AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I focus back on the girl and grasp her hand. As she pulls me up, I mutter, "It's okay." I don't want more attention. Peeking at Hudson again, I add, "Is he okay?"
The girl snorts. "Depends." Just as she says the word, her brother begins to tilt forward, and she latches onto his arm, whisper shouting, "Jesus, H. Get your shit together." She drags him over to one of the high tops and deposits him on the barstool where he instantly drops his head on his forearms on the table. I cross my arms in front of my chest and watch the scene.
Turning back to me, a genuine smile spreads across her face, and she holds out a hand again. "Hi. I'm Elle. I figured I have to properly introduce myself and apologize for dumb-dumb over there one more time." She tilts her head toward a now snoring Hudson.
My brows shoot up at the sound coming from him, and Elle briefly closes her eyes, mumbling, "I'm so going to rip him a new one when we get home."
That makes me snort, their relationship reminding me of my own with Nate. Not that I've ever seen my brother trashed like this.
"So..." she chirps, "what do I get you?"
My pulse speeds up. "Oh, no, I...uh—I should leave."
"Nonsense. Tell me, or I order you one of everything."
Wha—? Who is this girl?
"Well, um...Earl Grey and a scone?" My response sounds more like a question.
"You got it." She nods. "Do you mind making sure baby bro doesn't faceplant off his chair while I get your stuff? And some black coffee for him."
How did I end up babysitting a drunk dude who cannot be much older than me?
"Uh, sure?" Again, more a question.
I warily eye Hudson as I perch on the barstool next to him. This is so not how I expected this morning to go. Elle is back a few minutes later, my tea and scone in hand, and the barista in tow with two coffees.
"I didn't catch your name earlier." She seems genuine, but every muscle in my body tenses. Shit.
"Uh...Lilly." I omit the last name. If she's seen the news lately or has access to the Internet, she knows who I am.
Her eyes widen for a fraction of a second before she composes herself.
Yup, she knows.
I sigh inwardly and take that as my cue. "I should probably..." I start pushing off the table.
"No! I'm sorry. Please stay!" Glancing at her brother, she adds, "I'm stuck here for a while. There is no way I can drag his ass to the car. Keep me company. Please?"
"I don't know." I let my eyes wander, but everyone else has gone back to whatever they were doing.
Suddenly, a hand covers mine, and I jolt. Elle pulls back. "Listen...Lilly. Most people probably would recognize you if they knew you were here. Your name...and face are all over the Internet. You just...surprised me. I mean, aren't you supposed to be on the East Coast or wherever?"
I stare at her, my mouth dry. What am I supposed to say to that?
Then she rushes out. "Never mind. It's not important. Just... Let's chat." She shrugs, and her eyes turn sad as she looks at the boy sleeping with his head on the table.
"What’s going on with him?" I whisper, feeling like I’m intruding on something private.
Elle sighs. "I wish I knew. He's spiraling, and it's mostly my fault. So, when he calls me in the middle of the night to drive to LA to pick him up at a frat party he has zero business of being at, I do it."
"He’s in college?" He doesn't look like it, but I don't want to sound like a bitch.
She huffs out a laugh. "Hell no, we're both seniors. Though, H here is eleven months younger than me."
My eyes widen, and she quickly adds, "He’s my half-brother. Different moms."
I nod. Who am I to judge anyone on their family history?
