“I’ve got pancakes, bacon, eggs. There’s fruit in the fridge,” I said, pointing toward it with the end of my spatula.
“Damn,” she replied with another yawn, heading to the fridge and pulling out the container of fruit. She popped the lid, grabbed a strawberry, and hopped up onto the counter.
Silence filled the kitchen, which was rare when Ellie was around. Usually, she’d be tossing out random questions or talking a mile a minute. But now, she was quiet, her eyes vacant as she chewed, her mind clearly elsewhere.
I let her be.
When the food was ready, I piled everything onto plates and handed her one along with a fork. She took it with a small, appreciative smile. I leaned against the counter beside her, digging in.
Then I glanced over and said softly, “Talk to me.”
I needed to get inside her head, to know exactly what she went through, and be the place where she placed what she was currently feeling.
I was furious and I wanted to know every damn detail.
With a deep sigh, she paused to gather her thoughts.
“Thank you for last night,” she said, lifting another forkful of food to her lips. “Everything happened so fast, and I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t know where to go, but… my body told me to come here.”
I nodded in understanding. “You’re always welcome here, Ace. Anytime, no matter what, you know I’ll be there.”
I’d drop everything if she ever needed me. I didn’t know what that said about me, maybe that I was hopelessly in love with my best friend’s little sister, but I’d stopped denying the pull she had on me a long time ago.
“I just can’t believe I was so stupid,” she said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Why did I even go? All day, my gut told me not to. That it was a bad idea. But I’m too optimistic. I thought maybe we just got off on the wrong foot. Funny how I ignored myself then, but when my conscious screamed to come here… I listened.”
“You’re not stupid,” I said, and she shot me a look.
“I mean it,” I added quickly. “You see the good in people. And after everything you’ve been through, it’s a miracle you still do. That’s not stupid, Ellie. That’s… admirable.”
She let out a sharp, humorless laugh and shook her head. “This town is cursed. It doesn’t want me to be happy.”
“You don’t seriously believe that,” I said, trying to keep my voice soft, grounding.
“How can I not?” she asked, putting her plate down and straightening. “First, I dated a guy for most of my teenage years—then he cheated on me.” One finger. “And the only reason I found out was because he got someone else pregnant.” Two fingers. “Then, I come back home and find myself tangled up with another asshole, who I don’t even realize is a total monster until he’s throwing me around his kitchen because I was ‘playing games.’” Three fingers. Her hand dropped to her lap like the weight of it all had grown too heavy to hold. “Besides all the troubles I have with my romantic life, I feel like I am lost in this town. I am starting over, working for a flower shop, and I have nothing to show for it, and it’s frustrating.”
“He threw you?” My voice was tight, my body shaking with contained rage. Miles putting his hands on her was all I could focus on.
“Mm-hmm,” she said quietly. “Like a rag doll. Slammed me into the counter a couple times. He was so mad… spit was flying in my face as he screamed at me.”
Her calm tone was jarring. Like she was reciting someone else’s story. Meanwhile, I was gripping the edge of the counter so tightly my knuckles turned white.
“What a piece of shit,” I muttered, placing my plate down. Suddenly, I had no appetite.
Ellie picked hers back up like she didn’t want to waste the food. But her eyes were distant.
“Maybe it’s a sign I need to leave,” she said softly. “Maybe I’m not meant to be here anymore. I felt better on the road. Free.”
My gut twisted. She couldn’t leave.
“Ellie… leaving for good isn’t the answer.”
“Oh?” she said with a flat laugh. “Do you have a crystal ball hidden somewhere? Know something I don’t?”
“No, wise ass,” I said, giving her a pointed look that finally drew out a real smile. Faint, but there.
“Don’t let some city guy be the reason you give up on Faircloud,” I continued. “There are people here who love you.” Me. “People who want the best for you and would never hurt you.” Also me—but I didn’t say that.
Mac’s voice echoed in my head—the conversation we’d had about telling her how I felt. But I couldn’t, not now. Not after what she’d been through. It appeared timing was never on my side. Still, I’d wait a lifetime if I had to. The way I felt about Ellie, there was no expiration date on that.
