My Missing Puzzle Piece (Creekside Falls #1) (26 page)

She took a deep breath and kept on going.

“I shouldn’t have said what I said or made you think I didn’t believe in you or trust you because I did and still
do. I should have been in your corner, on your side the whole time no matter what and no matter who it was for. You would have done that for me and made sure I knew it. I let you down and hurt you and I am
so
sorry. I understand why you ended things but I had to say that and let you know that no matter what I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone. I do trust you, believe in you and know I should have been there for you.”

Elle had tears streaming down her face when she looked up at Trevor he was standing there still as stone with a blank look on his face but glassy eyes. At least she was able to say what she came to say. He gave her that much -- this time around.

“Well, that’s what I wanted to say and you let me say it so thanks. Goodbye Trevor.” She reached up with shaky hands to attempt a hug but he didn’t move so she stopped and walked out the door closing it gently behind her. She stopped on his front steps again and just let herself cry for a minute before she started walking to her car. This time she was going to get in and drive away. When he had her leave before she couldn’t make herself leave, but she had done what she came to do and even though she felt hollowed out at least she knew he had heard her.

Trevor couldn’t believe Elle had just been so forceful and aggressive just so he would hear her out. He knew she wasn’t like that and she wouldn’t be unless she felt she had to. It was obvious she was determined for him to hear her apology. Damn, she apologized! She even said everything he wanted to hear. She nailed exactly how he was feeling. She knew him so well.

Trevor opened the door hoping to catch Elle and at least tell her he understood and…hell if he knew what else to say or do.

“Elle!” Trevor yelled, she stopped where she was and turned around. Her cheeks were glistening with tears. He mentally cursed himself for reacting the way he did when she went to hug him. What if that really was goodbye for them and that’s how he left it?

“What? Is there something I forgot to say that you now want to hear from me?” She said coldly taking a few small steps towards him.

“No. You said everything but now I wanted to say something.” She stood stone still. “Will you at least come in so I can say what I have to say without my neighbors hearing our business?”

“Fine, what do I have to lose?” She said sarcastically as she walked past him and towards his condo. And added under her breath, “I already lost you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He said defensively.

“You think this was easy for me? To come here when I’ve been miserable and feel like shit because my heart is broken into what feels like more pieces than is possible and knowing that I broke yours in the process. I knew I needed to apologize to you and don’t get me wrong I meant every damn word but you practically threw me out when I tried the first time, as if that wasn’t hard enough, then you didn’t say a word or even show an expression on your face when I barreled in the second time and now I am supposed to come in and listen to you!” Elle said outraged. They had made it into his
condo before she launched into her tirade and Trevor closed the door.

“I know it wasn’t easy and I didn’t make it easier but you’re not the only one who feels broken.” Trevor said with a hurting heart.

“I know, I did just say that. Or weren’t you listening to me?” Elle said a sneer.

Inside the condo he turned to Elle who was leaning slack on his front door and said, “Why did you do it?”

“Do what?” Elle asked mystified

“Defend Rob.” Trevor

“I thought I said this before or weren’t you listening. I wasn’t thinking about who he is now just the guy I knew a long time ago. Also, it is my nature to think the best of people Trevor, to give the benefit of the doubt and assume the best.” Elle said slightly annoyed.

“I heard every word you said. That’s the only reason?”

“What the hell are you trying to ask? You want to know if I have a thing for him?” Elle said practically yelling.

Trevor raised his voice too, “Yeah I guess I am.”

“We went over this already. No I don’t. We may have had a thing in high school but it’s been over for me for a long time! My God, we were kids! Maybe he does still have a thing for me but it’s only on his end.”

“There’s no maybe about it. It was plain as day he still has a thing for you. Hell he even told me that when I fired his ass.” Trevor said as his face turned red.

“Well too damn bad because I don’t want him so he can have a thing all he wants.” She took a deep breath. “Trevor I can’t keep doing this. If this is why you had me
come in then I’m throwing in the white flag, I’m done. I can’t take this.” Elle said as more tears escaped and she lifted a shaking hand to wipe them away. “You know I haven’t even approached the fact that you said your business was the most important thing in the world to you. I have tried to tell myself that you weren’t comparing it to me, but that hurt me Trevor, and it’s a big reason why it took me so long to come over here and apologize to you.”

Trevor mentally cursed himself for doing this to her and for saying something so asinine like that. He didn’t even remember saying it and it wasn’t true anyway. Neither of them deserved this. “Elle, my business may be the most important thing to me, but it is just a thing…I built it from the ground up and someone was trying to tear it down. I was in a panic and I was mad, at him and at you, I don’t even remember saying that, and it’s not really true anyway…I don’t want to keep doing this. I just want it all to be done.”

“Okay.” Elle turned and started to open the door, she couldn’t contain the wrenching sob that escaped her throat and the flood of tears that streamed down her cheeks.

“Where are you going?” Trevor asked with a hint of confusion and pain etched in his voice.

“I’m leaving. You said you wanted it all done so it’s done.” Elle said with her back to him and one foot literally out the door.

“I want this fight, argument or whatever it is to be done but not me and you. I can’t do that.” Trevor said hoping his voice sounded convincing not shaky like he was feeling inside and out.

“I shouldn’t have tried to grill you about Rob when you came in, I heard every word you said before and I believe you but I still feel hurt and angry that you didn’t have my back or have trust in me, but you completely and blindly put it into Rob.” Trevor said to her back.

Elle took a step back and closed the door but didn’t turn around to face Trevor because it would hurt too much and because she knew she needed to go as soon as he finished because they wouldn’t be able to move past this.

With her back still turned said, “I know you do. I’m sorry about that and if I could change it I would. But I can’t.”

“I know. Do you want still want me?” Trevor asked with so much uncertainly in his voice that he wanted to call his words back.

He hated how insecure his voice sounded when he asked Elle if she still wanted him and it wasn’t only physically. He wanted everything with her and needed to know if she still wanted it with him before he went any further down this road. It was all or nothing.

“What kind of question is that?” Elle said as she half turned to him.

“I was just wondering. It’s been hell without you and I never wanted anyone like I want you and probably won’t again, you are THE most important person in my life. I can’t let this stop us. Do you still want me?” Trevor asked again this time with more confidence in his voice.

“Yeah it’s been miserable for me too, I felt like I went cliff diving and never stopped falling. Of course I want you. How could you think I wouldn’t? I never stopped, I
thought for a whole minute when we were together that we could have whatever we wanted as long as we were together. But I guess I was wrong.” Elle said with defeat laced in her voice.

“What if you weren’t wrong? What if we gave this another shot?” Trevor looked directly into Elle’s eyes.

This time Elle turned to face him fully. “You want to try again with us? Can you honestly forgive me?”

“I don’t know if I can forget it but I
can
forgive you if you’ll forgive me for the stupid thing I said, and know this one thing for damn sure, I don’t want to lose you or let you go ever again.”

“It broke my heart to give up on us and to not see or talk to you all this time. I think that made it worse if that’s even possible.”

“I know I feel the same way. What do you say we try again and move past this, see what happens?”

“You sure?” Elle said hoping her voice didn’t sound as shaky to Trevor as it did to her own ears.

“Never been more sure of anything before.”

Elle ran to Trevor and literally launched herself into his arms and kept saying between kisses, “I’m sorry and was so wrong and I shouldn’t have reacted like that or let it come between us.”

“I’m sorry I made you cry and made you think you’re not important to me.” Trevor said to Elle when they stopped kissing for a minute.

“I’m sorry I hurt you and made you think for even a second I don’t have trust in you or wouldn’t have your back. I’d be the first one up there fighting for you.” Elle
said with such conviction in her voice, as she looked Trevor in the eyes.

“Stop saying you’re sorry, I forgive you.”

Trevor believed her, the whole thing was shitty sure but they could get past it. He wasn’t letting her go again; he’d only make that mistake once. He never felt more at ease and settled then he did right now with her arms wrapped around him and his around her.

Elle was so happy how things turned out for them. She didn’t see this coming when she came to apologize. A reconciliation wasn’t what she thought was in the cards for them especially after the way she hurt and let him down, but he was more amazing than ever in her eyes; he forgave her and they were moving forward.

lle glanced over to his dining room table and saw a pile of textbooks and notebooks piled on it. “What’s all that stuff?” she said gesturing to his table

“Nothing,” Trevor said, he could’ve kicked himself for leaving that out when he went after her. He didn’t want her to know, it was bad enough Jake knew. He felt his face getting hot and hoped it wasn’t making his face red too.

“What do you mean nothing? If it is than it looks like a lot of nothing. Especially if it’s making your face turn red.”

“Fine,” Trevor took a deep breath before finishing. “It’s for school.” He felt his face get even hotter.

“For school?” Elle said confused at what he meant.

“I’ve been taking classes and that’s what they’re for.”

“Classes? For college?” Elle asked.

“Yeah, I’m almost done with my associate’s for business management.” Trevor said sounding insecure and nervous.

“How done is almost done?”

“I finish in December.”

“This December?”

Trevor just nodded.

Elle looked up at him with such pride, but that pride quickly faded to something more along the lines of hurt. “You kept this a secret from me?”

“Yeah but it wasn’t just you. I didn’t tell anyone. No one knew until Jake saw all that a few days ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone? This is amazing! I’m so proud of you.” Elle said admiringly.

“Because I didn’t want anyone to know I guess, especially if it didn’t go well. You’re proud of me?” Trevor said, amazed at how much her saying that meant to him. He knew he shouldn’t have ended things with her because she was defending Rob; he should have tried to work it out. He was glad they were back together again and he was still hurt a little but her pride in him, made all that insignificant. She really meant it.

“So you were going to graduate without anyone being there to see you go get your degree? Why would you think anyone around you would be anything but happy and proud of you?”

“I didn’t think about that, I guess.”

“Well I’m gonna be screaming so loud for you when you get that degree. You worked hard for it and did it because you wanted to, not because you had to.” Then she hesitated.

“Wait, I didn’t mean to overstep and assume you’d have me there. But I can promise you that it won’t be
because we’re not together. I was ridiculous I let you go once, but I won’t ever do that again.”