Page 18 of Flynn (Foxy’s Rent-A-Date #4)

The silence stretched and grew even more awkward, and Sofia still wasn’t back, neither was Kate.

Ellis went between ignoring my presence completely to staring at me so intently I was feeling all kinds of uncomfortable.

“Anyway,” I began, putting my champagne flute down.

“I have a few things to get packed up in my room, so I’m gonna go get started.

” “Seriously?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What?” He shook his head. “You can’t even be alone in a room with me for longer than a few minutes without finding a lame ass excuse to bail?

We used to be friends, Ara. What the fuck happened?

” I was shocked at the anger in his voice and shook my head.

“We are friends, Ellis. Or at least, I thought we were.” “What’s that supposed to mean?

” he demanded. “Well, you barely talk to me anymore, and this entire trip you’ve kind of been an ass.

” “How did you expect me to react when you show up with my asshole cousin who I can’t stand?

” “What the hell is your problem with Flynn? From the day he came to live with you, you’ve had it out for hm.

I could never understand how him losing his parents became such a problem for you.

” A muscle in Ellis’s jaw ticked and I waited, wondering if he’d finally tell me.

What the hell was with these two? “Seriously, Ellis. I’m listening.

Talk to me. What went on between you two that neither of you will explain yourselves?

” “It’s nothing,” he snapped. “Nothing. Right. So that’s why neither of you can be in the same room without trying to tear into each other.

Nothing is why he hasn’t come home in ten years and why Trev and Carol hardly see him.

” Ellis whirled around to face me, eyes wide.

“They’re my parents. Why the fuck should it matter how often he sees them?

” “Because you three are all the family he has left, that’s why,” I shouted back, shocked to hear these words come out of his mouth.

“We’re not family,” he spat. “But I don’t understand why.

He never did anything to you. Sure, he was angry and surly, but the guy had just lost his parents and was forced to uproot his entire life.

Even at fourteen, I know you were capable of some kind of empathy for him.

” “Just forget it, Chiara,” Ellis said, obviously not interested in talking about this.

“Or what about as you guys grew up? Damn it, Ellis, he spent years serving our country, he has made something of himself now, and you still look at him like he’s something to be scraped off the bottom of your shoe.

” Ellis scoffed. “You talk about him like he’s a fucking hero and not the epic fuck-up we all know he is.

” I reared back. “Excuse me? He is a hero, and he’s never been a screw up.

He was struggling and in a lot of pain. If you’d given him a chance, maybe you would be able to see that.

” “He’s a loser then, he’s a loser now, and that’s all he’ll ever be,” Ellis ranted angrily.

“Wow, glad to see you’ve evolved since high school.

What the hell is wrong with you? Flynn is a good man—no—he’s a great man.

The fact that you refuse to see how much your cousin has changed tells me how unevolved you really are.

” “He’s not my fucking family,” Ellis snarled.

I didn’t speak for a moment before I shook my head.

“No, I can see that. I just don’t understand why .

Explain it to me. That way I can understand why you’ve been such an asshole since he came into the picture and why having him here at your wedding is such a big deal.

” He sputtered, his face a mask of disbelief.

“Do you really need me to explain why my ex-girlfriend showing up to my wedding with my asshole cousin is a problem?” I stiffened and shook my head.

“No, that’s not what we’re doing. I’m not your ex-girlfriend, Ellis.

That is not a category I belong in anymore.

I’m your friend, or at the very least your fiancé’s best friend.

But we don’t refer to me as your ex-girlfriend anymore because that implies some kind of attachment when there is none.

You’re marrying my best friend, so that part of our history is exactly that; history.

” “You can’t pretend we didn’t happen, Chiara,” he argued.

“Sure, we did. Over ten years ago. It was a high school relationship, Ellis, it’s not even in the same league as you and Sofia.

” “Maybe it’s that way for you, but it was never that way for me,” he snapped.

My eyes widened and my mouth fell open. “You have got to be kidding me.” Ellis closed his eyes and shook his head, rubbing his forehead.

“Fuck.” I swallowed hard and stepped toward the door.

“I’m leaving before you say anything you regret.

I think it’s best if you and I keep some distance for a while.

” “No, don’t go yet,” Ellis demanded, rushing to cut off my exit.

“Ellis, back off. I need to go, and you need to stop talking.” “Just… we never get a chance to speak. I just want to talk to you alone for a moment.” I shook my head.

“There’s nothing you can’t say to me in front of Sofia or Kate, or anyone else for that matter.

” “I just want to make sure I’m not making a mistake here.

” I froze. “Mistake?” He shrugged. “You broke up with me out of the blue, and it didn’t even seem to affect you.

You went on about your life happy as can be, and you left me drowning.

” I hesitated and felt a stab of guilt. “I’m sorry you felt that way, Ellis.

I truly am. I never meant to hurt you when I broke things off, but I thought it was for the best. And it turned out better anyway, because now you’re marrying the love of your life.

” “Am I?” he asked quickly, the question asked softly.

I stiffened. “Don’t do that.” “I just need to know that I’m making the right choice,” he said desperately.

“What choice? Do you love Sofia?” I demanded.

“Yes, of course I do.” “And did you mean it when you asked her to marry you?” I said again, refusing to let him take this conversation any further down this ridiculous path.

“Yes, I meant it.” “Then there is no choice to be made here, Ellis. If you love her and you want to marry her, decision made.” He hesitated and raked his hand through his hair.

“But… you and me—” I pushed past him for the door.

“No.” “Wait,” he called. “No, we’re not having this conversation.

” Ellis slammed his hand down on the door before I could open it and looked down at me, eyes blazing with desperation.

“Move away from the door, Ellis.” “Is there a single part of you that misses us? Is there a part of you that thinks you made a mistake breaking up with me?” I shook my head, astounded.

“No, Ellis. And how dare you ask me that when you’re about to marry my best friend.

What the hell are you thinking?” “How did me dating Sofia not piss you off?” he argued angrily, pushing away from the door.

My gut hollowed suddenly, and a sickening shiver slowly swept over me.

Oh, God. “You… Ellis, tell me you didn’t start dating Sofia to make me jealous.

” He didn’t look at me right away, but when he turned back around, his expression was drawn and desperate.

“You just walked away, Chiara. And you looked happier for it. How the hell is that even possible? I thought for sure it was all for show, like maybe you wanted me to fight for you, that maybe I hadn’t done a good enough job in making you realize how much I loved you.

” “No,” I whispered softly, my stomach knotting painfully.

“Ellis… no.” He shook his head, running his fingers through his hair again.

“I thought… maybe you didn’t know how good you had it.

That maybe seeing me with someone else and how happy I could be with her would make you jealous and you’d come back.

I waited, Chiara. I waited for you to see and come calling, but you seemed even happier that I was with her.

” I pressed a hand to my stomach and shook my head.

What the hell? My vision swam, and I turned for the door.

Nausea roiled in my stomach, on the verge of tears.

How the hell was I meant to tell Sofia? “I love her,” Ellis said before I could turn the doorknob.

“I love Sofia now. It didn’t happen as fast as it did with me and you, and it feels different.

But I love her, and I want to be with her.

I just had to check one last time,” he said as if that excused everything he’d told me.

I looked at him over my shoulder and felt ill.

“You don’t deserve her. Sofia deserves so much more than being your second choice.

” “You can’t tell her, Chiara. Please, promise me you won’t say anything.

I love her. I promise you I love her,” he told me, hurrying over to me, but I was done waiting.

I yanked open the door and hurried out into the hallway only to come to a dead stop at the sight of Sofia and Flynn.

Sofia’s face was stricken, pale, and with tears pooling in her beautiful eyes, but her gaze was locked over my shoulder on Ellis.

“Sofia,” Ellis said her name, and there was a strange echo.

Glancing down, I saw she was on a call with her sister who had the laptop screen up.

Oh, God… Chloe. I’d forgotten she was there.

“Chloe called while I was out,” she said in a raspy whisper, holding up the screen for Ellis to see.

He turned to see the laptop set up on the desk on the opposite side of the bed and I’d never seen someone lose color so fast. “Sofia, wait, you don’t understand.

I—” Ellis said. “I heard everything,” Sofia cut in, her voice ravaged, and my heart broke a little.

I glanced at Flynn whose gaze moved between me and Ellis, and it was unreadable again.

What did he think about all this? Did he hear it all too?

“I love you, Sofia. Just give me a chance to—” “No,” she whispered and wiped at the tears on her face with the back of her hand as she took a step back when he took one forward.

I moved closer to her, and those large eyes of hers were filled with so much pain.

“Sofia, I’m so sorry. I had no idea,” I whispered, heartbroken.

Her smile was small and watery. “I know, hon. It’s not your fault.

” “Sofia—” Ellis tried again. “No, we’re done,” she said, voice thick with tears.

“The wedding is off, and you and I are done.” Ellis looked truly shocked as he stared at her with wide eyes.

“No, just give me another chance. I promise I can make it up to you. I love you. Let me prove it,” he said, shuffling closer.

“No,” she repeated and frowned. “You shouldn’t have to prove your love to someone.

It should be obvious in how you act, how you speak to them and about them.

It’s not being someone’s second choice and watching them mourn a lost love that never loved them back.

” I stepped closer to her then, unable to stay away.

“Sof—” “Enough,” Flynn cut in, stepping around us.

“She said it’s over, and she obviously doesn’t want to talk to you, so back up.

” Ellis’s face morphed into one of pure rage.

“Fuck you, Flynn. You don’t tell me what to do.

” “Guys,” I started in warning. This could get messy.

“Sofia has been through enough; you need to leave her alone now.” Ellis shoved Flynn in the chest. “She’s my fiancé, it’s you who needs to fuck off.

” I took Sofia’s hand and tugged her back and to the side, preparing for things to get violent.

“Guys, everyone needs to back up.” “I’m not leaving.

You’ve said your piece. We all heard it.

Now leave her the hell alone.” “Make me,” Ellis gritted out.

I dropped Sofia’s hand and stepped closer, pushing myself between them.

“Enough, guys. Walk away.” “Ara, move,” Flynn warned, reaching for me.

“You’re a fucking pussy, Flynn. You couldn’t make me leave if you tried,” Ellis taunted.

“Flynn—” “If you want a fucking fight, Ellis, all you had to do was ask,” Flynn snarled.

“Okay, enough!” I shouted, pushing myself between them and shoving them back.

Ellis shoved me hard enough that I fell back, and Flynn snarled.

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I heard the thump of flesh hitting flesh and looked up in time to see Flynn cock his arm back and drive his fist forward into Ellis’s face again.

“Stop this now! ” At the sound of Trevor’s booming voice, Flynn hesitated, and it was long enough for Trevor to push between the two men and shove them back from one another with Kate hot on his tail.

She looked at Sofia’s grief-stricken face and then at me before helping me up.

“What the hell is going on?” Trevor snapped.

No one answered. “I want an answer now. Do not make me repeat myself,” Trevor said in a low warning tone that had the hairs on my arms standing on end.

He may be the world’s best uncle and an incredible man, but it was moments like this that reminded me about his earlier biker days, and I understood how scary he had to have been.

“Sofia called off the wedding, and it’s all his fucking fault!

” Ellis snapped, pointing at Flynn. Kate sucked in a sharp breath and we both reached for Sofia.

I wrapped an arm around her trembling shoulders and Kate’s wide eyes met mine in question.

“Later,” I mouthed. Flynn scoffed. “Her decision to call off the wedding had everything to do with your dumb ass, not me,” he defended.

“It’s always you. You’re always in the way!

” “What the fuck are you talking about?” Flynn shouted, exasperation in every line of his face.

“You know damn well what I’m talking about.

Hell, Chiara wouldn’t even give me a chance while you were living at home.

I saw the way she looked at you, the way you watched her when you thought no one was looking.

She wouldn’t give me the time of fucking day until you up and left,” he snarled.

My eyes went wide at this, and I looked at Kate in confusion.

“What the hell are you on about? Chiara and I were never together back then. I kissed her the night before I left, and that was it. If she didn’t give you the time of day before that, it’s not my goddamn fault.

” Ellis’s face twisted into an ugly scowl.

“Yeah? Then how do you explain that we were doing fucking fine until you came back on break from the army, and two weeks later she’s suddenly done with me?

Huh? Or now, you’re back in our lives for a few days and Sofia has decided we’re over.

How the fuck do you explain that?” “None of that had anything to do with me,” Flynn defended.

“Like fuck it didn’t! You come back and my life falls apart every time.

You’re out to ruin me,” Ellis accused. Flynn shook his head, and I took a small step forward.

“I never saw Flynn when he came home from break,” I said.

Ellis’s angry eyes swung to me, and he shook his head.

“Sure you didn’t.” I raised an eyebrow. “I have no reason to lie. I never saw or even spoke to Flynn when he came back. Our breakup had nothing to do with him.” Ellis shook his head.

“Then explain it to me, because your story about us just not having enough chemistry doesn’t fit.

You never even gave us a real chance. You just left.

” I bit back my first remark and forced myself to take a breath.

“So, you think because I never slept with you and prove we had chemistry, that’s why we didn’t last?

” “It’s either that, or your fuck toy over there manipulated you,” Ellis answered, his chest heaving.

I frowned. “Ellis, I broke up with you because I wasn’t in love with you.

You knew that. I never once told you I loved you because I didn’t feel it.

Everyone was always telling me we should be together, so I gave it a shot.

But I was right, and we never should have gone down that route.

” He opened his mouth to interrupt, but I held up a hand, deciding to get this over with once and for all.

“Secondly, you were constantly pressuring me to have sex with you, and I was tired of saying no and tired of that disappointed look on your face. It was clear that you loved me in a way I didn’t love you, and I decided it wasn’t fair to hold you back.

” “I wasn’t pressuring you,” he argued. I raised an eyebrow.

“You did, constantly. To the point where I had to push you off me multiple times. I brushed those off as you being so eager, but you didn’t make me feel safe.

It was like you had something to prove.” Ellis’s eyes flew to Flynn then, accusation there clear as day.

“You told her?” I raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Flynn.

“Told me what?” “I didn’t tell her shit, but I regret that decision now.

She deserves to know,” Flynn said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Tell me what?” I demanded again.

“About the bet,” Flynn answered, dragging his eyes from Ellis to me.

“He had a bet going with his friends that he could get you to sleep with him before you started college.” “Bastard!” Ellis roared and tried to charge Flynn again, but Trev got there first. “Enough, Ellis!” “You knew something like that and didn’t tell me?

” I asked, a little hurt. Flynn let out a slow breath and nodded.

“I regret that now, obviously. He warned me to mind my own fucking business. I wanted to tell you, but we hadn’t spoken for years, and I wasn’t sure you would even believe me.

So, I left without saying anything. I thought telling you would end your relationship with him, and I’d cop the blame.

” I frowned, torn between being grateful to him and annoyed.

But I understood. “If you felt pressured, why didn’t you say that?

Why make up all that other bullshit?” Ellis asked.

Flynn swore under his breath, and I heaved a heavy sigh and ran my fingers through my hair.

“It wasn’t a lie, Ellis. You and I were wrong together; we always were.

I meant what I said that night. And none of it even matters anymore, because it was over a freaking decade ago!

” Silence fell as he took that in, and I could see him battling with himself.

He honestly couldn’t fathom me breaking up with him because I wasn’t in love with him.

“And as for us,” Sofia began softly, stepping beside me, her eyes red-rimmed.

“Your obsession with Chiara played a big role in why we’re not getting married.

” Ellis stiffened and shook his head. “I’m not—I don’t care about her anymore.

I just never understood. I didn’t know why she ended it,” he tried to defend.

Sofia shook her head, her expression drawn, her energy low.

“No, you just wouldn’t accept it. You always wanted her because she was unattainable, and she still never really gave herself over to you, making her something to conquer.

I knew I was your second choice when we got together, and I was okay with that when I thought you actually loved me.

But now I wonder how much of our relationship was you trying to punish Chiara by marrying her best friend.

” I pulled in a sharp breath, hating the pain I heard in her voice, and hating the fact that she was right on the money.

“Come on, honey,” Kate whispered to Sofia, and I moved back to my friends, feeling guilty even though it wasn’t my fault.

I couldn’t help Ellis’s feelings, but I’d thought he was over me, damn it.

If I’d thought even once over the years that he still had feelings for me, I would have told Sofia before this point.

“I’ll call Chloe, and handle all the wedding stuff,” I told her.

Sofia spared me a small smile and we pushed past the three men in the hall.

My head was still reeling as I tried to process everything that had happened in the last half an hour, but it was going to take some time and many, many drinks.