by Melody Sweet
I gripped the bar and nodded. “Yeah, man. She was...like no one else,” I finished in a whisper.
David paused, finally looking me in the eye. His gaze was reluctant and unsure.
The thick silence was killing me, and I was about to fill it with some sentiment about how it didn’t even matter anymore, but he spoke before I could.
“She called me, you know.”
My heart stopped. “When?”
“A couple of days ago.”
“Is she okay? Is she happy?”
David’s head tipped to the side. What the hell did that mean?
Yes? Maybe?
“Where is she?” My voice shook.
David took a sip of his beer and kept his eyes on the gleaming bar. It made me want to throttle him. Answer the damn question!
Unless he didn't know.
I closed my eyes, my head dropping forward. “Let me guess, she wouldn't tell you.”
“You're still in love with her, aren't you?” David set his beer down.
Looking him in the eye, I didn’t even care that my voice was shaking. “I think I always will be. I wish I could forget her sometimes, but she's just always there.” I pointed to my head then slapped my hand against my heart, emotion clogging my throat.
David nodded, tapping the bar as he stood. He wiped his nose with his finger and sniffed. “I'm sorry I pummeled you that night. Even though I wanted to at the time, I don't think I could've actually killed you. Not because you'd kick my ass before I could, but, well, you were my best friend.”
His words sliced through me, making me feel wounded and sore.
“I never meant to...”
“I know.” He raised his hand. “We'll never be friends again. I can't do it. But we're cool, okay. It's done.” He nodded and walked to the door.
I wanted to call out a thank you, but it felt lame somehow.
He paused at the door, grabbing the handle, but stopped before opening it. “She's at Bellevue College in Washington. That’s all I know.”
I stopped breathing, unable to speak as he swung the door open and left. My brain froze for a minute, too blown away by what it just heard to even function. Running a shaky hand through my hair, I tried to focus on slowing my heart before it exploded inside my chest.
What did I do now? Go after her?
Did she even want me to?
She left me.
As much as she didn't want to, she actually did, and she hadn't come back either. In fact, she'd done everything in her power to stop me from finding her. Morgan's stubborn lips had remained sealed no matter how hard I'd tried. I'd even tracked down Jody through Facebook and tried to appeal to her, but Ella's friends were loyal.
What would it mean if I did go?
Would I move to Washington, set up a new life with her there? Would we do the long-distance thing?
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Stop getting ahead of yourself, you moron,” I muttered.
It really came down to one simple question. Did I want to turn up on Ella's doorstep and risk her rejection on the chance she'd give us one more shot?
Yes.
A smile burst across my face.
I wanted Ella, and all that was left to do now was to go and tell her.
The phone in my back pocket buzzed, distracting my planning.
I glanced at the caller ID and nearly didn't answer, but Chaos was playing at Quigg's Friday night, and it was probably a last-minute detail thing. “Hey, Jimmy.”
“Hey, man, just wondering if we could set up at lunchtime tomorrow and have a little practice at the pub.”
“Won't you be at school?”
“Teacher-only day, dude.” I could hear the smile in his voice. I grinned along with him then got hit with an insane idea. It was so good I couldn't ignore it.
My eyes grew wide, and I gripped the phone in my hand.
“So, you're free all day tomorrow?”
“Yep.”
A low chuckle resonated in my chest. “I've got a gig for you then.”
“Okay, cool. Give me some details. Where is it? What time? How many songs do you want in the set?”
My lips tipped up with a slow smile. “Just one.”
39
Ella
It had been three days since I'd called David with my apology. I was really hoping it'd make me feel better, but I was more unsettled than ever. I hadn't meant to make him feel like I needed his blessing, but it must have been playing on my subconscious. It bugged me that it was. Why did I need it? It wasn't my fault I'd fallen in love with Cole and the timing had been super crappy! Why should I have to have David's say-so to pursue it?
I hated that I'd let my need for his approval rule me for so long. It was like a bad habit I couldn't break. I needed to stand up for myself and stop doing that kind of thing.
As I sat through Professor Croft's lecture on the impact of music and movies on tween culture, my mind became more resolute. I wanted Cole, and if I wanted him, then I had to go and get him. Even if he told me I was too late, I had to know.
Professor Croft clapped her hands together. “Okay, so that's it from me today. Make sure you compile a list of all the movies and music you were obsessed with at the age of twelve before you return next week. I'm looking forward to some good discussions.”
Books slapped shut and bags were zipped closed. People rose from their places, filing out the door. I slowly gathered my stuff together. I couldn't seem to do anything quickly these days. I was depressed; that was the simple truth. It didn't matter that I was pursuing some of the things I loved. I didn't have the main thing I wanted, so the rest seemed pointless.
I'd run away to figure out what I wanted and now I knew. The only problem was, would I have the courage to go and get it?”
“Yes, Ella,” I whispered under my breath. “Just do it. Go tonight. Make it happen.”
The idea thrilled me so much a giddy euphoria spun through my brain, making me light-headed.
Did I start with a call? Or did I just show up?
Showing up would be so much more romantic. From what Morgan told me, he was still working at Quigg’s. I could walk through that door and…
A twitchy smile tugged at my lips as my imagination took flight. Me, running into his arms. He’d lift me off my feet, maybe spin me around, and then we’d kiss.
Or he’d see me and…and kick me out the door before I even had a chance to explain myself.
Fear clutched my chest. Closing my eyes, I willed it away. This big unknown was killing me. I had to see him. I had to know, or I’d never be able to move on with my life.
Cole needed to hear me say the words, “I love you, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
I had to say that to him, and like soon.
Sliding my bag onto my shoulder, I slipped out the back door and descended the stairs, logistics for the weekend adventure buzzing through my brain.
“Maybe I could catch a red-eye flight,” I mumbled to myself, but was distracted by a muffled thumping coming from the quad.
I frowned. I didn't know there was a free concert today.
A girl skipped down the stairs behind me, throwing me an odd glance. “What's that noise?”
“Sounds like a band in the quad.” I shrugged.
As we drew closer to the doors, the noise became clearer and I smiled, recognizing the song.
“I Would Walk 500 Miles” by the Proclaimers. It was a goodie.
By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, I was humming along, but then the tune caught in my throat. The girl in front of me pulled the door open and I heard it. It was a rich, perfect sound that shot fire through my veins.
Not just anyone was singing that song.
It was Cole.
I lunged for the door, swinging it open and bursting into the sunlight. A group of students were standing at the top of the stairs, staring at the band. I recognized the good-looking guitarist behind Cole.
Chaos.
He'
d brought Chaos all the way from Chicago?
Cole held the microphone, singing with gusto as his eyes scanned the crowd. He was looking for me.
My heart did a double-beat as I stood there watching him.
“Who is that guy?” The girl in front of me pointed.
“Beats me.” The student beside her shrugged. “When they were setting up, I heard him say he'd sing the song all day if he had to.”
“Why's he singing it?”
“Because he loves me,” I said with an elated laugh.
They both looked at me like I was a total fruitcake.
I smiled and squeezed between them, walking down the steps, my eyes trained on Cole. He spotted me as I reached the pathway leading toward him, his face lighting up like a fireworks display. Jumping down from the stage, he held the microphone tight and walked toward me, singing, “When I'm lonely, oh I know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the man who's lonely without you…and when I'm dreamin', oh I know I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream about the time when I'm with you.”
My grin was so wide I could feel my cheeks straining.
He kept singing as he closed the gap, and when he reached me, he placed a gentle hand on my face and sang, “And when I come home, yes I'm know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the man that comes back home with you. I'm gonna be the man that's coming ho-me to you.”
Lowering the microphone, he let the band take over the song as he caressed my cheekbone with his thumb.
“I know you didn't invite me here.” He swallowed. “But when David told me where you were, I had to come.”
I blinked slowly, not quite believing that everything I wanted was falling into place.
“But I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more...” Jimmy sang.
I giggled, still giddy and light-headed. “And you just had to sing this song, didn't you?”
Cole grinned, snatching me to him and lifting me high. My butt rested on his solid forearms as my legs came around his torso. He looked up at me, his eyes gleaming. “You're putty in my hands now, right?”
I brushed my fingers through his curls. “I've been putty in your hands since the first time I heard you sing.”
He grinned, looking like a triumphant schoolboy. “I love you, birdy.”
“I love you. And want to spend the rest of my life with you.” I leaned toward him for a kiss, but he pulled back, his expression serious.
“I have no idea what the future looks like for us, but I'm really keen to work it out...together.”
A smile spread across my face. “That's exactly what I want.”
Our grins pressed together, the sweet softness of his lips stirring that familiar fire within me. The rest of the world faded around us and we became the only two people in that quad. It was just me, Cole, and the most romantic song I knew.
Epilogue
Ella
The shower was hot and divine. The droplets hitting my skin made me want to melt. I was exhausted down to my bones. Gutting the old to make room for the new was hard work. Every muscle in my body ached, but I was so ridiculously happy it didn’t even matter. A smile crept over my lips as I reached for the shampoo, squirting a healthy amount into my palm. I had callouses on my hands and my knuckles were indented with various nicks and scrapes. They stung a little as I rubbed the shampoo into my hair, but nothing could wipe the grin from my face.
A song filtered up my throat as I spun to wash out the shampoo. I went for Frank’s “Fly Me To The Moon,” belting out the song as my mind wandered toward the man I wanted to kiss. Lathering up my loofah, I scrubbed it up my arms, washing off the grime from another hard day’s work.
“Please don’t tell me that loofah is stealing my job again.” Cole’s deep voice made me giggle.
“It’ll go into early retirement the second you get into this shower.” I kept humming as I listened to him undress, my body already zinging in anticipation. It didn’t help that Cole had joined in the song and was now singing about how I filled his heart with song. I tipped my head back and sighed, still reeling in the awesomeness that my life had become.
After Cole’s grand entrance back into it, he’d given me a weekend of heaven before flying back to Chicago. I’d then had to wait until after we’d both finished out our school year. I didn’t want to fly over for his graduation, knowing David would be around. I couldn’t rub his face in it. I just couldn’t. I was so incredibly happy with Cole; it was impossible not to show it.
June 18th had been the happiest of my life. Cole had flown across the country, I’d flown down and we’d run into each other’s arms at LAX.
“Hmmm.” Cole’s large hands ran around my body as he pressed his naked torso against my back. Ripping the loofah from my hands, he chucked it out of the shower and took over, running his soapy fingers over each and every one of my curves.
A soft moan formed in my throat, whispering out of my lips as I rested my head against his shoulder and wrapped my hand around the back of his neck.
He rested his chin on my head.
“So I just got a call from the architect.” His voice was liquid soft in spite of the fact he was talking business. I would have ignored it if he hadn’t said the words I’d been desperate to hear all day.
My eyes popped open and I spun in his arms. “What’d he say?”
Cole grinned down at me, his eyes buzzing with the same excitement I felt. “He’ll be here at nine tomorrow to show us his initial ideas.”
I let out a squeal. Cole laughed at me, capturing my lips. I went on my tiptoes and ran my fingers into his hair, loving the way his body responded to my touch.
We’d basically spent the second half of June holed up in my room…much to my aunt’s disgust. I hadn’t cared. I was with Cole and we'd had major catching up to do, but as July rolled around we knew it was time to get on with it, so we’d excitedly contacted a few real estate agents and the hunt had begun. I still had five months until I was granted full access to my trust fund, but Cole’s was plenty healthy and was able to get us started. We’d already received pre-approval from the bank and it was just a matter of finding the perfect place.
Three weeks later, we did. It was an old store with a studio apartment on top. It’d been abandoned years ago, but the rights for sale had not been available until the owner passed away. For us, the timing couldn’t have been better. After being handed the keys, we stood on the sidewalk in giddy silence gazing up at what would soon become Reynold’s.
We were both getting a taste of our dreams. I was living back in a place that felt like home. Our little apartment was just under five miles from Pasadena Community College. I was cutting back to part-time classes and would complete my degree over four more years. I wanted to be able to help Cole with the pub. I would have quit college then and there, but Nina had talked me out of it, convincing me that I could handle both.
“It’ll be busy, but you’ll never regret having a college degree,” she’d said. “You guys are gonna be great. I’m so proud of you.” Her eyes had welled with tears as we talked online, making me want to cry.
I still couldn’t believe Cole had left Chicago…and them…for me. But he told me as long as I was there, he could live anywhere.
“Ella, you’re my home and no matter where you go, I’ll follow you. I’d walk a thousand miles, remember?” He'd leaned his forehead against mine and I'd nearly died, but then he'd taken it one step further, his expression softening to mush. “I want to marry you.”
My lips parted, my heart freezing still.
He’d grinned at me. “I don’t have a ring yet. Every penny I have is kind of wrapped up in our future plans right now, but there’ll be one coming, Miss Simmons…I just wanted you to know.”
I'm pretty sure I haven't stopped smiling since that day. We might not be officially engaged, but our hearts got hitched a long time ago and for now I’m happy to wait for my wedding day.
Cole’s tongue was burning as it slid into my mouth. He pressed me back against the cool tiles, hi
s lips working over my chin and down my neck. I ran my fingers across his hard shoulders as his tongue traveled down my body, hot-wiring my brain and making coherent thought impossible.
“How much time do I have?” Cole murmured against my belly.
“Time? What’s time?”
He chuckled, blowing a raspberry into my belly button. I gently yanked his hair as I giggled.
“Jody’s picking me up at seven.”
“And where are you going?”
“We’re taking Morgan out for karaoke.”
“Again?” He looked up at me. “She’s not looking for that guy is she?”
“The actor?” I chuckled. “No, she just needs some cheering up. She still hasn’t found a job, and since her big break up with Brad she's been working her way through a very lousy dating pool."
"I thought she was swearing off guys."
I shrugged, my insides pinching with worry. "Me too."
Cole's expression mirrored my disquiet, but I forced a smile, not wanting to take my concerns into the evening.
"Anyway, we have to celebrate as much as we can tonight. Jody leaves next week. It’s gonna be sad. We have to have as much fun as we can while the trio is still together.” I tipped my head, water running off my hair and splashing into his face. I laughed, brushing the slick curls off his forehead. “I’m so glad I’ve got you.”
Cole ran his hands up my sides, squeezing my hips and giving me one of his megawatt smiles. I leaned down and kissed it, pressing my body against his. “So in answer to your question…” I softly bit his neck before working my way up to his ear and nibbling on the lobe. “I’ve got as much time as we need.”
Cole’s deep chuckle reverberated in his chest. “When it comes to you, my love, there is never enough time.”