“I was your princess first,” I remind him, my lips curling into a smile despite the fact that he can’t see me.
Eli groans. He sounds even more tortured. “Don’t remind me, baby. I wish you were with me right now. I’m all alone in this big house, and I’m bored. There’s no Muffin around for me to kick.”
I gasp. “You don’t kick your mom’s dog, do you?”
“Nah, I just like threatening it on the daily. You know it’s bad when I miss shitty little Muffin Top.” His voice drops to almost a whisper. “You should come over.”
“I can’t,” I whisper back. I never did tell him about Mom catching me coming in late last night.
“Maybe I can sneak up there,” he says. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”
“I don’t know,” I say, skeptical. This is not the ideal situation. “Jake’s girlfriend is here right now. Actually, I need to get back inside and help her find a dress for tomorrow.”
“Aww, you two are becoming friends? How sweet,” he teases.
“Shush,” I say, laughing.
“Uh, I have something to tell you.”
He suddenly sounds terribly serious. “What’s wrong?”
“I posted my last story for your brother a while ago,” he says.
“Oh thank God you’re finally going to give that up,” I say.
“Yeah. I uh, might’ve said a few things that could potentially make you mad,” he adds.
“Like what?”
“I’ll let you go hang out with Jakey-poo’s girlfriend. Talk to you later, babe. Love you. Bye.” He ends the call.
Suspicious, I immediately go to Instagram and find his story, then open it.
The story starts, and it’s footage from one of their school rallies. Each member of the football team is being announced. The story stops on Eli right after he’s introduced, pausing on him mid-strut as he walks across the gym floor, lifting his arms above his head with a giant grin on his face. Then “Eye of the Tiger” starts playing.
It switches to a close-up of Eli’s white jersey, that purple number one in the middle of his chest. Looks like the same shirt I wore before, when we were in the back seat of his car.
“See this, Callahan?” Eli’s index finger pops onto the screen. “Number one, baby. I’m number one in the mountain area, and don’t you ever fuckin’ forget it. Last three games, we’ve won. Four and one, and we’re about to make it five and one as of tomorrow night. Homecoming’s gonna suck for you, bro. Sorry ’bout it.”
He starts to laugh, and the camera pulls back so Eli’s face appears. He looks extra cute. I kind of love it when he smirks.
“You and your pretty redhead? Ain’t. Gonna. Win.” Eli claps between each word. I really don’t like it when he picks on Hannah. She has nothing to do with this. “My money’s on Cami and your best friend. They’re the real couple right now, though rumor has it someone else is knocked up with a little baby Diego.” Eli taps his finger against his bottom lip, before a devious smile spreads across his face. “You never heard that from me, though.”
Oh my God! Where did he hear that rumor?
“Such a shame you won’t get that crown, Callahan, and you won’t get the win on the field either, so it’s going to be a double loss tomorrow night. Your girlie will console you, though. You two seem really into each other. I wish you the best,” Eli continues. “Your team is gonna be all pissed off, especially your closest bros. You’ll be the maddest one of all though. Losing to the Mustangs, to me. It’s going to get to you.”
Eli laughs. I can only shake my head.
“So there won’t be much celebrating happening tomorrow, I’m guessing. Will you two show up to the homecoming dance Saturday night? I’m hoping to go with my favorite princess, but we’ll see. She’s worried about causing trouble, but I told her you won’t even notice, will you, bro?”
His story ends.
I stand outside in utter shock, my phone clutched in my hands, another story playing, though I can’t hear it. My mind is too busy repeating what Eli said.
My favorite princess.
You won’t even notice, will you, bro?
Damn it, yet again he’s talking about me.
“Ava!”
I glance up to find Mom has opened the door from the kitchen, Hannah standing directly behind her.
“Yeah?” I try to keep my voice as normal as possible. I don’t want her to know that I’m angry.
So angry.
“Get inside and show Hannah that dress! Jake texted her a few minutes ago and said he’s on his way home,” Mom explains.
“Sorry. Just got an important call I had to take. Let’s go upstairs, Hannah.” I head toward them, shoving aside my anger toward Eli so I can focus on Jake’s girlfriend.
I refuse to try and control Eli, and yeah, his stories are obnoxious and over the top. But he’s coming terribly close to exposing me, and if Jake figures it out before I get the chance to tell him that Eli and I are together…it could get ugly.
I guarantee it.
Forty-One
Eli
I’m crazier than a motherfucker.
Seriously, we all know this, am I right? I guess it should come as no surprise why I’m currently risking life and limb as I crawl up a wooden rose trellis to get to the second story of the Callahan house. It’s late. Past ten. That one bedroom window that’s lit tells me it’s Ava’s. Call it intuition. Hopefully, I’m not wrong. Hopefully, it’s not her parents’ window, and when I’m peepin’, they don’t catch me watching while they have sex or whatever.
Ick. No thanks.
Thank God the trellis is pretty sturdy. I climb up it carefully, wincing every time a thorn cuts into my arm or leg. Wonder if her parents made sure roses crawled up the side of the house on purpose. To deter dudes from sneaking into their daughter’s window.
Well, guess they never met someone like me.
Finally, I’m at eye level with the bottom of the window and yep, there’s my girl. Sitting on her bed wearing a sexy little tank top and a pair of undies. That’s it. Her blonde hair is wet and hangs down her back. She’s on her phone, frowning. Ignoring my texts.
Girl is pissed at me thanks to the story I posted. I couldn’t help it. I had to say something. Poking the bear has always been a favorite pastime of mine. Some say I’m stupid.
I just say I’m living life to the fullest.
Letting go of the trellis, I balance myself as best as I can on the ledge beneath the window and lightly knock on the window. Ava’s head jerks up, her green eyes going extra wide when she spots me. I wave at her.
She glares.
I mouth the words, open your window.
She continues to glare at me.
Glancing down at the ground, I realize I’m pretty high up. If I were to fall, I could hurt myself. Break a leg or wrist. Fuck the rest of my football career up with one go. Obviously, I wasn’t thinking when I made my way up this stupid trellis.
My impulsiveness strikes again.
I return my attention to Ava, who’s at least now standing. The tank she’s wearing is too short, so it’s giving me the perfect view of her hot body, that sweet little pussy barely covered by a scrap of blue-striped fabric. My dick decides to get in on the action, twitching its appreciation, and I mentally tell myself to get my shit under control.
She slowly approaches the window, and as she gets closer, I can tell she’s not wearing a bra. I can see her nipples, and can also make out their color beneath the white fabric of her tank top. Even though I’m barely hanging on this shaky wooden structure, I can’t help but think it’s a fucking fabulous day to be alive.
Ava opens the window maybe an inch. “What the hell are you doing?” she whispers harshly.
“How’d I get so lucky that this window doesn’t have a screen on it?” I didn’t even realize it until she cracked the window open. “Let me in.”
“No!” She glances over shoulder, as if she expects her dad to come barreling in at any second
. She turns to face me once more. “My parents would kill you if they knew you were here like this.”
I grin at her. “Then they’ll never know. Come on, Ava. Let me in.”
She backs away, crossing her arms. “I’m mad at you.”
“I’m a dickhead who posted that story, I’m sorry.” Look at how easy that apology flew out of me. I’m making progress. “Now please, before I fall to my death, let me in,” I say for the third time.
With a sexy little huff, she pushes the window open and then takes my hand, surprising me with her strength as she hauls me through the open space. Though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, considering she’s tossing cheerleaders into the air on a daily basis.
We tumble to the floor, wrapped up all around each other, and I take my opportunities where I find them, running my hand over her bare ass cheek. Her skin is silky smooth and so damn soft. I wonder if she’d freak if I kissed her there.
“Stop.” She scrambles out of my hold, slapping my hands away. “Seriously, Eli. I’m furious at you.”
“Why?” I leap to my feet, watching as she does the same, and starts pacing the floor.
“I already told you via text. You handed my brother all the right clues to figure out who I am. That we’ve been seeing each other.” Her eyes are wide when they meet mine. “He’s going to kill me when he figures this out!”
“No he won’t. That dumbass can’t figure out shit,” I say, resting my hands on my hips as I check out her room. It’s typical Ava. Varying shades of pinks and white and cream. Filmy white curtains drape either side of her windows, and the comforter covering her bed is white and fluffy. A pile of plump pillows lean against the pale pink fabric headboard. It’s girly without being too over the top.
Kind of like my girl. Who is currently pissed at me.
“Stop calling my brother names.” She marches toward me, jabbing her finger against my chest. “If you want to be with me, you can’t go around insulting any of my family members. That includes Jake.”
I will do whatever it takes to be with her. “Okay,” I say solemnly.
She takes a step back, frowning. “That’s it? Okay? You’ll stop?”
Whipping my phone out of my back pocket, I open up Instagram. “Want me to delete the story?”
“Oh my gosh, yes,” she breathes. “Maybe Jake hasn’t seen it yet.”
He hadn’t seen it since I last checked, but that was almost two hours ago. “Done.” I hit a couple of buttons, and it’s gone. I hold my phone up to her to prove I deleted it. “Ava, I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. I’m sorry I posted that stupid story. It was my last one. I won’t do it again.”
She tilts her head. “Are you sick?”
“What do you mean?” I’m kind of insulted that she wouldn’t believe I could change. For her.
“You’re so—agreeable,” she says, her voice soft. “This isn’t like you.”
I go to her bed and collapse on top of it, sprawling my entire body across the very soft mattress. Nice. “I don’t like it when you’re mad at me.”
“I don’t like it when you say mean things about my brother,” she admits. “Or rude things about me.”
Closing my eyes, I breathe deeply, enjoying the fact that I’m in my girlfriend’s room. Late at night. And she’s wearing practically nothing. “Come here,” I murmur.
I can literally feel her hesitation. Should she? Shouldn’t she? Luckily enough, I win. Her feet shuffle across the floor and then she’s crawling onto the mattress, settling her body against mine. She rests her head on my shoulder and drapes her arm across my stomach, her fingers sliding beneath the hem of my T-shirt.
Perfect.
“You really forgive me?” I need to make sure she’s not going to blow up on me again. I don’t want her mad at me.
“Yes.” She lifts her head and softly kisses my jaw. “I forgive you.” Another kiss. “But you need to learn how to control your impulses. They get you in trouble.”
Keeping my eyes closed, I smile and give her a squeeze. “I think you like trouble.”
“I can only take so much,” she teases, but I can also hear the sincerity in her voice, and it makes me feel bad.
She drops a kiss on my lips and I cup the back of her head, keeping her in place so I can kiss her again. And again. I’ve missed her. So damn much. “Want to get naked?”
Ava laughs. I savor the sound, releasing my grip on her head. She shifts away from me, though her body is still plastered next to mine. “I don’t think so.”
I turn my head and crack one eye open to look at her. “I crawled up a fucking wall for you, Ava. Thorns scratched my skin.” I hold up my arm to show her the scratches on my forearm. “I bled for you.”
“You’re such a noble gentleman.” She leans in and drops a soft kiss right next to my scratch. Ah damn it. This girl is literally trying to kill me with her sweetness. “But I’m not getting naked with you tonight. As a matter of fact—you should leave soon.”
“What? I thought we could snuggle together for a little while.” I pull her into me, tugging a little harder until she’s on top of me. Her legs fall on either side of my hips, and her face is in mine. I glance down to see her tits straining against the fabric of her tank, the neckline tugged low and almost exposing her to my gaze. “Come on, baby. I’ve missed you.”
She kisses me, essentially shutting me up. And it’s a good one. A forceful Ava is a sexy Ava. Her tongue licks. Her teeth bite. She makes these little noises that have my dick standing at attention and I’ve got my hands on her ass, pulling her into me.
“Nope,” she says after she breaks the kiss and crawls off me.
What. The. Fuck?
I sit up, running a hand through my hair. “Ava.”
“Eli,” she teases. “Time to go.” She saunters over to the window and pushes it back open.
“No way am I climbing back down that wall.” I shake my head.
“Come on. This is the way you came in. This is the way you go out.” She grins, resting her hands on her hips.
I go to her with a growl, wrapping my arms around her, my mouth hovering above hers. “Let me at least walk out the door.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes. I kiss her mouth. Kiss her neck. Run my hands down her ass. “You should know Jake isn’t home yet.”
“Well shit.” Risky. What if his ass comes walking through the house as I’m sneaking out of it? What a sight that would be.
“I know what to do.” She pulls out of my embrace and grabs my hand. “Come on.”
I follow her as she leads me toward the door. “Where are your parents?”
“Asleep in their room.”
“And your little brother?”
“Asleep over an hour ago. Football wears him out.”
I remember when I used to be like that. Now football revs me up. Excites me. After a good practice or game, it takes me hours to fall asleep. “So you’re really just gonna walk me out of the house? Wearing that?”
She sends me a look over her shoulder, her free hand resting on the door handle. “Shh. Stop asking questions.”
Ava opens the door, and we sneak out. Down the hall. Down the stairs. Through the living room—their house is nice, way bigger than ours, of course—and out the kitchen through the back door. It was surprisingly easy.
I was also holding my breath the entire time. The very last thing I wanted to see was Drew Callahan coming for me.
“Where’s your car?” Ava asks once we’re in her backyard. It’s really nice. Almost as nice as ours. There are solar lights everywhere so I can see her pretty face, and I can’t help myself.
I caress her cheek and kiss her.
“I parked it across the street,” I murmur against her lips.
She starts to laugh. “You’re ballsy.”
“That’s what you love best about me, right?” I tease.
“Oh I love you for a lot of other things too.” She slowly wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me ag
ain. “See you tomorrow night?”
“Ava.” I kiss her again and again, fighting the panic that wants to swamp me. She’s going nowhere. She won’t care if I win or lose this game tomorrow.
So why do I suddenly feel like everything’s on the line?
“You should go,” she whispers after she ends the kiss. “Jake could come home at any minute.”
“Right. Okay. I’m out.” One more kiss. I’m an addict, and she’s my drug. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” She smiles. Reaches around me and swats my ass. “Now get out of here.”
“Damn girl. You into that kinky shit?”
“Probably. Eventually.” She laughs when my mouth drops open. “I’m kidding! Now leave. Before Jake finds you here and wants to beat your ass.”
I exit her backyard and pause in front of their giant house, staring down the street. No one’s coming. This neighborhood is posh. Quiet. A lot of the homes here are vacation homes, so they stand empty for months at a time. It’s fucking nice.
Maybe someday, if I’m lucky, I’ll be invited to Sunday night dinner at the Callahan house.
Forty-Two
Ava
I can’t sleep. Too excited about tomorrow. Too excited by the fact that my boyfriend came over and I snuck him into my room after he climbed up to my window to see me. I was mad, but he didn’t even hesitate to apologize and delete his story.
I appreciated that more than he’ll ever know.
Restless, I open up my laptop and watch one of my favorite influencers on YouTube. She’s telling some crazy story and I’m only half-paying attention, my mind too full of thoughts of Eli. Maybe after the dance, we could go back to his place. His mom hopefully will still be out of town. We could be together all night. Fall asleep in each other’s arms.
A smile curls my lips as my eyes slowly shut. That sounds so perfect.
There’s a rapid-fire knock on my door before it opens, Jake walking inside. I sit up a little and blink at him, tapping the spacebar on my laptop to pause my video.
Addicted To Him Page 34