AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Now, let’s dig in,” Connor urges. He serves Syd pasta and then gives me two large spoonfuls before placing some in his bowl.
“Mmm, this is really good,” I say.
“Your family is Italian, they must have some really good sauces,” he replies.
“Nobody in my family actually cooks,” I admit. “I learned how to cook when I left college.”
“Wow,” Connor says. “I thought you’d been cooking all your life.”
“Lol.”
“Oh, by the way. Please don’t freak out, but I saw Kaleb today while I was with Patty,” Connor begins, but he’s placed his fork down and I can see it’s serious.
My heart starts beating fast.
“We kind of forgot about that engagement party we invited Kaleb to,” he says.
“Oh shit.” My eyes must be wide as saucers.
“Ellie, you have to put money in the swear jar,” Syd says.
“Sorry.” I wince.
“I don’t mind,” she replies with a smirk.
“Yup, he asked me about it while I was in the elevator with Patty,” Connor says, and I shoot up to my feet.
“Oh no, no, no,” I mutter as I begin to pace. My hand covers my mouth. “This is bad. Patty must have been so offended. This. . .I’ve let her down. How upset was she?” I finally focus on Connor.
“I wouldn’t say she was upset. It was more confused,” he replies.
My eyes land on Syd. We obviously have to be careful what we say around her.
I take a seat back at the table.
“I’ll call her after dinner and straighten everything out,” I assure. My nerves are frayed but I know what I have to do.
“Okay,” Connor says. We go back to eating dinner and things just feel so easy with this pair. Syd asks about Teddy, Nana’s dog, and she gets excited when I tell her we can go visit this week. Connor says he’s going to head into the training facility at the arena to work out with the new therapist who has replaced Patty. Everything feels normal. Normal should be good, but I’ve never had normal. I’ve never had stability and so my anxiety rises. Good thing I’m used to hiding it, which I do. I laugh at Syd’s silliness and smile when Connor smiles at me because how can I not return his smiles? But inside I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, because it always does.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Ellie
“I’m thinking we need to talk,” are my first words when Patty picks up the phone.
“Definitely,” she agrees.
“Are you alone?” I ask, since I am one of the few who know of her secret love affair with Evan.
“I am. He’s with the guys. Why don’t you come down to me?” she says.
“I’ll be there in five,” I confirm.
I head over to Syd’s room to say goodnight because I don’t want to miss saying goodnight to her. Then I head over to the kitchen where Connor is finishing loading up the dishwasher since he insisted on cleaning up after dinner.
“I hope you aren’t overdoing it,” I tell him.
He smiles. He’s young and handsome and carries the weight of raising his daughter right on his shoulders.
