Page 15

Ellie

Final.

That’s such a strong word.

But it’s the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts like hell.

This is the final week I will ever live in my childhood home. The final time I will ever walk up those creaky stairs to my familiar bedroom. The final time I will ever walk through the front door—the same one that my mom carried me through after I was born.

The home where I had all my firsts will no longer be mine.

My time living here is running out, and I’m still no closer to finding a new place to live. It’s not looking too great for me at this point.

I took the day off to pack up all my belongings and pull down all the pictures I had hung up over the years .

I smile as I pull down a picture of Haleigh and me from the wall. Well, it was supposed to be just the two of us, but Ryan and Jaydon photobombed us in the background, their goofy grins and poses frozen in time.

Memories flood my thoughts with each picture I pull off the wall. I have no idea where I’m supposed to store all my things; there are so many boxes.

My mom and sister leave for the airport tomorrow, and the moving company is coming today to load everything they are taking with them.

My mom has been begging me to go with them, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.

I feel such a strong connection to this small town; all my friends are here, along with so many memories. It feels like this is the place I’m meant to be.

Fuck.

I have no idea what I’m going to do next.

My mom doesn’t understand the true tension between my sister and me—not really. She thinks it’s just normal sibling drama, only she doesn’t know it runs far deeper than that. My sister is just a backstabbing bitch, and I just don’t have the heart to tell her the truth.

Haleigh invited me over again tonight for dinner, only this time I’m bringing the food. I couldn’t let her cook for me yet again.

After stopping at our favorite local pizzeria downtown, I’m on my way to my bestie's house, bringing all our favorite junk food. Not the healthiest dinner option, but it’s just what we need.

My whole bedroom is packed up, and the rest of the house is in boxes. There's nothing left for me there, not even a place to sleep.

My mom wanted me to go out to dinner with her and Breanne, but I just can’t be around my sister right now. I don’t have it in me to sit across the table from my sister and pretend everything's fine. It's not. Not even fucking close.

So, instead, I’m headed to Haleigh’s tonight for some much-needed girl time and movie night. Anything to drown out the ache in my chest while my whole life falls apart around me.

Jaydon

Walking into the foyer of Haleigh and Ryan's house, I hear soft voices mingling with laughter, pulling me in that direction. Hardwood floors creak beneath my boots as I make my way towards the living room .

I would have knocked, but Ryan knew I was coming over, and they never lock their fucking door anyway. So, like always, I just let myself in.

When I turn the corner to the living room, I spot her.

Ellie.

She's sitting on the couch, deep in conversation with my sister, so I silently take a moment to study her profile. Fuck she’s gorgeous with her honey-blond hair twisted up into some kind of mess on top of her head, strands falling loose and framing her face.

She's so effortlessly beautiful and doesn’t even realize it.

Haleigh speaks when she notices me standing there. “Oh hey, Jay... I didn’t know you were coming over tonight.”

Ellie's eyes bounce up to me for a moment, but she quickly reaches for her phone and glues them to the screen. She barely glanced at me, but I didn’t miss the sadness etched into her eyes.

Stepping further into the room, I speak, “Yeah, I called Ryan earlier. I need to talk a few things over with him.”

She waves me off, “Okay, well, he’s not in here… probably in the office, so go find him.”

Haleigh’s pleading with her eyes, trying to get me to leave. But now I need to know what the fuck is going on with Ellie .

I know she wants me to go, but for whatever reason, I just can’t. I’m drawn to this fucking woman like a moth to a flame.

I wish I could go over there and somehow pull the sadness right out of her body. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’ve never been affected like this by a woman. Not once.

And yet, I’m always a dick to her—and I know it.

So instead, I do what I always do—play along like I have no clue that she’s sitting there, upset and trying her best not to completely fall apart.

Once I reach the couch, I start to sit down beside Ellie. There’s not enough room for me to actually fit—but I don’t give a fuck. I push my way onto the couch, sliding her over a bit with the bump of my hip.

Ellie's back is to me, and I’m fully pressed into her. I hear her huff in irritation, and my face lights up with a smirk.

I sling my arm around her and onto the back of the sofa, then prop my feet up on the coffee table.

Haleigh shoots me a look. The one that she always does when she pissed at me.

But I don’t care. I’m not going anywhere. I’m gonna sit my ass here and find out what the hell is going on.

“So, what’s going on tonight, ladies? Any gossip I should know about?” I pry, glancing between the two of them—seeing only the back of Ellie's head and the pissed look on my sister’s face.

Ellie remains silent, still not looking at me, but Haleigh doesn’t hold back. I didn’t expect her to, though.

“Jay, are you serious right now?” she snaps. “Please, just go find Ryan.”

Nope.

I lean a little further into Ellie’s space, with a proud smirk spreading across my face. I’m gonna sit my nosy ass right here on this couch until they tell me something.

“Not when you have all the good stuff in here…” I say as I reach to the side table and grab an open box of Sno-Caps. They have the whole coffee table littered with sweets and junk food. I pour some into my mouth before speaking, “Who the fuck’s eating these?” I ask, shaking the box.

The feel of Ellie's body next to mine is stirring things inside me, and I try to think of anything else to keep my dick from getting too hard. Fuck, she feels good, though. I can smell her sweet scent as I lean in close behind her head, waiting for an answer.

I’m looking at my sister, but I really want Ellie to respond.

“They’re Ellie’s, Jay…” Haleigh says, as her eyes widen at me in warning.

I nudge my chest into Ellie's back, smirking. “Do you care if I eat your candy, Ellie? ”

“No,” She speaks quietly, still not turning to face me. I know she’s upset about something—she swipes at her cheek, trying to hide it.

“Are you crying, Ellie?” I ask gently, reaching out and resting a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.

“Jay, just leave her alone,” Haleigh snaps.

“No, why is she crying?” I ask, my brows pulled together in confusion.

Ellie huffs, “Jaydon, I’m right here…”

“I know, but you’re not talking… so I’m asking my sister,” I say, wishing she would give me more.

Haleigh reaches over and smacks my arm. “You’re such a dumbass, Jay.”

Shrugging, I answer, “Never said I wasn’t. Now, someone tell me what the fuck is going on… Ellie, why are you crying?”

She finally turns towards me, her face now just inches from mine. I feel the soft movement of her breath on my lips as she speaks, as her gaze slowly lifts to mine, “I can’t find a place to live, and I have to be out of my house in two days.”

If my sister weren’t sitting next to us, I would pull Ellie’s sexy ass into my lap and devour her pouty lips, her tear-soaked lashes are messing with my soul, affecting me in ways they shouldn’t.

Ellie

I just don’t give a fuck anymore.

I’ve been trying to hold back my tears as I speak, but they flow regardless.

I somehow didn’t realize how close Jaydon’s face was when I turned towards him.

The heat radiating off his hard body feels so fucking good against mine.

Part of me just wants to curl up into his warmth and let him comfort me.

I already knew he wasn't going to let it go. He was going to pester the hell out of us until he found out what had me so upset. I tried to hide my face, thinking he would leave us alone and go find Ryan. But no—his nosy ass has always been all up in our business.

Even when we were younger, Haleigh and I had to lock her bedroom door to keep him from barging in and bugging us.

I had the biggest crush on him then, but he was always an asshole to me.

He would pull the bed pillows right out from beneath my head, then throw them at my face.

He did the same stupid shit to Haleigh, but he wasn’t as mean to her.

He used to piss me off so bad.

Haleigh would always just tell me to ignore him, and he would leave us alone. That never happened, though. Just like back then, ignoring him tonight didn’t work this time either.

“So, you’re telling me you’re homeless in two fucking days, Ellie?” Jaydon asks sharply, in disbelief.

I pull back from him slightly, needing the space, “Yes… I have to be out by Friday and nowhere to go. I can’t afford any of the fucking apartments that are available on my measly income.” I face-plant into my hands.

Ugh , this is so mortifying.

Jaydon's eyes go to his sister, “Haleigh, can’t she stay with you and Ryan? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

“I already offered her that,” she responds, sighing, “but she declined.”

I pop my head back up to look in his direction. “Jaydon, they just got married and have a baby on the way… I can’t impose on them like that.”

“Fuck, that sucks… well what the hell are you going to do then?” he asks, studying my face.

“Gee, Jaydon, I don’t fucking know.” I snap. “If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here crying and stuffing my face with pizza and Sno-Caps.”

“The Sno-Caps are pretty good, though…” he winks, then his devilish, panty-melting smirk suddenly appears.

I huff loudly. “Yep… they are great,” I say, my voice defeated, and I lean back against the couch .