To my amazement, flames blaze to life behind Ella’s eyes, and she slams her hands over her ears, glaring at me with so much hurt and animosity that the gesture no longer seems childish. A world of pain and betrayal swirls in her brilliant irises, and I remember that she’s not only a woman who’s been deeply scarred by her past, but also one who is battling a thousand raging hormones. Exhaling heavily, I remove my palm from her tummy in order to pull her hands away from her ears. As soon as I do, her eyes fill with tears, and I realize how afraid she is of having her fears confirmed.
“I didn’t lie to you.” I repeat, deciding that this will have to do for now. “When you’re ready to listen to me, I’ll explain everything, but right now I need you to know that everything that has happened since
