Forever Mine (Joe & Ella 2)

“Exactly!” he stated grabbing a bottle of whisky and opening it to take a sip, and then swallowing a huge gulp down.

“Now that’s a decent whisky. Want some?” he offered me the bottle and I took a swig. It burned my throat and made me splutter, adding to Max’s amusement, but I had to agree it was good stuff.

“Tight bastards, remind me never to book a party with these guys ever.” Max scolded.

We sat together drinking the whisky and laughing our heads off at anything and everything until we both felt so drunk that we had swapped leaning against the jet skis parked behind us, to sitting on the floor our feet out in front of us like a couple of teenagers.

“Do you think we should go back? I mean someone might miss us and think we’ve fallen overboard.” I hiccupped. “They may have the dinghies and under water divers out looking already.”

He chuckled at me, “God no. Ella I don’t think I could stomach another minute putting on my false smile to that lot. They’re okay in small doses but could you imagine any of them sitting on the floor in here with us?”

“No!...Why did you come tonight then Max if you’re not that keen on the company?” I took another large gulp of whisky and wiped my hand across my mouth in the most unladylike way as the whisky dribbled down my chin. I couldn’t help giggling and making it worse, whisky spurting over my skirt now and over my face.

“I’m such a classy lady, I think I’d fit in better with a bunch of sailors than that lot out there.” I joked.

Max laughed and pretended to wipe the arm of his jacket in disgust.

“Oh Ella, you have no idea how lovely you are do you?”

I nudged his shoulder playfully.

“Neither do you, you’re the cutest guy ever.” I smiled over at him fondly.

He turned his body to face me grabbed me into a hug and whispered into my ear.

“I love you Ella.”

“I love you too Max!” I said back with as much affection as I could in my tipsy state and planted a massive kiss on his cheek.

He grabbed both of my cheeks into his warm hands and brought my head round to look into his eyes.

“No Ella, you’re not listening to me, I’m in love with you.” He exhaled slow and deep and his face went from jovial to deadly serious.

My throat went dry and I was speechless, my expression going from goofy to startled within a second. He leaned down to brush his lips softly against mine in a gentle kiss and I instinctively pulled back, my eyes bulging out of their sockets.

“I’m sorry.” He murmured looking down to the floor with guilt written all over his kind, loving face. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I don’t understand… How? When?” I was taken aback by his declaration, scared to lose him and petrified to say or do the wrong thing.

“I’ve always loved you Ella, I just thought I could control it better but I can’t anymore. I think about you all the time. I want to have a chance to make you happy, to look after you. I wish I’d never talked him into coming to the club that night, if he hadn’t been there you wouldn’t have met him, you’d have met me instead. I hate him Ella. He’s been my best friend for nearly thirty years and I hate him. I can’t bring myself to look at him at work and I avoid his calls. He’s not good enough for you. He doesn’t deserve you. You’ve given him so many chances and he just fucks it up every time. I’d never fuck it up, ever.”

“I don’t know what to say Max. You’ve thrown me off balance. I don’t want to lose you but I don’t think I can be with you, not like that. I’m so sorry I just can’t. Please don’t hate me.” I was begging now and a tear fell down my face. He brushed it away with his thumb and gave a pitiful smile.

“I could never hate you Ella. I understand, really I do, and I know it’s all a bit much for you to take in right now. I do need you to know this though; if I had to choose between you and him I’d choose you Ella every time. I’d never speak to him ever again if it meant I could be with you.”

I was totally stunned. I know everyone around me had warned me but it still floored me to hear him say it.

“I…I can’t even think straight right now. I think maybe I should leave.” I went to stand up but he held my arm to stop me.

“Ella, all I ask is that you think about it. Think about me, and if there’s even a slight chance that you think we could make it work please tell me, because I would do anything for you Ella. I’d cut all ties with him to be with you. I don’t expect an answer now, but I couldn’t hold it in any more. I’m sorry.”

I was stunned into silence. The volume of alcohol that had been swimming through my veins a few minutes ago wasn’t helping me now and it was as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over me. I was awakened finally and could see things in crystal clarity, and what I saw was messy and complicated. I’d gotten between two friends and the only way out that I could see, that would be best for everyone, was to walk away from them both. But how was I supposed to do that when I loved one like a brother and the other held my heart forever? ‘You’ve done it again Ella, well and truly fucked up big time.’

I stood up slowly and brushed my dress down in an effort to get rid of the creases. My heart breaking as I knew this could be the end of my friendship with Max. He stood up and placed both of his hands on my shoulders.

“I’m going to let you go, but not before I make one thing very clear. I am not losing you as a friend. You mean that much to me Ella. If friendship is all we can have then I want that. Please promise me you won’t shut me out. If I thought you’d do that I wouldn’t have told you. Can you promise me that?”

I sighed and nodded. It would be hard to be friends with Max knowing what I knew now but he was right, I couldn’t just walk away. It was Max. He was like a brother to me, my best friend.