“Are you inviting me over?” I ask, making sure I’m reading this right.
“If you want to come over, then yes.”
That’s all the confirmation I need. I grab her hand and say, “Let’s go.”
*
I throw a log into the fireplace as Ellie comes down the stairs, showered and changed into some gray sweats and a black shirt.
“It’s nice and warm down here.”
“Yeah.” I’m nervous as fuck, and I’m not sure what to do with myself. Ellie and I have been alone thousands of times, but this feels different. We’re not teenagers anymore, and we've never been in her house with no one else here. She walks over and puts her hands up to the fire.
“It’s colder upstairs.”
She’s making small talk. I see a slight shake in her hand, and I’m not sure if it’s because of the cold or if she’s nervous too. I reach out and grab her hand to see for myself. Her fingers are warm so I have my answer. She turns her head to look at me. Her eyes move from mine to my lips, and I pull her to me, giving her a closed lip smile.
“I love you, Ellie. I always have, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon, if ever.” I look over as the heat causes the wood to pop and crackle. “I’ve tried to move on. I’ve tried to keep busy, but at the end of the day, all I can think about is you.” I peer back over at her. “I know you’ll leave again. And it’ll hurt, but I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait as long as it fucking takes for you to understand I’m not going anywhere. That our love won’t be like your mom and dad’s. It’ll be better.”
Her pretty face cracks and tears fill her eyes.
“How do you know that?”
“Because I know us.”
She looks down, and I put my finger under her chin. “You’re it for me.”
The corner of her mouth lifts, and I can’t take not kissing her anymore, so I stop torturing myself. I gently take her lips and taste her fallen tears. My tongue moves with hers, so slowly, so easily. I pick her up and quickly run us up the stairs, opening her door and kicking it shut behind me. In this room, we’ve made out so many times. Never going farther, but tonight, I’m going farther.
I put her down and she sits on the end of her bed watching me as I grab my shirt from the back of my collar. I let it fall to the floor after I remove it and walk over to her, sinking to my knees.
The girl I can’t quit lifts her hand and runs it through my hair as I wrap mine under the back side of her cotton-covered knee and move it. I spread her left knee so I can slide between her thighs. She bites on her bottom lip as her fingers grab the hem of her T-shirt and she lifts it over her head, throwing it down onto the floor beside mine. Her curls fall and cover her breasts. She’s braless and I lean in, taking ahold of her hair and moving it back so I can taste the skin on her chest.
She takes a deep breath, and I stand up and kiss her as she falls back. I slowly climb over her body, bracing myself with my arms. Ellie smells like cotton candy and fall. What I would do to feel this every day with her.
I take her mouth with mine and slide my tongue against hers. Feeling her fingers go to my jeans, I can’t help but grin against her lips as she unbuttons them. I move my hand down until I’m at the hem of her sweats. I pull back, looking at her face as I reach inside. Her eyes close and she sucks in air as I fill her with my fingers.
She arches her back and I lean down and kiss her neck. Pulling her skin with my teeth, I suck, breaking blood vessels and not giving a fuck. She’s my Achilles’ heel. I’m vulnerable when it comes to her affection, craving it like a junkie does their needle and spoon.
Her throat vibrates as sweet sounds escape her lips when I move my fingers. Her hands go to my hair, and she scrapes her nails across my head. Her hands descend, and she pulls my jeans down. She lifts her legs and hooks the waist of my pants with her feet, pushing them past my knees as I run a hand over her thigh. I move back and remove them all the way.
“That feel good, baby?” I ask, grabbing the end of her sweats and tugging them off.
“Tommy,” she breathes out, and I chuckle slightly.
She watches me with hot spring-colored eyes. Ellie sits up as I go to climb on top of her. She grabs the back of my head and pulls me down, kissing my mouth. I hold myself and push her back as I cover her. Spreading her legs once more, I grab her thigh and sink inside.
“Oh God,” she groans and I bite my lip, because holy fuck. She wraps her ankles behind my back as I move. I kiss the dip below her collarbone and move down to her breasts, kissing and sucking each until her skin turns a light shade of purple. I grip her hip as I rock into her and she runs her fingers down my back.
“I love you, Tommy,” she says, looking up at me. I stop and my jaw tenses. She runs her finger along it, and I see a tear escape out of the corner of her eye. I exhale the air I didn’t know I was holding, and my hand moves from her hip to her face. She lifts, and I kiss her. I start moving again, and she moans into my mouth as I push harder and faster. She’s what love should feel like. I’m what hopeless looks like, and as we let go, I tell her what together can be like.
*
I’m wrapped in sheets and Ellie. Her leg is thrown over my waist as she sleeps beside me. I’m worn out. We stayed up late, fucking and talking and then fucking again. I’ve never felt more right than I do now. I’m going to have to convince her that we can make this work. I just hope this time it does. I run my fingers over her thigh and she wiggles a bit. I look down and see her eyes open.
“What time is it?” she grumbles.
“It’s only four.”
She moves her leg. “I have to pee.” She gets up, and I watch her walk to the bathroom. Naked with her long dark hair falling down her back. She’s so damn sexy. I rub my face and roll over onto my stomach, stretching my arms out and waiting for her to come back to bed. She walks out of the bathroom and goes to her bag.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Looking for some panties.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I can’t sleep naked.”
“Why?” I repeat, loving that I’m finding out something new about her.
“Just feels weird.” She shrugs as she slides a pair up her legs, and then she grabs my undershirt and pulls it over her head.
“Ahh, much better.” She crawls into bed and snuggles down into the covers, smiling contently and looking up at me. She leans up and gives me a quick kiss on the lips.
“Sweet dreams, Tommy.”
“Sweet dreams, baby.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Ellie
The sound of laughing downstairs and the sun shining in my eyes wakes me from my dreaming. I forgot how bright it is in this room. Rubbing my face, I look over at Tommy who breathes slowly. Hair that I love running my hands through is a sexy mess, and a slow smile plays on my lips as I think of last night. Man, I’ve been missing out. I giggle and it wakes him. He blinks his eyes and rolls over onto his back.
“Hey,” I say softly.
“Hey.” He sits up and throws the covers off him.
“What are you doing?”
“Going to brush my teeth.” Standing, he slides his briefs on before slipping his pants up and over them. Not caring to button them, he gives me a wink as he strolls to my bathroom.
“You don’t have a toothbrush.”
“But you do.”
“That’s super gross, Tommy.” I make a face.
“After what we did last night, you’re worried about sharing a toothbrush? You had my—”
“You don’t need to say it out loud.” I wince with my hand up. “I gotcha. Use the toothbrush.”
He grins and disappears into the bathroom. Sighing and feeling like I’m on cloud nine, I stretch my arms out before I sit up. Running my fingers through my knotted sleep hair, I look down at my hand and bite a hangnail.
“Your dad’s here,” Tommy says, walking out of the bathroom with wide eyes and my toothbrush in his hand.
“W
ell, he lives here.”
“My truck is in the driveway.”
“That’s where you parked it.” I smile at his worried expression.
“Ellie, I feel like you aren’t hearing me. Your dad, the chief, is downstairs.”
“Tommy, we’re grown. It’s fine.”
“The fuck it is.” He rushes back into the bathroom, and I hear him spit before he rinses.
“Do y’all have a spare bedroom? I’ve never known if you did. I can go in there like you went in Hudson’s that time.” He buttons his pants and snaps his fingers at me.
“What?” I ask.
“My shirt. I need my undershirt.”
I look down. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. Take it off.”
I roll my eyes and lift the shirt over my head, tossing it to him. “So?” he asks as I lean over and grab mine off the floor.
“So, what?”
“A spare bedroom, Ellie. Keep up here.”
I laugh. “The spare bedroom is down the hall. But my dad isn’t stupid.” I stand, pulling my hair out of my shirt collar.
“Well, I wanna pretend like he is. I’ll see you in a bit. Come ‘wake me’ after you’re dressed.” He does air quotes with his fingers as he says it. I shake my head. He presses his lips against my smirking ones before he leaves my room.
*
Thirty minutes later, I’m headed downstairs as Dad is walking up in his running shoes and jogging pants. His shirt is soaked with sweat from his run.
“Morning, Little Miss.” He grins at me with adoration.
“Dad.” I smile. He looks up the steps behind me.
“Where’s Tommy?”
“He’s still asleep in the spare bedroom.”
He narrows his eyes. “Really?”
“Yep,” I say, twisting my lips.
Dad makes a humph sound like he is pleased with this answer.
“Smart kid.” He walks on up, and when he makes it to the top, he yells, “You can come out now, Tommy! I swear, you kids think I’ve got some loose screws.” He makes his way into his bedroom, and I laugh. Tommy appears at the top of the stairs fully dressed and cute as ever.
“Guess he didn’t fall for it?”
“You guessed right, love.”
“Call me love again.” He walks down and grabs my hand.
“Love,” I say softly. He shakes his head slightly and steals a kiss before we walk down the steps. We round the corner in the kitchen to see Piper at the stove.
“Morning, you two.”
“Morning.” I walk over to the coffeepot and rinse yesterday’s coffee grinds out before I fill the pot with water and pour it into the back.
“I’m manning the stove while your dad takes a shower. You want breakfast?” Piper asks us.
“You got time for breakfast?” I say, looking over at Tommy.
“Nah, I gotta get to work. I’ll take a cup of that coffee, though. In a to-go mug if you’ve got it.”
“I’m sure I can find you one up here somewhere.” I move some glasses to the side and lean up to reach back. “Aha.” I turn around and smile. “Cream and sugar?”
“Nah, black’s fine.”
“Ew, how?”
He chuckles. “’Cause I didn’t grow up having cream and sugar in the house all the time.”
I have to walk closer to him to grab the sugar from the pantry. “Besides,” he says so only I can hear, “that shit’s for pussies.” He winks and reaches up behind me to take hold of the container.
“You think so?” I ask playfully, biting my lip.
“Yeah.” He places it in my hand before he looks over at Piper who is flipping eggs, not paying attention to us. He steals a kiss and strides over to the coffeemaker. He takes a sip after he pours his cup and regards me over the rim of his cup. Tommy glances across the room at Piper before looking back at me.
“Walk me out,” he mouths.
I set my cup down and follow him, not missing Piper’s sideways glance and her sly grin. I step out onto the porch, feeling the cold chill immediately as I slide my arms into my coat. Tommy crams his hand into his pocket and bites his bottom lip, looking me over. He doesn't say anything for a moment, just looks with that sexy smirk. His smokes come out of his pocket when his hand does, and like he always used to do, he takes one out with his teeth.
“You gonna be here when I get off?” He lets the cigarette hang carelessly from his lips.
“I’ve gotta get back,” I reply regrettably.
He nods and looks off. Sniffing, he scratches the side of his face before turning his eyes back in my direction.
“Last night…” He starts to say as he rubs the back of his neck.
“…was amazing,” I finish for him with a smile. “But.” I put my tongue in my cheek.
“But what?” he asks as his eyebrows bend.
“You have a girlfriend, and once again I’m leaving.”
He chuckles. “She isn't my girlfriend.”
“Huh?”
“Josie and I had an understanding.”
“Had?” I question.
“Yeah, it's over now.” He runs a hand through his messy brown hair. It’s funny he could do that over and over and it would never look bad.
“Why?” I cross my arms and glance at him sideways.
“You,” he says, putting his soft pack back and taking his lighter out. I run a finger over my lips, thinking about their relationship. Friends with benefits. She looked at him like she wanted more than that.
“Don't overthink this, L.”
I look back up at him.
“She wanted more?”
He shrugs, like that doesn't matter, and then lights his cigarette.
“Look, I’ve been thinking,” he says, blowing smoke from his mouth.
“Okay, you’ve got my attention,” I tease.
“Seriously, baby,” he says, and I stop my smile. “I meant what I said last night. I want this to work.”
“Tommy, long distance never works.”
“It does if you try.”
“How? We’re both in school. I have no time for a boyfriend.”
“And I’m always working my ass off. I have no time for a girlfriend, but that’s why this will work. I’ll be busy, and you’ll be busy. We can visit each other and talk every day.”
“Tommy,” I say with a sigh.
“Ellie, did you not mean what you said? Don’t do this again. I’m not letting you go without a fucking fight. I love you.”
“I love you too, Tommy.”
“Well, let’s try to make this happen.”
We don’t say anything for a minute as I look down at the old boards on the porch. The swing sways when the wind blows, and I move my hair out of my face.
“Ellie, I’d never hurt you.”
My eyes shoot back to his. I look over his face—sweet, caring, and full of love for me. I know he’d never hurt me on purpose, but sometimes it’s not in your hands.
“You know that, don’t you?” he asks.
I try not to cry as I nod. “Okay.”
He lifts his brow as smoke blows from his lips.
“Okay?” he questions with a half-smile.
“I’ll try.”
Tommy tosses his smoke and grabs me. He spins me around and I laugh as he curses. “Shit, I’m spilling my coffee.” He puts me down. “I have to go.”
“Hold on. Where’s your phone?” I ask.
He takes it out of his front pocket and hands it to me. I feel him watching as I flip to the contacts and add my new number before I give it back to him.
“Now you can call me whenever you want.”
He looks down at it and smirks. “I still can’t believe you changed your number.”
I shrug. “I was stupid.”
He shakes his head and kisses me. I wipe under my eyes before he makes his way to his truck.
Dad steps out onto the porch. Tommy gives him a salute before he shuts the door and rolls out of the drive. I t
urn around and face Dad as he hands me my coffee.
“Be a shame to waste good coffee,” he says.
“Yeah,” I agree as I take a sip. I lean against the rail of the porch as the cold smoke disappears from Tommy’s muffler. A thin sheet of ice covers the ground and the sun shines on it in the fields around us, making it sparkle and glisten.
“Ellie, I'm not trying to get into yours and Tommy's business.”
I turn to him. “Sounds like you are.” I smile playfully.
“Just hear me out, okay?”
I nod and feel the wrinkle between my brows.
“I don't know what your plans are, but that boy has been hurting pretty bad since you left. I don't care to see him like that again.”
“I don't plan on repeating my mistakes.”
“What do you plan exactly?” He takes a seat on the porch swing and I walk over and join him.
“We’re gonna try to make it work,” I tell him as I hold my cup with both hands to keep them warm.
“You don’t sound too enthused. You think that’s a good idea, living so far apart?”
“I have my doubts, but I do know I love Tommy.” I exhale a deep breath and look out as a flock of geese flies across the sky above the field. “I know that I can say that now and it doesn’t scare the hell out of me.” I smirk as I look over at him. “When I left three years ago, I was hell-bent on making a new life and leaving all this behind,” I say, waving my hand. “I ran from my feelings for him and his for me. But over time I've learned that running gets tiring. Also, no matter how far you go, love follows you as though you never left.” I lean back against the swing making it sway.
“I'm sorry,” Dad says as he looks in front of him with his brows bent.
“For what?” I ask, confused.
“For how I acted when you were a kid. For putting you through all that. You know, Tommy came over after you left.”
“He told me.”
“Yeah, I figured,” he says as he takes a sip from his cup. Steam rises from the top, and I get a whiff of coffee and my dad’s cologne, Polo Black, as the wind blows and makes me shiver. “Did he tell you the details of that day?”
Chasing Ellie: A Chasing Fireflies Spin Off Page 17
