Page 58 of Good at Being Bad (Rock Canyon, Idaho 8)

“Well, let’s see. The lofty citizens of Rock Canyon think I’m scum, while he is beloved. I am completely lost and have no idea what I want to do for a career, and he’s struggling to keep his business afoot. He wants marriage and kids and I’m not sure I’m built for domestic bliss.”

“Ellie, you have time to figure out what direction you’re headed, and you can still build a life. Being opposites can mean you balance each other out.”

Ellie turned off the TV and got up, tired of talking about it. It was giving her anxiety to think about dating Mike. He was ten years older and had his shit together. She was a nomad who had no idea what she was doing tomorrow.

“I appreciate you trying to hash this out with me, but I think I just need to sleep on it.”

“Fine, but don’t be rash and impulsive. I know how you get when you think you don’t deserve something.”

Ellie scowled. “And how is that?”

“You will make sure that whatever the good thing is, you ruin it.”

Ellie didn’t respond, just mumbled a goodnight and headed into her room.

Was Jenny right? Did she sabotage her own happiness?

She didn’t think so, but then again, how many times had she actually been happy?

Ellie couldn’t answer her own question.

Chapter Eighteen

Friday morning Ellie woke up and made Jenny and Dalton breakfast, but she was distracted. Her feelings were confusing and all over the place and she was pretty sure it’d be easier to swear off men all together.

And the worst part was, she’d done nothing but fantasize about what would have happened if she’d just dragged Mike into the house. The hot and heavy dreams of that kiss on the porch had escalated into something so dark and sensual that she’d woken up throbbing.

She was in deep and she knew it. No matter how many times she told herself she was making a mistake, she couldn’t imagine never kissing Mike again. He was in her system and she needed him, at least until this crazy, undeniable attraction disappeared.

Ellie was heading out the door to Gracie and Eric’s place. She was on babysitting duty, since one of Gracie’s employees had to leave The Local Bean early.

Her cell phone rang fifteen minutes later as she was picking up her car keys, and her father’s number flashed across the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hello Ellie, how are you doing?” her dad said.

“I’m fine, on my way out. How are you?”

“I am well. I was hoping you would come over for dinner on Sunday. Your sisters and their spouses have already agreed.”

She would have immediately made an excuse, but was distracted by something off about her car. As she looked down at the back-passenger side tire, she noticed the large gash and wondered if she’d hit something with it and didn’t notice.

When she got closer to the front tire, however, she saw that it wasn’t just the one. In fact, as she walked all the way around, she realized that all of her tires had been slashed.

“Son of a bitch!”

“Ellie, honestly, do you have to talk that way?”

“Sorry, Dad, but some bastard cut holes in my tires. I’m going to have to call you back.”

“What about breakfast? I am trying here, Ellie, and your sisters—”

“I will be there, okay?”

“Good.”

“All right, I got to go. By the way, thanks for caring about my vandalized car.”