by Brenda Ford
I let out a little laugh, wondering how accurate that statement is. I don’t remember Rosie ever having a temper before, but then as much as I have changed, I’m sure that she has as well. The looks that she’s been giving me are dreadful anyway and she appears like someone who wants to murder me. We shall see anyway. When we go inside, I am going to try and poke around to find out what’s happening with my cousin.
“I suppose I better go then,” I say regretfully to Oliver. “But I will definitely see you soon.”
“Mhmm. I will see you soon. I look forward to it.”
“Me too.” I nod slowly. “Yes, I’m looking forward to it as well.”
Yep, there is something in his face, an excitable look. He wants to get to know me more as well, I can tell. There’s a rush of lust that threatens to consume me and swallow me up whole. I step backwards, keeping my eyes fixed on his until I walk away far enough to be forced to turn. Then I meet Rosie’s eyes and my blood runs ice cold. Yep, she’s mad. She’s insane. She might tear me limb from limb. But if she’s willing to do that just from me having a conversation with Oliver, then what will she do if something more happens? And why does that make it that much more exciting?
Chapter Five
Oliver
What the hell? I think desperately as I slam the door closed behind me. What just happened?
My heart is pounding viciously in my chest, I don’t know if I can get enough air into my lungs, I’m all messy and raw and it’s all because of Ellie. Ellie and her beautiful dark blue eyes that just pierced right into my soul. That conversation was something else, it was sexually charged and exciting, it made me feel new. Everything that I thought I felt for Rosie was nothing compared to this. This is… well, it’s overwhelming.
I rub my fingers, the electricity still bursting through me, thrilling me to the core. I can feel a bounce in my steps now, and I want more. So much more. I want to make an excuse to go over to the Clark’s house, to see her again.
This is perfect! I tell myself with glee. Now it doesn’t ever have to be awkward with Rosie again.
Of course, I know that she might have something to say about it, but right now that doesn’t trouble me. Not at all. I’m too buzzing about the idea of just being around her. I lean back against the door and close my eyes, imagining her arms around me, her fingers grazing against my skin, her lips brushing against my throat.
“You okay?” Brad’s voice drags me out of the day dream, making me jump. “You look all weird.”
“Oh.” Fuck, how embarrassing. I can feel myself going bright red. “Sorry, I just…”
“You aren’t sick, are you? I know that there has been a bug going around the office…”
Yes, I know that too. The sickness bug that has taken everyone out of the office. He would know if I had it because I would be sweating like crazy and barely able to leave the toilet bowl. Brad is just testing me, trying to see how far he can push me and how much I will tell him. If only it was easier to get me to open up. I don’t know why I’m such a closed book, there isn’t anything to cause it, it’s just the way I am.
“No, I think that I’m good.” I nod and pull myself off the door to head towards the living room. “I’m just…”
I leave it hanging in the air, the pause speaking volumes for me. I do that a lot actually, I leave things hanging around, allowing the other person to jump to a conclusion for themselves. It probably isn’t the best way of communicating, but it’s all I have ever done. Brad nods knowingly, understanding my silence.
“So, I wanted to talk to you about the budget for the newest project I’m working on,” he continues, changing the subject completely. “I want to know what your opinion is on that…”
He begins talking about work, and much as I want to listen to it, I can’t. My mind isn’t in the office right now, and I don’t think he’ll be able to make that happen all night long, not with her next door. How can I focus on the numbers when the blonde bomb shell is just over the road? Looking so alluring and wanting me.
“Oliver?” Brad demands. “Oliver, what is going on? Why aren’t you listening to me?”
“Urgh, sorry.” I shake my head. “I think the budget can cover whatever you want.”
“Are you serious? Because I just proposed a ridiculous deal and you agree? That is not like you, Oliver. You are normally so careful about everything. You never let me spend more money than what is barely necessary.”
“Sorry, I…” I shake my head. “I just think that it’s a very good idea, that’s all.”
Brad takes a seat and gives me a look. “Come on, sit with me. Let’s have a chat about things.”
“What do you want to talk about?” I sit beside him and wait. “Sorry, if it’s the budget plans then give me a report and let me take a proper look through it. I promise I will take it seriously.”
“I don’t want to talk about that.” He cocks his head to one side and looks at me curiously. “I want to know why you’re being so strange. Something is going on and I want to know what is that.”
I offer him a one shouldered shrug. I haven’t ever told any of my brothers about my love life issues, even my feelings for Rosie, so I don’t know if starting now is a good idea. I mean, what would I even say? Oh, by the way I thought that I was in love with my best friend, the girl next door, but it turns out that I actually like her cousin more who I met a few moments ago? No, Brad will give me hell for being rash. He will think it weird that I am so willing to just give my heart over when I am so calm in every other area of my life.
“I’m good, I’m just a little distracted and I don’t know why. Maybe I’m tired.”
“If you want to talk, you know that I’m here, don’t you? I don’t want you to feel alone.”
Brad is always like this, a little fatherly. I think it’s because me and the rest of my brothers were all very young when our parents passed away where as he was nineteen years old, so he pretty much raised us alone. He is our father figure and he takes that role very seriously. Even now that we are all grown up.
“I’m okay, I don’t feel alone,” I half lie. “I just have a lot on my mind, that’s all.”
“How is Rosie doing?” Brad leans on his elbow and stares at me, not giving up on me spilling my guts just yet. “Is she doing okay with her aunt passing away and everything? That must have been hard.”
“She’s good. I think it’s going to be hard for a while though, with her cousins moving in…”
“They are? I didn’t know about that. Are they living there now? We should offer help.”
“Actually, they just arrived today. A young kid called Seth and his older sister, Ellie.” I can’t stop myself from shivering with excitement at the thought of Ellie, even with Brad looking at me like that.
“Well, we should invite them all over for dinner. Cook them a nice meal. I know that it’s only me, you, and Alex tonight, but it could be fun, couldn’t it? Save them some cooking and worrying about stuff. Plus, it would give us a chance to get to know them better. If we can help, then we should. Always. If they are going through a hard time after losing their mom… well, we can talk about it openly, can’t we? Most people try to avoid the subject because they don’t know what to say, but that isn’t a problem for us.”
This idea is absolutely amazing, and not just because I like the idea of welcoming Ellie and Seth properly, but because it satisfies my craving of seeing her again. I need to see her again.
“I love that idea, Brad.” I jump up from my seat and wave my cell phone at him. “I will call Rosie now and invite them. Should I tell them that we’re having anything in particular?”
“I’ll make my world famous curry. Rosie and her mom love that. Hopefully the others would as well. I won’t do it spicy to make sure that everyone can eat it without any issues. Even the young boy.”
My smile stretches from ear to ear, practically breaking my skin. I’m just so thrilled. To make the phone call, I bounce up to my room so I can talk to Ros
ie in private about this. Just in case I need to convince her because I have only just remembered that she is with Tristan and he might not like her spending time with me…
Not that it should matter to him since we are only friends, but whatever. That’s not my issue.
“Hello?” I am immediately struck by how glum Rosie sounds. That’s not a good sound. “Oliver?”
“Rosie, are you okay? What happened? You sound really upset. Has something happened?”
“Oh, just the usual. Tristan being an asshole.” She’s trying to play it off, but I can hear how hurt she is by him. Again. Why the hell doesn’t she just get rid of him already? “But he’s gone now, and he won’t pick up his cell phone, so I guess he doesn’t want to fix things between us. So, whatever.”
“That sucks, Rosie. I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.”
“There isn’t. But I appreciate it. Instead, I want to talk about anything other than Tristan. I don’t even want to think about him and his ridiculous notions of…” She stops herself suddenly. “Anyway, it really doesn’t matter.”
“Well, actually, I’m calling because Brad has just announced that he’s making his curry tonight, the one you love, and he wants to know if you and your family want to come over for dinner.” When Rosie doesn’t answer right away, I feel compelled to continue. “He wants to meet Ellie and Seth. Welcome them. You know, get to know them. Check on them, see if there is anything that he can do or say to help them…”
“Brad does?” she asks doubtfully, which is strange because it isn’t unusual for Brad to be caring. “He’s the one who wants to invite them and get to know them, huh? Well, I don’t see why not.”
“You don’t have to…” I say a little pathetically, really hoping she does.
“No, it could be nice. I don’t think that Mom wants to cook tonight anyway.”
“Okay great.” I don’t want to dig too deep into Rosie’s mood, especially if it’s Tristan related, I can do that later on. “So, we will see you at about seven then? Make sure you’re hungry. Brad always cooks loads.”
“Will do.” She’s silent for a couple of moments. “See you later on then.”
“Great. Seven o clock. I look forward to it. It will be fun.”
“Fun… sure. Yes, I’m, sure it will be all kinds of fun.”
There is something to her voice, something with an edge, almost like she’s challenging me and I’m not sure why. It can’t really be because of Ellie because she has no idea about my feelings for her. Also, much as she might be wound up about it, this seems a little bit excessive for my liking.
No, I think that I must be reading too much into it. She’s mad at Tristan, not me. I just have a guilty conscious because I’m sure what I’m doing is wrong. Or I think that it will cause drama anyway, and I don’t like drama.
“Brad,” I call loudly down the stairs. “Rosie is on board. Everyone will be here at seven.”
“Great okay. I will call you down if I need your help with the cooking.”
I flop on to the bed and grin at the ceiling, excited that I’ll be getting to spend more time with Ellie tonight. I can’t wait to see how our conversation will be later, if it will still have the same charge as before, where that electricity might lead. I know where I want it to go but this isn’t all my choice.
Thankfully, this time I really think that I might be obsessing over someone who likes me right back. She was certainly giving me all the signs that she wants me naked. I hope that I’m not reading anything wrong this time around. I don’t want another explosion in my life, another eruption, I just want a simple, fun time that could eventually lead to love and the whole happy ever after stuff. Isn’t that what everyone wants?
Chapter Six
Ellie
I straighten up my top, making sure that it shows just enough cleavage to get Oliver’s heart pounding. Of course I wouldn’t have a lot of my breasts out, not after what happened, not knowing that the picture is still on the Internet somewhere for anyone to look at, but I don’t mind a tiny piece of me on show for him.
As soon as I overhear Rosie telling her mom about dinner at the Smith’s house, I started getting dressed because I want to look my best for Oliver. He’s seen me looking average after a long journey and he seemed to like me, so I’m thrilled to show how incredible I can be when I really give it some effort. My hair is all curled and flowing around my face, down passed my shoulders. My makeup is done to perfection, really highlighting my big blue eyes and high cheek bones. I have a tight top on, giving him a glimpse of me, and skinny jeans which curve around my ass, which I will team with heels as well to make me look even better… yes, I might be a little dressed up for dinner with the neighbors, but this is also a little like a date as well. At least in my mind.
“When are we going?” Seth moans from behind. “I’m starving. Why are you still dressing up?”
“Because it’s dinner.” I drag my lipstick across my mouth. “And you should look nice.”
“Should I get changed then? Because this is what I have been wearing all day long.”
I smile down at him and shake my head. “No, buddy, because you always look good.”
“Well, I think that you look very pretty too. Good enough to go to dinner now.”
I nod and check my reflection one last time, before agreeing with him. “Okay, let’s go and grab Rosie and Auntie Amelia, and get over there already. Because now that you’ve mentioned it, I’m starving too.”
I rub my belly and make him laugh, which is nice. He didn’t laugh at all at home after Mom died. I’m not surprised how can he find anything funny without his mother around? But I can see he’s more free here. A bit like me. This really is a brand new start for the pair of us and I’m sure that it will be a good one.
“Woah!” Rosie exclaims as soon as me and Seth walk into the kitchen. “Ellie, you are all dressed up.”
It almost makes me a little smug to see her in a tee shirt and leggings. Not that she’s any competition since she has Tristan, but I really want to stand out, and right now I think I will. I hope he’ll be stuck staring at me.
“This is how I always dress for dinner.” I shrug and try to act blasé. “It’s normal for me.”
“You look like this all the time?” She cocks her eyebrow, clearly unsure. “Wow, that’s…”
“You’re talking to me now?” I snap, changing the subject. “Because you’ve been locked in your room ever since Tristan left. I wanted to check that you are okay but you wouldn’t answer me.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I just need a bit of a time out when me and Tristan row. I need to recover.”
Well, I wanted to talk to her alone to see what the deal is and why she’s so mad about me talking to Oliver, but it seems like now in front of everyone might be the best place to start.
“So, do you and Tristan argue a lot? It seems to me like you have a fiery relationship.”
“Oh, you just saw a small snippet of it.” She tries to play it down a little, but I can tell this is more painful than she cares to admit. “We aren’t like that all the time; it was just a little blip.”
“Right, a blip. Okay.” I nod knowingly. “Well, I’m glad to hear it.”
“I might just get changed actually. I feel a bit crappy in this outfit now.”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” her mom jumps in. “Oliver sees you all the time, in all kinds of states, he won’t care. Nor will the rest of the guys. So, come on. We don’t want to be late. Let’s get out there.”
Rosie mutters under her breath as we go, clearly very pissed off by having to go over there not looking as good as me which has me very curious. Does she like Oliver or something? Are any feelings there? That’s weird, but since she already has a boyfriend, he isn’t really a choice for her. He might be for me though. I’m not going to let her bullshit trouble me when I have found the first guy I have ever really liked.
Brad Smith, as I quickly discover he’s called, welc
omes us openly. I instantly like him. Not like I like Oliver, but he’s nice. He wants us to feel comfortable around him and I do. He has a dad like quality to him… not that I know much about what a dad like quality is. Alex Smith, the awesomely cool rock star is friendly enough as well…, but even he isn’t enough to take my eyes off of Oliver. He captivates me still. It wasn’t a momentary thing, and I want to know more. I want to know everything there is about him.
I make sure I take a seat opposite him at the table, and as the wine flows along with the conversation, I stretch my foot out and gently rub it along his leg. My heart is throbbing with nerves, but the excited look on his face keeps me going. He likes me touching him which only makes me want to touch him more.
I am playing footsie with him; I think with a cheeky smile. This is amazing. And he loves it.
He is blushing and refusing to meet my eyes now, but I know it. Even as he attempts to focus only on eating, it’s so damn obvious. I am setting him alight and I love it. I want to do it more. What a shame this is a family meal rather than a date of just the two of us. I have to behave in a certain way because it’s expected of me. Luckily though, everyone else is talking so much that they aren’t expecting either of us to join in the conversation. I get to focus solely on Oliver, and he can look only at me as well. Or not at me, whatever he wants.
“Are you not eating, Ellie?” Brad suddenly asks me, making me jump. “Don’t you like it?”
I make a big show of putting a fork full in my mouth. “It’s absolutely delicious.”
My foot travels an inch higher up Oliver’s leg which must push him a little too far because he jumps up to his feet. Everyone around the table stares at him like he’s lost his damn mind, which forces him to make an excuse.