didn’t wait until she was in the comfort of her room to call Felix She couldn’t He’d already called twice and texted her to ask if they were skipping tonight’s call as if she weren’t dying to hear his voice already

Only tonight she knew the call wouldn’t be quite as warm and fuzzy as they usually were because there was no way she could keep this from him anymore

"Hey, baby," he answered in his usual cheery voice "I hope I didn’t keep you fro We can keep this short if you’re busy with your dad"

"No," she said, her voice a bit strained "I didn’t realize it was this late already, and"--she took a deep breath, clutching the phone--"I got caught up in, uh, a bit of an arguument?" Felix’s cheery mood instantly deflected to concerned "With who? Your dad?"

"No With Grayson" She stared out at the ocean, her heart racing at Felix’s ue with you?"

"No, he’s here"--she closed her eyes--"on the cruise"

Chapter 20

Felix