Ella’s heart stopped beating for a brief second, “Wh…what are you talking about?”

“Oh come on Ella, don’t do this. Just tell me the truth. What’s going on between you and Taylor?” Ty asked standing up. Normally Ella liked how tall he was, but at that moment he felt overpowering.

“Nothing,” she said. It was the truth…now. She had just ended anything that may have been going on.

“So you just often sneak out in the middle of the night to meet guys? Because that might be something I need to know if we’re going to get married.”

Ella sighed, “Look…things got a little confusing with Taylor and I. We hadn’t seen each other in so long and it just sort of…happened.”

“What sort of happened?” Ty asked carefully.

Ella shrugged, looking down at the floor. She felt the tears burning her eyes. Ty stepped closer, “Ella, did you cheat on me?” A simple bow of her head answered the question. She could hear Ty’s breath catch in his throat.

“I’m so sorry Ty,” she said looking up finally, the tears running down her face, “I didn’t mean for it to happen. I feel awful, I never wanted to hurt you…”

“Do…do you have feelings for him?” Ty choked out.

Ella furiously shook her head, trying to convince herself it was the truth, “I just got confused, but I ended everything with him. I told him I could never see him again and that I was happy and that I wanted to marry you.”

“Ella,” Ty said cupping her face in his hands, “I know I shouldn’t, but I can forgive the cheating.” She let out a sigh of relief. “But I can’t marry you if you have feelings for someone else, or if I think you do because I will drive myself mad wondering if and when you are going to run off with him.”

“I don’t. I’ll do anything to prove to you that I want to be with you and only you,” she said sniffling back the tears.

There was a long silence, “Will you go back to Colorado with me tomorrow and marry me right away?”

“But…”

“What’s the point in waiting El? If we’re going to do it, let’s just do it. We can still have a big party later for everyone. Why waste all this time and energy planning this thing. Let’s just do it.”

“I…I can’t,” Ella pleaded.

“Yes you can! I want you to be mine. I need you to be mine.”

Ella lowered her head in defeat. If this was what it took then she would do it. “Okay,” she said quietly.

“Really?!” Ty said excitedly.

Ella just nodded and forced a smile as she looked up at him. Ty pressed his lips to hers and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Ella gave in to his desires and allowed herself to kiss back. She wasn’t so sure that this was the best idea. It would kill Taylor, but she had promised herself to Ty. She did love him, she’d be okay.

The following morning, early before anyone woke up, Ty booked himself and Ella two tickets back to Colorado. They quietly packed everything up and left the house leaving only a note behind.

Mom-
I’m sorry things have to happen like this, but it’s just something that I have to do. Ty and I went back to Colorado and we are getting married tomorrow. We will have a large reception later for everyone, but we are just going to go to the court house and get it done. I will explain everything later…
Love,
Ella
P.S. If you see Taylor, tell him I’m sorry and that I hope he finds happiness.

* * * *

Taylor didn’t sleep at all that night. In fact, he had stayed at the park for hours after Ella had left trying to figure out how everything had gone so wrong. He had just lost the love of his life for the second time. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. Everything he wanted had walked away from him and he just let her go. He should’ve fought harder. He shouldn’t have let it be so easy for her.

He couldn’t let it end like that and so as soon as it was a reasonable hour, he jumped in his car and sped over to Ella’s house. He banged on the front door, sheer determination fueling his every move. He was going to get Ella back, he didn’t even care if it ended in a fight with Ty. There was no way he was letting her go.

“Taylor,” Ella’s mom, Nicole, said when she answered the door, “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to her,” Taylor said walking in the door.

“She’s gone hon,” Nicole said sadly, “She and Ty got on a plane this morning.” Nicole handed Taylor the note that she had found on the kitchen counter.

Taylor read Ella’s handwritten note and felt his knees buckle at the line ‘we are getting married tomorrow’.

“No, this can’t be happening,” he said to himself.

“Taylor listen to me,” Nicole said taking the note back, “I know I shouldn’t do this, but I know Ella loves you. She always has. You need to go to Colorado and stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life.”

Taylor was shocked. Was she really telling him to go break up her daughter’s marriage?

“Wh…what?” he stammered.

“Go get Ella and bring her back here where she belongs…with you,” Nicole said pushing him toward the front door, “Call me when you get there and I will tell you how to get to her.”

Taylor knew it was crazy, but he took off running down the drive to his car. He was going to get Ella.

Chapter 17