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“I need to check them,” she says quietly. “I’m waiting to hear from Nate.”
I sit down next to her, offering a curious glance. “Nate?”
“Mom told me he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore,” she explains, her voice small. “I didn’t want to believe her but then he didn’t answer any of my calls, and he’s not texting me back…”
She looks so forlorn; it just breaks my heart. I know this more than anything else is what’s caused this uncharacteristic bout of melancholy.
“There could be a million reasons why he hasn’t got back to you yet,” I say softly. “Maybe he’s traveling. Or hanging with friends. Or hungover—it was New Year’s Eve last night, remember?”
She shrugs, letting out a reluctant sigh. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Or maybe he just needs some more time,” I suggest. “Maybe your parents do, too.”
She looks doubtful, so I decide to let her in on a piece of information very few others know.I’mnot even supposed to know about it.
“Trust me, it happens. Not many people know this, but when Shay first came out my parents didn’t handle it well at all.”
Ellie’s eyes widen, her mouth parting in surprise. “But…your parents are the most accepting, amazing people ever.”
I shrug. “This was the nineties we’re talking about. There was enough stigma about homosexuality as it was. Add in the fact that Mom and Da are Catholic, and, well…” I trail off with a shrug. “I don’t really remember the specifics. I was only ten when it all happened and all I can really remember is Shay going off to college and not coming home for a while. I thought he’d gotten sick of us or something. It wasn’t until years later, after Dec came out, that Liam let slip to me the full story of what happened. Shay never came home ‘cause Mom and Da told him not to.”
Ellie swallows, her sea green eyes fixed on me in a gaze that’s part hope, part skepticism. “So, are you saying I should just stay positive and wait for my family to have the same kind of epiphany your parents did about Shay?”
I offer her a soft smile and reach out to brush my thumb over her cheek. “I’m saying there’s a chance. And even if your parents don’t ever change their spots, I don’t think you should count your brother out. Just give him some time. And in the meantime, how about we get rid of this shit?” I fiddle around with her phone for a moment, deleting all the apps in her social media folder. Once I’m done, I pass her phone back. “There we go. No more socials.”
She just stares at me, dumbstruck. “I can’t just quit social media, Finn! I have a platform to maintain.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything to your accounts. I just deleted the apps—you can re-download them once all this has blown over.”
She sighs, running a hand through her hair. “I can’t believe this is happening. I mean, shit, Finn—you should see some of the stuff people are saying. Not that I should be surprised,” she adds with a scowl.
“Don’t give those assholes any more thought,” I tell her. “I know it’s easier said than done, but none of them deserve even a second of your time or attention. I know you don’t need me to tell you this, but I’m going to anyway…” I look deep into her eyes and utter the words I’ve been wanting to say for months. “You are the most beautiful women I’ve ever met. Everything about you, inside and out, is just…stunning. Honestly, half the time I find it hard to believe you’re even real.”
“Finn…” There’s a touch of confusion on her features, but there’s also warmth and affection in her eyes, and that gives me the courage to keep going.
“Look, just listen to me for a second, okay?”
She nods. “Okay. But…you’re not doing that thing where you say the opposite of what you actually think, right?”
I shake my head slowly, offering a wry smile. “I’m done with loopholes, and I don’t give a shit about the stupid bet. I just want you,” I tell her, my expression as sincere as I can make it. “And I don’t just mean in bed. I want you all the time. Everywhere. In every way. I want your smile, and your laugh, and your heart. I want your trust, and your time, and your love. I want to be the first person you call when things get messy. I want to be your number one.” I reach out to cup her face, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “Because you’re mine.”
Her eyes are glazed with unshed tears and I panic, dropping my hand from her face. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
I don’t get the rest of the apology out because she reaches for me, linking her arm around my neck and drawing me toward her for a searing kiss.
“Um, so does that mean you like what I said?” I ask when we break the kiss, a hesitant smile touching my lips.
She lets out a soft laugh. “You’re such an idiot.”
And then we’re kissing again. It feels different to all the other times we’ve kissed, because this time neither of us is holding anything back. It’s free, and wild, and all-consuming. And so freakin’ perfect, I never want to stop.
Groaning into her lips, I reach out and haul her across the couch so she’s straddling my lap. We grind against each other, our lips still fused together as though they’ve been Krazy Glued.
Eventually, we manage to tear apart just long enough to tug each other’s sweaters off before getting back to the kissing.
“God, I want you,” Ellie gasps out, her teeth dragging over my jaw. “I want you so much.”
Fuck, those words. They send fire raging through my entire body; it feels like I’ve been waiting a lifetime to hear them, and now it’s as though I can’t get enough.
