Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“You don’t have to explain it to me. I understand where you’re coming from. They need you, Copeland. That’s why you came home. Text me or call me tomorrow when you know how your day ends up, and we’ll go from there.”
Unable to help myself, I reach out, snake an arm around her waist, and pull her into my chest, hugging her tightly. “I’m here for you, too,” I whisper, but I know she can hear me. I went too damn long without saying the things that needed to be said, without reaching out and taking the hugs, or without making the phone calls. I’ll never leave anything with my girl and me to chance ever again.
When she pulls away, I let her, shoving my hands into my pockets to keep from stealing another hug.
“Thank you for walking me home.” She smiles up at me.
“Anytime, Ells.”
She waves, and I watch her as she walks up onto the porch.
“Hey, Ells,” I call out. She stops and turns to look at me over her shoulder. “Can I call you later?”
She tilts her head to the side, and that long, dark hair of hers spills over her shoulder. “Do you want to call me later?”
“More than anything.”
She nods. “I’ll answer,” she says, before turning and walking into the house.
I wait until she’s inside and the door is locked before turning back the way I came. I head to my room and settle on the bed. It’s too early to ask Chandler about dinner, so instead, for the first time in years, I take a quick nap.
Fifteen
Ellison
* * *
“Would you stop staring at me?” My eyes meet my best friend’s in the mirror with a glare.
Kinzie laughs. “Stop worrying so much. This is Copeland. You could answer the door with bedhead, and he’d still be drooling over you.” She raises her eyebrows as if daring me to tell her that she’s wrong.
“Why did you get out of work early again?” I ask her instead, and she sticks her tongue out at me. Copeland from all those years ago, hands down, yes, I would agree with her. Today’s Copeland, I’m not as certain. I want to say yes, that she’s right, and my heart’s on board with that answer, but my head is a little more cautious.
“Because I knew my bestie needed me,” she replies sweetly.
“Sounds like a waste of PTO time,” I mutter, making her laugh.
“Come on, Ellie. I agree this is a big deal, but you have nothing to be nervous about. Besides, the two of you have already ripped off the Band-Aid and slept together. Tonight is just dinner. Should be a piece of cake.” She smirks.
“Ugh,” I groan, flopping down onto the mattress. I hold my hand up to show her that it’s shaking. Just a slight tremble, but it’s there.
I’m nervous, not because I’m worried about being around him, but because I want this. I want this to work, and I’m scared as hell that I won’t be able to get past the pain, or that something else will happen to tear us apart. That we were never meant to be after all.
“Speak, woman. Tell me what’s going on inside your head,” Kinzie demands as there’s a knock on my bedroom door.
I don’t even get to answer the knock before the door is pushed open, and in walks my sisters. Courtlynn has an iPad in her hand, which can only mean they’ve called Baylor so she, too, can witness my freak-out.
“How bad is she?” Baylor asks, her voice coming over the speakers of the iPad.
“I’m perfectly fine, thank you very much,” I sass. We all know I’m lying. However, there’s a warmth that fills my chest at knowing they’re all here for me—even Baylor, whom I miss fiercely. I need to find out when she’s coming home.
“I’m going with a seven out of ten,” Courtlynn tells her.
“Definitely,” Leighton agrees.
“You just walked into the room,” I defend.
Leighton shrugs. “I live here. I know you’ve been stressing since you agreed to dinner with him last night.”
“Oh, she was at a nine point five. I talked her down,” Kinzie tells them.
“What is this? ‘Gang Up On Ellison Day?’” I huff out my irritation. I love them, but I’m also annoyed with them at the moment.
“It’s ‘Ellison Needs to Get Out of Her Head, and Let Her Heart Lead the Way Day,’” Leighton says.
“That she does,” Kinzie says, typing on her phone before placing it next to her on the bed. “Besides, Copeland will be here any minute. You need to wrap up the freak-out, my friend,” she tells me.
“Ellie, what’s going on?” Baylor asks.
I grab the iPad from Courtlynn and lie back on the bed, holding it in front of my face. “What’s going on is my head and my heart are at war. There are two huge pieces. On one hand, I have everything I’ve ever dreamed of, with the man who starred in those dreams. On the other hand, I have the pain, the feeling of not being enough for him, reminding me that if I get too close to the fire, I could get burned a second time. And you know what they say, right? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, or something like that,” I ramble.