Fighting to Be Free (Fighting to Be Free 1)

Ellie and I were going to look around a few apartments today, so I could finally move out of the crap hole I lived in, and then I’d be able to have her stay over too. Maybe then I’d get more time with her, which I couldn’t help but get excited about. We’d skipped the after game party last night in favor of a movie, I slept at mine so I could pick her up this morning then we wouldn’t have to sneak around because of her parents.

I pulled up outside her house and noticed her parent’s car was still in the driveway, they hadn’t left to go to visit her Nanna yet. Holy shit, am I going to meet her parents? I was a little earlier than we’d agreed.

I debated calling her to see if she wanted me to wait in my truck. I mean, she wouldn’t want me to meet her dad, would she? I grabbed my cell phone, surely it’s better to check first, right? It rang a couple of times before she answered.

“Hey, Stud!” she chirped happily, making me smile just at the sound of her voice. I wanted to punch myself for getting excited over the sound of her voice, but I just couldn’t help it.

“Hey, little girl. I’m outside, are you ready or…..” I trailed off.

“Oh, you’re early. I’ll just be like ten minutes or something. I’m still eating breakfast,” she said easily.

“Ok, I’ll wait in the truck then.”

“Don’t be silly, come on in,” she said, as if I said something stupid.

I groaned quietly, I’d never met a girl’s parents before and although we weren’t technically dating, I wanted to date her, so I still needed to make a good impression.

“Um…. it’s ok, I’ll wait outside,” I protested, swallowing loudly.

She disconnected the call and I frowned. Damn it Jamie, she asked you to go inside and now you’ve annoyed her or upset her or something! Damn, I’m such a stupid prick.

I saw movement from the corner of my eye, I looked towards her house and saw her front door open. She stood there smiling at me, leaning against the door frame, looking smokin hot in skinny jeans and a black tank top, her red hair loose and falling down around her flawless face in messy waves. She honestly took my breath away and I felt my heart speed up a little.

She held up her hand and beckoned with one finger for me to go to her. “Shit,” I mumbled and climbed out of the truck, walking across the grass to her, feeling slightly sick with nerves.

“Hey. Come in, silly boy,” she scolded, grabbing my hand and practically dragging me inside the house. “I’m hungry, I won’t be long.”

I nodded and she pulled me through the house towards the kitchen, I knew my way around her house. We kind of had free rein of her house on Saturday mornings after her parents left to visit her Nanna.

As we walked into the kitchen, I stopped. Her family were sitting around the table and all stopped talking to look at me as I walked in. I silently wished the ground would open up and swallow me. I smiled uncomfortably, Ellie’s sister looked at me with wide eyes, she was ten apparently from what I’d been told and looked a little like Ellie, but her hair was brown the same as her fathers.

“Guys, this is my friend, Jamie Cole. Jamie, these are my parents, Michael and Ruth and my little sister Kelsey,” Ellie said, gesturing around the table.

I smiled uncomfortably. “Err… good morning.”

Her dad stood up, holding out a hand to me, smiling warmly, “Hey Jamie, how’s it going?” he asked easily, as I shook his hand.

I felt myself relax slightly, he seemed like a nice guy and from what Ellie had told me, she worshipped her father. Her mother on the other had she wasn’t so fond of. I could see why too, she was looking me over slowly, as if trying to make up her mind on whether she wanted to talk to me or not. She had the same red hair as Ellie, some of her features were the same, but she was nowhere near as beautiful as her daughter. Her face was hardened slightly, not open and friendly the way that Ellie’s always was. She was dressed impeccably, make up perfectly applied even though it was not even nine in the morning.

“Good thank you, Sir. I’m sorry I’m early, I said I’d wait in the car but…” I trailed off looking at Ellie.

“Don’t be silly, and you can call me Michael. You hungry?” he asked, shrugging. He turned to Kelsey who was still staring at me with wide eyes, yeah I kind of have that effect on girls of all ages sometimes. “Kel’s, get another plate for Jamie.”

Holy crap, he’s a nice guy! Ellie smiled and sat down at the table as the little girl got up and headed over to the cupboard, coming back with a plate.

“Err… you sure this is ok? I mean, I..,” I started, but her dad cut me, off waving his hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. There’s plenty, right Ruth?” he said, smiling at his wife.

She nodded stiffly, I could tell she didn’t like me already. Wow, that was fast. “Sure, it’s fine,” she said politely, her face hard and clearly annoyed.

Ellie patted the seat next to hers and Kelsey passed me a plate as I sat down. Ellie nodded to the huge pile of bacon, sausages and scrambled eggs in the middle of the table. I didn’t really want anything, I was actually too nervous to eat, it’d probably get stuck half way down or something and I’d make a complete dick out of myself.

“Eat, Jamie!” Ellie instructed, rolling her eyes at me playfully, as she scooped food onto my plate.

“So, where are you kids off to so early?” Michael asked, drinking his orange juice. I noticed he had a big smile for Ellie, even if I didn’t already know she was a daddy’s girl I’d be able to see that just from meeting him now. This guy adored his three girls, I could tell.