“Good. Banner, can I have my coat, please?” He reaches under the bar, and I grab it. “See you later,” I say as I slide it on. I walk past the pretty girl and her friends and tell her, “I think Chris is saving that seat for you.” She blushes, and I smile. Walking out, I button up my coat and take a left toward the hotel.
“You need a ride?” I hear and turn around. Tommy is leaning against the brick wall of Banner’s with one hand in his pocket and a smoke in the other.
“No thanks. I’d like to walk.”
“In this cold-ass weather?” He pushes off the wall and takes a drag from his nicotine. I put my hands into my pockets and take in a deep breath.
“It’s not so bad.”
“Well, you’ve been drinking, so it’s probably not to you.”
“True.” I shrug as he walks closer.
“Saw that guy run across the road half-naked. You have anything to do with that?” He kinda grins as he tosses his smoke out into the road.
“Yep.”
“Did he lose a bet?”
“Yep.” I smile.
“Only a fool would bet against you, Ellie Williams.” He searches my eyes, and I get a shiver when the wind blows behind me and across my neck.
“You would know.”
“Yeah.” He chuckles lightly and looks back at the bar as a few kids fall out laughing and gripping each other’s shoulders. Maci pulls up in a minivan. Getting out, she slides the door open and signals for drunk and happy to get in.
“Hey, Aunt Maci.” I wave and she waves back as she shuts the door. “You’ve got yourself a good side business.”
“Sure do. It’s a win-win. I make a little money, and they get home safe. See you later. Bye, Tommy.”
Tommy lifts his hand, and Maci climbs back into the van. Smoke bellows out the muffler as she turns down Red Oak Street.
“Well, anyway, I better get home. Got to head over to Aunt Leigh’s to get Buster in the morning.”
“What’s he doing there?”
“I thought it would be good for him to meet some friends. She took a few strays home with her last night.”
“Sounds like Leigh.” He grins, and cold smoke blows from his mouth as he exhales. “Let me take you home.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“I think the reason is obvious.”
“You’re still pissed I bought the house.”
“Absolutely!” I say, taking a step back. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Why would you be, is the question?”
“Tommy, I shouldn’t have to explain this to you.”
“I think I need you to, though,” he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. I exhale, annoyed and starting to feel the chill.
“It’s cold, and the alcohol is wearing off.”
“If you’d let me take you home, we’d be warm and we could talk.”
“Fine,” I say, walking past him. “Let’s go.”
With blasting heat and soft seats, Tommy drives me the small distance to the hotel. I gaze out the window and smile a little as snow begins to fall.
“It’s supposed to be a few inches by morning,” my driver says. I look over at him as he does me.
“Good. Buster can play in it.”
He smirks and turns his attention back to the road. With one hand casually resting on the bottom of the wheel, the other pats his front pocket for a soft pack. “Your pops coming home for Christmas?”
I sigh and look back toward my window. “You really wanna talk about my dad?”
“No,” he says, pulling onto the street of my hotel. Once he is in front, he pulls over and puts the truck in park. I gaze ahead, and from my peripheral I see him pull a smoke out from his pack. I glance over as he places it between his lips and tosses the rest onto the dash. He doesn’t go to light it, just lets it rest there as he looks ahead at the white flakes falling onto the windshield. He rubs his head and looks over at me before removing the brown filter from his mouth. “I’ve loved you basically my whole life, Ellie.”
“Tommy,” I say, looking away. Why is he doing this to me?
“No, you’ve got to hear me out.”
“Why?” I shake my head. “What is the point in all this? I poured my heart out months ago, and you knew you bought my childhood home. Still, you didn’t stop me from making a fool of myself. You let me stand there and say those things to you.” Anger builds, and my pulse quickens. I’m torn and confused and mad, so mad. “I don’t want to do this. You’ve made your choices, and I’m not one of them. Thanks for the ride.” I yank open the door and step out into the heavy falling snow. I hear him follow.
“I bought that house for you, Ellie.”
I stop mid-step and look back at him. Snow flurries fall into his hair and he squints his eyes to see me.
“What?” I ask, shocked.
He walks around the truck until he is closer to me. Crossing my arms, I hug myself and try to control my crazy heartbeat.
“I bought it for you. For us.”
“You’re married.” I look at his hand and see no ring. My eyes shoot back to his. “Where’s your ring?”
“That day when I came to the house, Helen and I had called it off a long time before. I don’t know why I still had the stupid ring on. Habit, I guess. And you told me all that. You finally told me how you feel. No walls, no stupid scared bullshit. I was in shock and happy and so damn relieved that you still felt that way. I couldn’t speak, and you didn’t give me a chance to think for a moment.”
“You’re not married anymore?”
“No.”
“You bought that house for me?” I chew my lips, and my eyes water.
“Yes. Ronnie told me your pops was selling it. I couldn’t let a stranger buy that place. It means so much to you. Besides, Bear’s there.”
I let out a small laugh. “Why the hell did no one in this small town tell me all this?”
“Maybe they thought it’d be best if I did.” He chuckles.
“Tommy Kingsley, this is Green Ridge. No one keeps a secret.” The snow stops falling, and the boy I’ve loved since I was a kid grins.
“True, but I’m glad they did. I wanted to be the one to put that smile on your face.”
“You made me very angry.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” he promises. He’s what my dreams are made of. He’s the sweetest thing that ever happened to me and the only person who can make me feel this way. Alive and so loved. “Come home with me,” he says so deep and low. I smile harder.
Life is forever changing. It’s scary, it’s exciting, and it gives you a sense of truly being here––being in the moment. It’s not always great, and it’s surely not always welcomed, but there are those rare moments when sometimes change is a damn good thing. And this is one of them. Thank goodness for my Aunt Leigh or I’d still be in Chicago.
“Okay.” I nod, and Tommy picks me up. His lips touch mine, and everything inside of me melts. God, how I’ve missed him. He pulls back and searches my face.
“I guess I’ll always chase you, Ellie.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Ellie
“Tell me you love me.” He’s low toned and deep voiced, holding himself up with his strong arms. I reach and grab his hair, loving the thick strands as I yank on each one. “Tell me, Ellie,” he says urgently as tingles shoot down my thighs, running over the skin on my calves until my toes curl and it’s fucking heaven. He pushes forward, and I hook my ankles behind his back.
“I love you.”
He takes my bottom lip and pulls it with his teeth. This man owns my soul completely as he kisses me and scoops his arm under my back. He lifts so I’m arching into him. Sweat covers our bodies because we’ve been at this for a while, but we’ve got a lot of years to make up. He moves slowly, making it last, but I’ve got an orgasm waiting that desperately needs him to go faster. I pull him down with my legs and open wider. He drives on as I scrape my nails down his back.
“What, baby?”
“Faster.”
He gives in, and I cry out as he moves. Pulling back, he unhooks my legs from around him and lifts them so he can go deeper.
“Just feel, L.”
“I am.” I inhale and close my eyes, biting my bottom lip as my orgasm tears through me.
“Fuck,” Tommy growls hoarsely. He doesn’t stop, and I never once ask him to.
*
My mind is tired and my legs feel like Jell-O, but Tommy still rocks into me. It’s the sweetest love. His lips kiss my collarbone; his hands grip my hips. The fitted sheet came off hours ago and is now in a pile on the floor. His arms shake as I wrap my leg around his waist and force myself up, twisting until he gives and lets me be on top.
Brown eyes filled with adoration hold my gaze as I slide down and back up again. He keeps his grip on my hips, and I lean down and brush my lips against his chest. His hold on me tightens as he takes over and picks up his speed. He’s chasing his release, and I bite down on his skin. Grabbing the back of my head, he keeps me close to him as I grip his arms.
Shifting, Tommy flips me onto my stomach and pulls my hips up into the air. Love runs his hand up my spine as I grasp the comforter that’s half on the bed and falling with our movements. I feel his breath against the skin of my neck as I reach back and hook my hand behind his head, clutching hair that he’s always thought was too thick. I moan because I can’t help it. He’s hitting everything, touching everything, and making me go crazy. He chuckles, and I feel its deep rumble against my back.
“Does that feel good, L?”
“You know it does,” I answer as he grabs my hair and forces my head his way. He kisses my lips and I turn, but I want to see his whole face. Slipping out, he lets me move.
“Sit up here,” I say softly.
He leans against the headboard, and I climb onto his lap. Sliding down, I watch the pure satisfaction of his handsome face. I make him feel like this, and that is everything.
“You’re so pretty.” He sends butterflies flying and makes heat crawl up my chest with his words. Taking my hand as I hold on to the headboard with the other, he kisses each finger, and I close my eyes when he brings his left hand down, circling my sweetest spot. Pleasure so intense makes me cry out, and I open my blues to see cool and confident. He knows he makes me feel amazing, and he has no shame.
My heart pounds against my ribcage, begging to come out and tangle with his, but we are joined as much as two people can be. He drops my hand, and I grab the headboard with both as he leans up and kisses my breast. I move as he groans. I slide as he lifts.
He’s sweet whispered words of I love you and it’s always been you. I’m trying not to cry because it’s always been him too, but we’ve wasted so many years. Taking my lips, eternity kisses me until salty tears fall down my face. He clinches and I grip, holding one another like the other is life. Hugging me to his chest, he flips until I’m under him again.
Wrapping my thighs around his hips, he pushes back in and I lean my head back. He sucks and licks my neck, removing any tears that have fallen. I tighten my hold on him and he drives forward until his body trembles and he tells me he’s about to come. I only pull him closer, breathing in deep, endless, and forever. Tommy is love, life, and everything I’ve been missing.
*
Yellow-gold sunlight shines on my Live. Love. Carnaval painted toes as they rest on the grain wood headboard. With pillows under our heads and Tommy’s white T-shirt on, I run my fingers across his rough hands as we tell each other everything the other has missed over the years. Laughing like we’re kids again, Tommy rolls on top of me and kisses my grin away. I open my legs and let him settle. Lips I’ve always loved skim over my neck as I run my nails up and down his back.
“Tell me the bad stuff, L.”
I search brown-golden flaked eyes when he looks at me.
“Every day was bad without you in it, but even though you were gone, I always felt you right here.” I lift my hand and place it on my heart. “I know you used to hate when I called you my best friend. Like it was an insult, but it never felt that way to me. You were the one person I could tell anything, and you were wrong when you said best friends don’t make out. You’re still my best friend, and we’ve made out a good bit.” I smile as he grins. He’s sexy, confident, and all mine. “How about you? How did you meet Helen?” I rub his hair off his forehead and rest my hand on the back of his neck.
“You really care to know that?”
“Yes.”
“At a local bar the boys and I used to hang out at after work.”
“You must have fallen pretty hard for her.” I hate the way this makes me feel. Childish jealousy scours through my blood and makes my heart drop. I wiggle and try to get out from under him.
“Where are you going?” He moves and I sit up, moving my hair out of my face.
“Bathroom.” I stand and walk to the door. Tommy has started to remodel my childhood home. He spent his weekends in Green Ridge while he was still living in the apartment he shared with her. He’s already redone everything in this bathroom. You wouldn’t even know this was the same farmhouse from this room. It’s beautiful. Modern rustic with its Sonoma Sand vanity and clawtub. The counter is made of concrete and the wall near the tub is stacked gray stone. I look at my face in the mirror––flushed cheeks and well-kissed lips.
Tommy moved on without me, and she got more years side by side with him than I’ve had. It’s my fault. I was stupid and young. Sighing, I wrap my hair up and pull the tie off my wrist. I rinse my face with cold water and grab a towel from the rack. The door opens, and I catch Tommy’s gaze through the mirror.
“She wasn’t you, Ellie. She was just a distraction.”
“But you married her.” I rest the towel on the counter and rub my chin across my cotton-covered shoulder. “That’s pretty big.” He leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his bare chest. In nothing but basketball shorts and just fucked hair, he makes me forget my thoughts. With a body like Jake Gyllenhaal in that movie South Paw, it’s clear this boy works out and he works out a lot to look like that. I walk over to the edge of the tub and sit, gripping the cream porcelain.
“There was an explosion at the job site I was working on.”
“What?” I ask.
“One of my crewmembers tossed a smoke into a drain pipe, and there was a gas leak. Anyway, it blew me back. Thankfully, I only suffered a concussion. But the road got messed up pretty bad, so I couldn’t work for a few days. I was restless and decided I wanted to do something adventurous. Maybe the explosion scared me a bit, I dunno. So, when Helen came home, I convinced her to take a trip to Vegas with me because I’d never been. We got drunk, gambled, and won. The next morning, I had a ring on my finger, and so did she. It wasn’t planned, and there was no honeymoon. Hell, we hardly remembered it.
“When we got back to life, things became weird and I didn’t come home a lot. We both worked all the time and hardly saw each other.” He pushes off the wall and walks over to me, looking down as I look up. My heart’s want bends down in front of me and rests his hands on my knees. “You were always there too, baby. It took us so long to get here, but we’re here.” I turn away and gaze out the window.
“We should have been here years ago.” Looking back at him, I bring my thumbnail to my teeth.
“Maybe we needed that time to become who we are now. We needed to grow up, L.”
“I missed you so much.” I drop my hand from my mouth and run it along the side of his handsome face.
“I missed you more.” He stands and takes me with him. Capturing my mouth with his, he kisses me wild and shows me what unconditional love is. I link my ankles behind the firm muscles of his back as his callused hands grip my waist. My teenage crush moves my cotton panties to the side and pulls himself out. Black shows behind my eyelids when I close them as Tommy sinks inside me.
“I’m never letting
this go,” I whisper.
“I’m never letting you.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Ellie
Tommy shovels snow out of the drive as I unpack my truck. Some would say we’re moving too fast, but some don’t know we haven’t moved fast enough. It’s been one week since we agreed to make this work, and I couldn’t feel better. I step onto the porch as something hits my back. I watch the snow hit the steps beside me, and I slowly turn to see a grinning Tommy. I bite my lip and try not to smile.
“Tommy Kingsley, did you just hit me?”
He looks around and says, “Who me?” as he points to himself. I laugh and quickly bend down, gathering up my own snowball. I chuck it at him as he takes off running. I follow, always following the man I love. He turns around, surprising me. I scream as he lifts me in the air and gives me a hard smack on the ass. I wiggle my feet and hear Buster come out of the house. He barks and runs around Tommy’s feet, causing him to lose his balance. He falls, landing on his back and me on top. I laugh and he moans. “God dang dog.”
“God dang man.” I grin, and he kisses me. Pulling back, I look over his handsome face, feeling my heart smile. It’s like walking among the clouds, flying without the fear of falling, and the best kind of comfort. Buster darts toward the field, and I watch as a flock of birds takes off.
“Marry me.”
“What?” I turn my head back, asking in shock. Tommy sits up.
“You’re my world, girl.” He licks his bottom lip and takes it between his teeth. “I’ve never loved anything or anyone so much.” My heart beats wildly in my chest. “I want you to have my last name. Marry me.” The last words are rough and urgent coming from his mouth.
“Yes,” I breathe out, biting my bottom lip.
He smiles before he kisses me, and I laugh when he squeezes tightly. Standing with me wrapped around him, we head inside. Hearing Buster’s paws hit the steps, we wait for him to come in too, and then Tommy shuts the door behind us. He takes me upstairs and whispers words of forever into my ear. My future holds me in his arms and loves me like no other.
Chasing Ellie: A Chasing Fireflies Spin Off Page 26
