“Maybe if we’re fast enough we can outrun him?” Eli glances over at me.
I come to a stop. So does he. “Hear him out. You did apologize to him. Maybe he wants to do the same,” I say. “I loved that you did that, by the way.”
“I felt like shit for what I said to him,” Eli admits, his gaze darkening as he watches Ryan approach. “I was just—mad.”
Curling my arm around Eli’s, I smile up at him, but he’s too tense to smile back. His attention is solely for his brother.
“What you said in there was kind of fucked up,” Ryan starts, and Eli glares at him.
“I don’t want to get into this,” he says firmly. “I already apologized. And I’m not in the mood to fight with you right now, especially in front of Ava.”
I stand up a little straighter, proud of him for saying that.
“Listen to me.” Ryan steps closer, staring Eli down. He’s a little taller than his younger brother, but Eli doesn’t back up. I keep my hold on him, feeling the slight tremble in his arm. “I was going to say it was fucked up, but only because the truth hurts. You’re right. I messed up my chance with the football team and I blew it. Because I’d rather party and fuck around instead of studying for tests and actually passing my classes.”
Eli blinks at him but otherwise doesn’t say a word.
Ryan sighs and takes a step back, shaking his head. “I wanted to tell you that if you do go to a four-year university and you get on their football team, don’t fuck it up like I did. Stay focused. Do what you’re supposed to do. Keep up with your classes. Don’t drown yourself in alcohol and drugs and think that’s going to make your life better. Newsflash—it doesn’t help. At all.”
Eli exhales heavily, his entire body relaxing. “Okay. Yeah. Thanks for the advice.” He hesitates for only a moment. “I’m really sorry I said what I said to you.”
“I’m sorry too. For ignoring you the last few years. For pretending all of you didn’t exist. I’m tired of running away from my past. I need to face it head on. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I pretty much regret every single one of them. The biggest one being how horribly I treated you. You’re my little brother. I should’ve been there for you more.” Ryan smiles faintly. “Wanna get breakfast tomorrow before I leave?”
“Just the two of us?” Eli asks hopefully.
“Mom wants to come too, if you don’t mind. I never mentioned it to Dad. And really…he shouldn’t be around Mom. He riles her up,” Ryan says.
“He riles all of us up,” Eli agrees. “But—yeah. Let’s do breakfast before you fly out. That’ll be cool.”
“Awesome.” He slaps Eli’s back. “I’m going home with Mom.”
“What about Dad?” Eli asks.
“Eh, what about him? He’s headed back to his bachelor pad. Says he has a date with some woman that he met on a dating app at a bar later.” Ryan rolls his eyes. “I think he might be getting too old for this shit.”
“Whatever keeps him happy,” Eli says, and they chuckle.
It’s a nice sound, and it makes me smile, hopeful for Eli.
Maybe he and his brother can make amends after all.
Ryan turns to me. “I’m pretty sure you’re the one who’s keeping my brother happy. For that, thank you.” He hugs me, and this time, he doesn’t get too close and it doesn’t last too long.
It feels genuine. I hug him back.
“I’m glad you came home for the weekend,” I tell Ryan as we pull away from each other. “You should do it more often.”
Ryan laughs and points at me. “I like her,” he tells my boyfriend.
Eli smiles, his gaze soft as it connects with mine. “I do too.”
Thirty-Two
Eli
We pull up in front of Ava’s house to find someone sitting outside on the front steps, waiting for us in the dark.
“Who is that?” Ava asks, sounding nervous.
My car lights cut across the person’s face and irritation fills me.
It’s Jake.
“What does he want?” I mutter, throwing the car into park and shutting off the engine. I’d really hoped to kiss Ava for a few minutes before she went inside.
Yet again, Jake ruins everything.
“I don’t know,” Ava says, her gaze meeting mine when I glance her way. She must see something in my eyes, my expression. “Don’t start anything, okay?”
“Who says I’m going to start anything?” I climb out of the car, on the immediate defensive. Tonight is not the moment for Jake Callahan to pick a fight with me. I’m already on edge. Even though the dinner ended on a relatively good note, I’m still not over what happened between my family. What a douche my dad was. How we can’t even get together for a few hours and have a civil moment together without it getting ruined.
I approach the Callahan’s front door, my gaze on Jake as he rises to his feet and dusts his hands off on the side of his jeans. I hear the passenger door slam, clicking heels following behind me and I wish Ava would’ve waited in the car.
But she lives here and that would just be weird.
“You guys are late,” Jake says, his deep voice extra authoritative. As if he’s in charge around here. In his fuckin’ dreams.
“Gee, sorry Dad, didn’t know—” I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time before lifting my head so I can glare at him yet again. “Cinderella here turned orange if she got home before eleven.”
“Besides, my curfew is at midnight,” Ava says to her brother. “We’re actually home early.”
Only because we messed around some more after dinner and now we’re beat. We didn’t get much sleep last night after Jackson’s party, and we woke up early this morning. Plus that dinner was emotionally exhausting. I’m tired. My girl is too.
And here’s Jake acting like the macho man. The head of the Callahan fam. What the hell ever.
Deciding the best way to approach a problem is head on, I switch gears.
“What are you doing?” I ask Jake, walking right up to him, until I’m practically in his face. “When are you going to get over your hate toward me?”
“Eli—” Ava starts but I glance over my shoulder real quick, silencing her with a look, feeling like a complete asshole the moment it happens.
My girl deserves more respect than what I just showed her, but I have to get this dude off my ass once and for all. We need to come to terms with each other.
“Probably never,” Jake retorts, his eyes flashing with annoyance.
Hey. At least he’s honest.
“Listen. You have to understand. Me and Ava? This is happening.” I take a step closer, until I pretty much am in his face. He’s a couple inches taller than me. A little bit broader too. And I can give it to him—he’s a better quarterback than I am. It’s in his genes, in his blood, in all the encouragement and coaching and training he’s received his entire life. He’s a prodigy, and he’s going to go on and do great things.
But he needs to back the fuck off. I’m in love with his sister, and nothing is ever going to change that. He can’t chase me away with a few scowls and shitty comments. I’m sticking.
Whether he likes it or not.
“Not if I have any say in it,” Jake says, beating that same dead horse.
I never really did understand that cliché saying until now.
“See, that’s the thing. You don’t have a choice,” I say, my voice low, my gaze locked with his. “I’m not going anywhere. Ava and I are in love with each other.”
“You’re not good enough for her,” Jake says, his voice downright menacing. “I have no idea what she sees in you.”
“I agree,” I say easily, noticing the surprise that flashes in Jake’s eyes. “You’re right. I’m definitely not good enough for her. I don’t know what she sees in me either.”
I can feel Ava’s approach. Can even smell her sweet, intoxicating scent. I remain still, the tension easing from me when she gently rests her hand against the center of my back. She’s not say
ing a word to either me or her brother, but that little touch is enough for me to know that she’s got me.
This girl, she’s always got me. And I’ve always got her.
“You don’t deserve Ava,” Jake continues, after he clears his throat. “My sister is a good person. She always wants to fix people. That’s probably why she’s drawn to you.”
His words are like a kick in the gut, but I remain standing tall when all I really want to do is crumple and fold. He’s more than likely right about that, too. Ava is good and strong and caring. She wants to help people. Is that why she’s with me?
Maybe. But I refuse to let his words creep into my brain and make me feel insecure. I know how she feels about me.
“I might not be good enough for Ava, but I’m going to do my damnedest to prove to every one of you that I care about her with all I’ve got,” I say, my voice dead serious. “I love her. More than anyone else in this world. She owns my heart. She owns me. I know I’m a complete fuck up, and I’m sure I’ll make her mad or frustrate her, but I will always beg for her forgiveness. Because she’s mine. And I am hers.”
Jake says nothing for a while, though I note the obvious tightness in his jaw. The judgement clouding his eyes. His gaze shifts to Ava and she steps forward so she’s by my side, her arm curling around mine, our fingers interlocking. We’re a united front against her brother. Us against him.
“You break her heart, I’ll break every bone in your body,” Jake finally says before he turns and heads for the front door, wrenching it open. He enters the house, slamming the door so hard, the fall wreath hanging there rattles, nearly falling off its hook.
Exhaling with relief, I glance down at Ava to see her staring at the closed door with a giant smile on her face.
“Why are you smiling?” I ask.
She tilts her head back, still wearing that beautiful smile. “My brother loves me. And so do you.”
I lean in, dropping a gentle kiss on her upturned lips. “Yeah I do.”
“I love you too.” Ava touches my cheek. Trails her fingers down my neck, making me shiver. “More than you’ll ever know.”
Yeah. I get it.
I know.
Thirty-Three
Ava
Six weeks later
Life is wild, you know? Sometimes it drags and you think certain dates or moments in time are never going to get here. I remember feeling that way about homecoming. Then every weekend, when I could actually see Eli again. Once I got kicked off the cheer team—I never did go back, I couldn’t stand the thought of dealing with Cami again—I lived for every Friday night, so I could watch my boyfriend play football, my best friend by my side watching the boy she’s still crushing on.
Yes, Ellie is still stuck on Jackson, while he’s put her firmly in the friend zone. It’s so frustrating.
As Halloween loomed, it couldn’t come fast enough. There was a big costume party I was dying to go to and Eli and I went together. It was so much fun.
So. Much. Fun.
Can’t share too many details though. Let’s just say there were some tricks played. And a lot of treats received. Some alcohol was consumed. We wore matching costumes and Eli suggested I keep the wig on when we had sex later that night because it made me seem mysterious.
He’s kind of ridiculous, but I love him.
November began and with it, football playoffs. The Mustangs lasted three weeks before getting beat by a great team. I sat in the stands every single game, wearing the #1 jersey he gave me and cheering him on. Eli took the loss in stride. He’s already sent in his application to Fresno State. Asher Davis has been encouraging him, giving him pointers on a weekly basis. They’ve somehow become friends and get together almost every weekend. Autumn and I think it’s funny.
Jake doesn’t find it funny at all, which is no surprise. But he’s become used to Eli being at our house all the time. I think Hannah helps him with that. She’s so good for my brother. Their relationship is solid, and I know they’re serious. Maybe even the forever kind of serious. Hannah soothes Jake’s frayed nerves. I feel like I do the same for Eli.
What’s funny is I’ve realized more and more that my brother and my boyfriend actually share a lot of the same traits. If you tell Jake or Eli that they’re similar in any way, they freak out. That is the last thing they want to hear.
Too bad, considering it’s true.
The Badgers are still in the playoffs. Their next game is the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Dad and Jake are both excited yet nervous. I’m sure they’ll be fine. Eli and I are going to the game together. It’ll be strange to sit in the stands with my boyfriend, but I’m sure I’ll love every second of it.
Currently, it’s Thanksgiving Day. I’ve been looking forward to this day for what feels like forever, and it felt like it was never going to get here. I’ve been so anxious and even a little nervous as the date approached. Why?
Eli is coming to dinner. And so is Ash. And Hannah. Ellie will stop by for dessert like she has for the last couple of years.
Oh, and my Uncle Owen and Aunt Chelsea, and their three kids are here too. Yes, I have three cousins and I adore every single one of them. Especially Blair, who’s a year younger than I am and the sweetest girl alive, like my aunt Chelsea. Knox is Jake’s age, an excellent football player, and named for my uncle’s best friend, Wade Knox, former pro football player who was on my father’s team for a few years.
And then there’s Ruby, who’s fifteen and absolutely gorgeous. She’s really shy and quiet, with dark hair and the Maguire green eyes. As she gets older, she’s going to be absolutely stunning and I think my uncle has a serious problem with that.
Like…serious.
Anyway, we’ve all gathered at our house for the Thanksgiving holiday this year just like we always do, and my sister and I have been in the kitchen with my mom and aunt all day, helping them cook. Autumn and I were in charge of appetizers, and Blair and Ruby helped us. They’re all gone already.
The men in this house pretty much gobbled them up.
Mom fixed the majority of the meal, including the turkey, and Chelsea made her beloved mashed potatoes. We cheated and bought homemade pumpkin and apple pies from a local market that sells them fresh.
“Where’s Owen?” Mom asks Chelsea as they both putter around the kitchen.
“Outside with Drew and the boys,” Chelsea answers, glancing toward the window that faces the spacious front yard.
“What boys?” I ask, glancing at my phone. It’s three-thirty. Eli said he’d be here at three. He’s late. Hopefully everything is okay.
“The usual,” Mom says as she makes her way to the window. “Your brothers. Knox. Oh look, there’s Eli. And I think he brought a friend.”
Relief flooding me, I rush to the window to see who she’s talking about. There’s Eli out on the lawn with everyone, and they’re playing football. Another Thanksgiving tradition.
“How are you two doing?” Mom asks in a low murmur.
I turn to find she’s standing right next to me, her gaze gentle when it meets mine. “We’re doing great,” I tell her truthfully. I’m a lot more open with Mom now, when it comes to discussing my relationship with her.
“I like Eli a lot. You balance each other out,” Mom says. “Remember what I said to you at the Fresno State game?”
I nod, but don’t respond. Of course, I remember. Her words got into my head and filled me with worry over my relationship. Eli loves me. He needs me. But I think he also needs what I can offer, thanks to my family.
Stability. Someone who cares.
“He loves you. It’s clear. And since he’s worked some things out with his mom and brother, I think he’s a better person for it,” Mom says. “Though he still has stars in his eyes when it comes to you.”
A blush steals across my cheeks. I have stars in my eyes when it comes to Eli too.
“You two are cute together,” Mom says, reaching out to give me a quick hug. “I’m glad he came today.”
/> “Me too,” I say into her hair before we pull away from each other.
“Hey, Ava.”
I glance over my shoulder to find my cousin approaching us, stopping to peek out the window.
“That’s your boyfriend?” Blair asks me. I smile at her and nod. “He’s super cute.”
She’s gone completely boy crazy over the last year and thinks they’re all super cute, but I take it as a compliment, because I know Eli is very cute.
More like gorgeous.
And he’s all mine.
Lucky me.
We’re still messing around in the kitchen thirty minutes later when Beck rushes in, out of breath and full of urgency. “Dad says you all need to come outside.”
“Beck, we’re preparing dinner,” Mom reminds him. “It’s almost done. Tell your father they should come in soon.”
“Everything’s done right? That’s what Dad said. He told me to tell you to turn off the ovens and let the turkey rest on top of the stove. That way, you can all join us outside,” Beck explains.
Mom rolls her eyes. “Your father knows my Thanksgiving preparations too well.” She goes to the double oven and checks on the dishes inside before she turns the ovens off. She then glances over at the stove, where the turkey is already resting. “Let’s go girls. I’m sure your fathers are wanting to put together a team.”
We all follow her outside to the front yard. When we were little, Dad would make every single one of us play football before we ate dinner. We’d complain, especially us girls, but he refused to listen to us. He knew we would all have fun playing, and he was always right.
It’s a family tradition he started because, as he confessed earlier today at breakfast, “I didn’t have the best Thanksgivings when I was younger.”
Mom got a sad look in her eyes, and she reached over to grab his hand, giving it a squeeze. I’m curious to know what he’s referring to, but I have left it alone. Whenever they’re ready to tell us, they will. I have faith in that.
Meant To Be (The Callahans Book 4) Page 28
