How to Fall in Love by Bella Jewel Page B

hurt like that since the night his whole world changed. He’s right, and that hurts more than anything. I promised him I’d always be there for him, no matter what, and the moment it got hard I ran.
    I’m a damned fool, and not for a second did I stop and think about my part in our marriage breaking up.
    “Let’s go to the slide,” Immy cries when the swing stops.
    “Okay, baby.”
    I follow her over and spend the next hour playing catch with her. By the time we’re done, I’m exhausted. We get ice cream and then head back home, so she can have a nap.
    The moment she’s down, I start thinking about my next move. I need to talk to Max, for real, not just a yelling match. I need answers. I need to know what happened that night. I need to know what the hell went wrong.
    “Hey.”
    I look up from my spot on the sofa and see Pippa leaning against the wall.
    “Hey, Pip.” I force a smile.
    She walks in and sits down beside me. “How are you feeling?”
    “You mean after I had a screaming match with my husband last night?”
    She nods. “Yeah. You were so upset. I’ve been so worried.”
    “I screwed up big time, Pip. I hurt him, and I didn’t even realize I had been doing it.”
    “I heard a fair bit of what was said; it was hard to miss. How did what he said make you feel?”
    I cross my legs and stare down at my hands. “Like a damned fool. He’s right; I ran when things got hard.”
    “You had your reasons. I don’t think it was entirely your fault or his; I think you were both suffering and things were hard.”
    “But to just disappear in his time of need and then return five years later with a child . . . that seems so wrong the more I think about it.”
    She reaches over and takes my hand. “You both made mistakes, and you did what you thought you had to at the time. Take it from me—sometimes you don’t realize what you’re doing is wrong until it’s thrown in your face. You went on instinct; you wanted to protect your little girl. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”
    “He was breaking,” I say, and my voice hitches. “And I let him down.”
    “Oh, honey.”
    “I have to fix this, Pippa, but I don’t know how.”
    “The only way to fix it is to talk it out with him, but right now I think you both need time.”
    I look her in the eyes. “I don’t think I have time. I’m going to see him on the weekend, Pippa. I have to finish this, for the sake of Imogen.”
    She smiles and squeezes my hand. “You do what you have to do.”
    She pulls me close and I hug her.
    I pray I’m doing the right thing.
    ––––––––

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    THEN - TWO YEARS LATER
    B elle laughs as I get down on my knee, staring up at her. She doesn’t think I’m serious, but I am. I want to marry this girl more than I want my next breath. I stare up into her crystal blue eyes and I know she’s the only thing I’ll ever keep fighting for. Every single year that passes, my love for her gets stronger, deeper, more intense, until I think it can’t get any better.
    But it always does.
    Now I’m on one knee in front of her. We’re at the park and have been swinging on the swings like little children. We do these kinds of things a lot, and I fucking love her for bringing the simplest things to life, making them seem so fun you wondered how you ever lived without them.
    “Max.” She laughs, staring down at me, her eyes bright. “Stop messing around.”
    “What makes you think I’m kidding, Blue Belle?” I ask, my face serious.
    Her laughter fades and her eyes start sparkling with tears. “Max,” she croaks.
    “You didn’t think I’d go the rest of my life without making you mine, did you?”
    She presses a hand over her mouth and a tear spills over.
    “Fuck, Blue Belle, you’re so damned cute it hurts my heart. I don’t think I could physically live any day without you in it. You make everything . . .” My voice trails off as emotion gets thick in my throat.
    Shit, I’m not doing