AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh.”
I blow out a breath and decide to just be truthful.
What’s the point in lying?
“It’s just that, I don’t want Arden to know,” I explain. “He’s such an overprotective brother sometimes. I’m worried he’ll flip if he knows I work there.”
Nils looks like he completely agrees as he sighs. “Yeah, he probably would be mad. But you do know hockey players go to that place, right? I’m talking guys from our team. There’s a good chance you’re going to be found out.”
“I thought of that,” I admit. “But a lot of them don’t know me or that I’m Arden’s sister.”
He raises a brow. “And if one day Arden himself walks in?”
I shrug. “Then I guess I’m fucked. But until that day comes, and it may never”—I plead with my eyes—“will you please, please not say anything to him?”
Softly, he replies, “Of course I won’t. I promise your secret is safe with me.”
I release a relieved breath. “Thank you, Nils.”
“You’re welcome, Ellie.”
I’m actually glad I came clean with him. It’ll be easier not to have to sneak around. And now that I know I can trust Nils, I’m not concerned with Arden finding out. Despite what he said, I don’t think my brother will ever step into Boots. It’s just not his usual kind of go-to place.
With everything settled, I’m so relieved that I’m just ready to go to bed.
I tell Nils that I’m heading upstairs, but as I start toward the staircase, I’m curious about something.
Slowing to a stop, I cock my head and ask, “Why were you coming downstairs anyway? You look like you’re ready for bed.”
“I am,” he says, “and I’m beat. But I forgot my phone in the kitchen.”
“Ahhh,” I breathe, “got it.”
“And now that you reminded me,” he goes on. “I’d better go get it.”
Touching his arm lightly as he passes me, I say softly, “Good night, Nils.”
Letting out a little sigh filled with regret or longing—I’m not sure which, but maybe both—he murmurs, “’Night, Ellie.”
Nils
The night I caught Ellie coming into the house in her Boots attire, we forged a secret…and a bond.
I’ve kept my promise to not tell a soul that she works at Boots. I have no intention of divulging that bit of info to anyone, certainly not her brother. Though I do worry she’ll be found out at some point.
Still, it won’t be because of me.
I’m proving to her that she can trust me.
Even though I remained nonchalant that night in the entry hall, inside, a spike of jealousy reared its ugly head. I can’t help but hate that other guys get to see her dressed so fucking sexy.
The bikini she wore out at the pool covered less, but I was the only one who got to enjoy that.
So yeah, clearly sometimes I’m a possessive asshole.
And the girl isn’t even mine.
I remind myself of that all the time, which is getting harder and harder to do. It seems that, as time wears on, I want her to be mine.
