He Chose Her Over Me So I Chose Myself Chapter 19
“It’s not awful.”
Eli’s voice was calm and steady.
“Pulling yourself out of a toxic environment takes far more courage than staying and pretending everything’s fine. You weren’t running. You were saving yourself.”
I stared at him, and slowly, my clenched fingers loosened.
“After hearing all of this,” he said, “the only thing I can think is that I wish I’d met you sooner.”
Eli looked at me.
“When Grant took the VIP pass away, when they pushed you to accept the downstairs apartment, when you saw everyone online calling you the Mercer family’s ‘lucky charm’—I wish I’d been there for all of it.”
“I would have told you then that you didn’t need anyone’s permission. You were already good enough.”
My nose stung so suddenly I had to lower my head, but then I heard him laugh softly.
“My brother wakes up every day asking if he can come to your studio. Doesn’t that prove you’re a wonderful person?”
He paused, then said my name with a gentle seriousness.
“June, I like you.”
“I like the way you get so focused when you cut glass that you can’t hear anyone talking. I like the way you stand in the sunlight trying to read a color. And I like the way you crouch down and show my brother how to use his tools, over and over, without ever getting annoyed.”
Every single thing had nothing to do with Camille.
Eli held out his hand, but he didn’t rush me.
“I want you to know what it feels like to be someone’s first choice.”
I looked at his hand, my heart trembling.
“But I’m not as exceptional as Camille.”
“People don’t love someone because they’re better than other people.”
He didn’t compare me to anyone. He simply waited.
“I like you because you’re June.”
This time, I didn’t retreat.
I put my hand in his.