“Hi.” Ellie joins me, taking the chair next to mine, resting her chin in one hand.
“Your mum seems better,” I whisper, taking Ellie’s free hand, threading her fingers through mine.
“Yeah, it’s been a pretty good day. They found a medicine that keeps her from getting sick as much.” She leans back and rubs her tired-looking eyes.
Before I know it, a plate of hot food is slid in front of me and a large glass of water appears. “Thanks Mrs. Palmer,” I say gratefully.
“You’re very welcome dear.” She pats my shoulder and smiles. “I’m going to have a rest. You two have fun and be careful.” She turns and disappears down the hall.
Ellie’s dad is watching the news, leaving us alone in the small kitchen area. The room is quiet while I scarf down my meal. Once I’m done, I wash the plate and turn to El. “Ready?”
She stands up and smiles, but it’s forced. Whenever we’re around her mum, it’s hard for her to be happy. “Let’s go.”
“Your usual?” I ask Ellie as she slides into a booth at our favorite hangout, a small coffee shop near our school.
“Yes please.” She gives me a bright smile and I can feel her watch me as I cross the busy café and place our order at the counter.
“Hi Adam.” I cringe at the sound of the girl on my left.
“Lucy,” I say banally, not giving her the satisfaction of looking in her direction.
She trails her fingers along the back of my hand and I bristle at the touch. “Fancy meeting you here,” she purrs.
I pull my hand back and glare at her. “I didn’t meet you here, Lucy. I’m here with my girlfriend.”
Lucy’s dark eyes narrow and she tilts her head towards Ellie. “You mean that girl? I have no idea what you see in her Adam. She’s so… boring. Everyone knows it won’t last. You don’t have it in you to be faithful.” Lucy shoots a sly smile in Ellie’s direction and I see Ellie’s cheeks redden in embarrassment.
“Here you go.” The barista places my drink order on the counter and
goes to wait on the next customer.
Usually, I’m friendly towards the girls I’ve shagged, always portraying the easygoing, laid-back guy. It seems easier than being an asshole like Dax, but Lucy has shredded my last bit of patience in keeping up the act.
I turn and face her head on. The fury I feel must show on my face because Lucy recoils and her skin blanches. In a low voice I hiss, “Don’t ever speak to me about Ellie again. You have no idea what you’re talking about, so fuck off.”
Unable to stand near Lucy for another minute without doing something I’ll regret, I snatch up the coffees and stalk over to the table where Ellie is staring down at her hands, her face red with humiliation.
Fuck!
I hate that the girls at school make her feel like that. Never in a million years did I think that I’d regret my extensive extracurricular activities, but I do. Anything that puts that look on Ellie’s face was definitely not worth it, plus, I know that they give her a hard time at school. It kills me that it’s my fault.
“Here you go.” I place El’s cup in front of her.
“Thanks,” she mumbles, still staring down at her hands.
I squeeze in next to her in the booth and put a hand on her leg under the table. “I’m sorry about that, El. She’s a bitch and she’s jealous, that’s all that is. Please don’t let her get to you. You mean everything to me. Only you. Got it?”
Ellie looks up at me through her lashes, her mouth still pulled down in the corners. “I know, Adam.” She takes a shaky breath and smiles. “It’s hard to watch.” She shrugs and sips her coffee.
“If I could take it all back I would. You know that, right? I didn’t care about any of them, especially not Lucy. I don’t even like her.” I take her chin and tilt her head up until I can see those gorgeous blue eyes. “I love you, El. I’d do anything for you. Anything.”
She nods and attempts a small smile. I figure that she probably needs more time to accept the truth. I’m sure it’s difficult to believe that I only want her when my past indiscretions are constantly being flaunted under her nose.
I move slowly, deliberately as I lean in and brush my lips across hers. A faint whimper comes from her as we connect, so I deepen the kiss but keep it chaste enough that she knows it comes from love and adoration, not lust.
When we break away, she licks her bottom lip and her gaze locks with mine. “I love you too, Adam.”
I sigh and give her one last kiss. As long as she loves me, we can make this work, create something perfect together.