Forever Mine (Joe & Ella 2)

He lent down to kiss the top of my head and I put my arms around his waist to give him a hug. Why did my life have to be so complicated?

Not long after Max’s revelation I left the boat and considered calling a cab, but opted for Chris instead. I needed a friendly face and I knew he was at home tonight. He answered straight away and hearing my tone of voice he didn’t hesitate to come and get me. Max was put out that I wouldn’t get a lift home with him, but I needed space. I felt slightly smothered, definitely claustrophobic.

When Chris pulled over I noticed someone already sitting in the passenger seat. Chris got out and gave me a hug then turned to introduce me to his passenger who was standing at his side.

“Ella, this is my…boyfriend Ed. Ed this is Ella. Ella has a love life more complicated than a daytime soap drama.”

“Thanks for that glowing introduction Chris.” I rolled my eyes and held my hand out to shake Ed’s but he grabbed me into a friendly hug followed by two kisses, one on each cheek.

“I’m so glad to finally meet you Ella, Chris talks about you all the time.” He gushed.

“It’s good to meet you too. Plus you get to hear all about my latest love life disasters. Lucky you!” I exhaled wearily.

“Oh come on Cinderella, it can’t be all that bad, you got to the ball and we picked you up before the clock struck twelve.” Ed and Chris grinned at each other and seeing Chris so content made me feel slightly better.

“Always my fairy Godmother hey Chris!”

We spent the ride home discussing the events of the night and I listened to Ed and Chris critique my love life as if it was a T.V drama. They both agreed that my best course of action was to gently let Max down and keep my friendship but try to ease away from him so I wasn’t spending quite so much time with him.

“You can always join us and use us as an excuse.” Ed offered kindly.

“You know I might just do that.”

16

Joe

I feel like I’m going fucking insane and for the first time in my life since leaving the god damn shit show that was L.A I have no bloody control over anything. I haven’t seen her for nearly four weeks… four excruciatingly long weeks; I feel like I’m about to explode. How long am I supposed to wait to give her the space she needs? Why she needs space from me I don’t know, but I’ve given up trying to figure her out. That woman is an enigma to me. I would gladly die for her but she drives me fucking crazy.

To top it all off I’ve got police crawling all over my cl

ub and my finances, and my best friend has been avoiding my calls. I need to get laid like yesterday, I’m all wound up like a fucking toy. I need a release badly, but I need it with her. God I miss her.

Ella. My Ella. Why does she keep playing me, and why the hell am I letting her? Every time I think I’ve figured things out she throws me a flipping curve ball and I’m back in the dark again. I can’t ever win with her. She wants me but she’s scared, she comes close then she pulls away. It’s a total mind fuck being with her, but she’s like a drug to me, I can’t walk away from her, I need my fix.

Just hearing her name makes me weak with want…need. I miss her face, her voice, her body, damn I even miss the way her curls fall around me and tickle my skin. I miss the way she makes me laugh and how being with her can make me forget the rest of the world exists. I’m so comfortable around her that I could tell her anything, I’d do anything…for her. I hate waking up to an empty bed, cold and fucking lonely. I miss the smell of her, the feel of her skin on mine velvet and soft. Christ I am pussy whipped, but god damn that woman has my heart and my balls in the palms of her hands and she has no idea. She’s fucking squeezing them right now and I’m in agony.

I’m not normally one for social media, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass who does what, but I was bored waiting to get access to my office this morning as the police did yet another check, so I clicked on Instagram. Great decision…not. There she was looking stunning as she always does, her blue eyes sparkling with pride as she stood hanging onto the arm of my so called best friend Max. They were attending some party on a boat and they looked pretty cosy together. I felt like ripping his fucking head off. He’d have a lot of explaining to do when I got hold of him. What sort of brother was he? It was pretty obvious from what I could see that he’d made a play for my girl. No wonder he was ignoring my calls he couldn’t face me. My best friend…and I wanted to knock him the fuck out for even looking at her.

So that’s what brought me here today, sitting in my car outside Max’s apartment deciding whether to go in and have it out with him. What if she’s here too? What if I catch them together? I felt murderous just thinking about it.

I got out the car and made the short walk into the lobby of his building. I was so wired and ready for a fight I didn’t even stop to speak to the security guy. If anyone stopped me I would’ve flipped out on them. I was in crazy Joe mode and no one was going to stop me from getting the answers I needed.

I banged on his door and heard him muttering for me to wait as he shuffled about behind it. I growled to myself, ‘I swear to God if he’s hiding her in there I’ll go ape shit’. I was so agitated I couldn’t stop flexing my fists and tensing my muscles. He flung the door open and his eyes went wide as he saw who it was banging down his door. The bastard looked guilty as fuck.

“Trying to avoid me Max?” I snapped pushing my way past him and striding into his apartment. My eyes were everywhere looking for evidence that she’d been here. All I could see were empty pizza boxes and unwashed mugs littering the coffee table.

“What’s up Joe?” He asked sounding nervous. He bloody should be, I wasn’t about to go easy on him. He pushed the door to and it slammed shut. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him, the fury running through my veins growing faster and more lethal by the second.

“Not much, just my so called best friend hitting on my girl. Apart from that everything’s fucking fabulous.”

He shook his head but he didn’t deny it. I wanted to rip his place apart I felt so angry.

“It’s not what you think Joe, just calm down okay.” He was walking slowly towards me now, both hands in the air as if to show me he wasn’t packing anything.

“Tell me what it is then Max, because you avoiding my calls kinda looks suspicious don’t you think? Are you with her now is that what this is? Four weeks I give her, four fucking weeks and in that time you snake your way in and steal her from me. Some fucking friend you are. You’re a sly fucking bastard. I’d expect it from someone like Charlie but not you Max.” I was starting to raise my voice now, I couldn’t help it I was shaking with fury.

“No Joe, I’m not with Ella. I’d love to be but I’m not.”