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“Okay, Dad,” I say, quietly. “I’ll call her later.”
“Good. I love you, Ellie. You know I do and I’m always on your side.”
Are you?
“I know. Love you too.” I nod.
“Talk to you later.”
I end the call and before I can stop myself, I’m pressing the phone to my ear to call Rowan. I know I shouldn’t make this call when I’m still feeling emotional about the phone call with my father, butfuck it. I’m tired of putting everyone else first. For once, I want to do what I want.
“Hey,” he answers and just the sound of his voice calms my heart which I didn’t even realize was pounding. I bite my bottom lip, not sure of what to say now that my emotions are coming down. “Elianna?”
“Are you busy?” I ask.
“What’s going on? Is everything okay?” I notice he doesn’t answer my question becauseof course he’s busy, Ellie.
“Yes, the kids are fine. They’re all at school. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called.”
“We have to work on how much you apologize. Talk to me and tell me what’s going on.” His voice is soothing and calms my nerves.
“It’s not about the kids,” I admit.
“That’s okay. Tell me what’s wrong, Elianna.” And those simple words have a direct line to my heart.
“Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?” I blurt out. “Like do you go to your parents’ in Florida? Or somewhere else?”
“No, not usually? Last year was pretty lowkey because it was right after Bianca passed. We ordered takeout from a restaurant that had a Thanksgiving menu. It was not great.” He chuckles. “Is that what has you upset?”
“It’s just my dad wants to know when I’m coming home and…I wasn’t sure if you needed me.”
“Oh, no Elianna, I would never keep you from your family. You can have any time off that you need.” I don’t respond because I’m struggling to find the words. “Isthatwhy you’re upset? I hope you know I wouldn’t demand that you stay here.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” I play with the ends of my hair nervously. “I…I’m not sure I want to go home though.”
He’s silent for a second. “Elianna, you’re more than welcome to stay. I didn’t think I needed to say that. You saw Isla’s picture, right? I’m sorry to tell you, you’re officially family.”
A quiet gasp escapes me. “Thank you…” I trail off before adding, “Besides, who would cook?”
A knock on my bedroom door pulls me away from my phone and I see Rowan standing in the entrance to my room. I try not to notice how handsome he looks in sweatpants and a t-shirt but my eyes aren’t on board with that idea because I can’t stop ogling him.
“You busy?” he asks and I shake my head. “Come have a drink with me.” I eye him warily and he gives me a boyish grin. “I know you don’t like whiskey. I’ll make you a margarita.” He waves me out of bed before he leaves my room.
It doesn’t take much convincing and soon we are sitting in the living room with a margarita each. I’m sitting on the couch and he’s in a lounge chair and I’m glad we have this space between us to hopefully keep the temptation at bay.
“So, tell me why you don’t want to go home?”
“You figured there’s a reason, huh?” He raises his eyebrows at me before taking a sip of his drink. “It’s so silly.”
“I’ll bet it’s not.”
“We always have it at my dad’s. I guess you could technically call it my house since it’s the last place I lived in Ohio. This year, apparently the plan is to go to my sister’s house and nobody even talked to me about it. We’ve only ever had Thanksgiving at one place. It was the last place we had Thanksgiving with my mom, and it just…feels weird not to do it there.” I sigh. “Plus, as soon as my dad got on the phone, he was on me about not talking to my sister more. Like it’s all my fault. Somehow, it’s always all my fault.” I feel tears springing to my eyes and the last thing I want is to have a breakdown about my family drama in front of my boss.Or whatever he is.“Sometimes, I just feel like no one hears me.”
“I get that,” he murmurs. “If it’s any consolation, I hear you.” I look away from the glass I’m holding in my lap to meet his eyes which are full of understanding. “You’ve had to be strong for people your entire life. Who’s strong for you?”
A shiver moves through me and I rub my arm to try and warm my chilled skin. “Me? I guess.” I know my family loves me but they haven’t always been my strongest support system. Sometimes I feel like I love them the way they need to be loved but they don’t do the same for me.And that is a tough pill to swallow.
“Stay,” he says. “For Thanksgiving and…Christmas if you want. The kids will want you here.”