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Talulah shot her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. We haven’t seen his mother since she got COVID two weeks ago. We really need to drop by for a few minutes before it gets too late.”
Hendrix smiled. It was obvious that Ellen didn’t want to be left alone with him. Talulah was the one who’d invited him; Ellen had merely tolerated his presence. But he had a few things he wanted to say, and he was eager to have some time alone with her. He’d actually been waiting for Talulah and Brant to leave.
“Okay,” Ellen said, grudgingly enough that it came across as, “I can’t believe you’re leaving me with him.”
He chuckled.
“What?”she said, hearing him.
He wiped the smile from his face. “Nothing.”
She studied him for a moment. “It’s okay if you have to go, too.”
“I’m good for now,” he said, allowing his smile to widen.
Catching the exchange, Talulah glanced between them. “I admit—this is a day I never saw coming.”
Neither he nor Ellen asked what she meant by that. They both knew—and didn’t want to hear her state it expressly.
Brant and Talulah each gave Ellen a hug; Talulah hugged Hendrix, too, and Brant stuck out his hand to shake. “See you soon, bro.”
Talulah and Brant didn’t bother to go back around front. They cut across the field to their own house.
Once they were out of earshot, Ellen looked over at him. “What’s going on?” she asked.
He could tell she wasn’t trying to offend him. She was honestly confused and looking for an answer. “You’re finally going to speak to me?” he said.
Taking umbrage, she lifted her chin. “I’ve been talking to you all evening.”
“No, you’ve been talking around me. You wouldn’t even catch my eye.”
“Because I don’t understand what you want.”
“I want to be your friend,” he said simply.
She stiffened. “What for?”
“Why continue to be enemies? What good does it do either one of us?”
“I could argue with that. But...we’ll let it go if you answer this. Why now?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “It’s just...time, don’t you think?”
“No. That won’t work.”
“Because...”
“You know why.”
“What are you afraid of?” he asked.
Leaning back in her chair, she folded her arms. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Then prove it. If you and Leo can be friends, why can’t you and I?”
“Leo has never done anything to hurt me.”
“I haven’t gone out of my way to hurt you, either. I’ve done my best to ignore you. That’s about it.”
