9. Ellie #2
Anne nodded, clearly understanding that it was the reasonable thing to do, even though she very much seemed like she wanted to bypass her son.
“Would you like me to talk to him about it?”
That was certainly tempting.
I needed to talk to Sully. Like really needed to talk to Sully, but the idea of Anne breaking the first bit of news—that I was back in Minnesota—sounded more than a little nice, even if it was cowardice.
Besides, Sully was more likely to be honest with his mom about how he felt about the entire living situation than he would be with me.
When we’d been together in Boston, it had been so incredibly hard to get a read on him, and I worried that if I talked to him about living on Maple Street, it would be just as challenging to figure out how he felt about it.
So, sure, maybe I could let Anne do the talking. Just this one time. And then I’d talk to Sully. And tell him I was pregnant with his child—just a small, additional detail, you know?
“Sure.” I attempted a smile, but I knew it looked more like a grimace. “That’d be great.”
“Okay,” Anne agreed. “I’ll do that today.” She stood and pointed at my mug. “Do you want me to heat up your coffee for you?”
“Uh…sure.” I handed her the cup. “Thank you.”
As soon as Anne walked away, I sank lower in my chair and huffed out a sigh.
One day at a time. I just needed to make it through one day at a time.
I toured the apartments anyway, in case the plan for me to move into the Maple Street house didn’t work out. Sully might veto it, which would be totally understandable.
I was starting to hope he didn’t, though.
Especially after the places I’d just seen, which were not nearly as nice as they’d looked online.
Maybe being pregnant had given me a newfound mom sense, but I kept spying little hazards that sent my anxiety spiking, like railing gaps that could definitely fit a baby’s head and random cords hanging from blinds and outlets and so many things.
Also, sue me if I didn’t want my child’s first words to be “Fuck me, baby,” which seemed to be repeated a lot through one apartment’s thin walls.
Perhaps I was looking in the wrong area of the cities. That was more than possible, but after today, I decided not to look anywhere else until I heard back from Anne about Sully’s thoughts on the matter.
I was getting into my car after the final showing when my phone buzzed.
THEO: Is everything okay?
I stared at his text, my heart in my throat.
It was weird seeing Theo pop up on my screen.
For so many years, he had been like an older brother to me, even more than Blake and Noah.
When everyone had left Minnesota, he’d stayed.
For a long time, it was me, Sully, and Theo who did everything together.
And Cooper, when he felt like tagging along.
After the breakup, I’d felt Theo’s absence, too. Acutely.
I hadn’t stayed in touch with him the way I had with Natalie. He was too close to Sully. It never would have worked.
Sighing, I replied.
Define okay?
THEO: You’re back in Minnesota.
The one thing I’d always appreciated about Theo was how straightforward he was. He had this calm, nonsensical demeanor that was easy to trust. And I could really use someone to trust right now.
If only he weren’t Sully’s brother.
I am.
I didn’t bother asking how he’d found out.
I’d given Anne permission to talk to Sully, so by now, she’d probably also talked to Theo.
Maybe even the whole family, though I hadn’t heard anything from Natalie.
I’d planned to get settled and then give her a call.
She’d been busy with wrapping up the trial and celebrating this past week; I hadn’t wanted to get in the way of any of that.
THEO: Yeah, so are you okay?
I’m not gravely ill or anything if that’s what you’re asking.
THEO: I mean, that’s a good start. If you talk to Sully, maybe you could lead with that.
My heart skittered at the mention of Sully, and I was so tempted to ask Theo more about him, but I refrained.
I’ll be able to tell you more soon, I promise.
THEO: If you need anything, let me know?
I will. Thanks, Theo.
Pocketing my phone, I drove around Minneapolis until I found a coffee shop to hunker down in. Work had piled up during the days I’d taken off between visiting Boston for Natalie’s trial and then packing up to move out here. But it was nothing that I couldn’t get done if I just focused.
That was, of course, the problem.
Focusing on anything that wasn’t my life’s current status was as easy as graduating from MIT.
And it didn’t help that the coffee shop—Cream I certainly wasn’t the only one setting up shop with my laptop.
Luckily, as the afternoon passed, the hustle and bustle died down, and I was able to lock in to my work for a while.
By the time I’d my finished my to-do list for the day, the sun hung low in the sky, and my feet dragged on the walk to my car. Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited to get back to Anne’s, cuddle with Honey, and go to sleep.
But I quickly learned there was a problem. A really big problem, actually.
My car wouldn’t start.
Shit.
It was old, I knew it was old, but I’d been hoping my Corolla had a few more years left in it, even if it had been sitting unused since I left.
Hopefully, it just needed a jump. Maybe a tune-up later this week.
I sighed and pulled out my phone, opening it to find Theo’s name still there, at the top of my messages. I stared at his last reply.
If you need anything, let me know?
I hated to keep bugging the Londons for things, but the truth of the matter was that they were the only ones I knew here and could really count on.
My friends and acquaintances from undergrad had all moved on and were now practically strangers.
My mom was likely at work, and even if she weren’t, I knew how much she hated driving into the city.
Do you still live near campus?
If he did, I wasn’t far away. But if he said no, I wouldn’t bother him. I’d call for a tow or something.
I scrolled aimlessly while I waited for Theo’s response. But when a few minutes had gone by and the sky grew darker while I lingered on the street corner, I got anxious.
I clicked on Theo’s name to call.
It rang once, twice, three times, and then cut short.
And to my horror, the voice that answered was decidedly not Theodore London.
“Eleanor.”
All the air left my body.
“I—hi, Sully.”
“What do you need?”
“What do I…”
I still hadn’t recovered from hearing his voice. Still hadn’t totally figured out how to get around the emotion in my throat.
“Why did you call my brother?” he prompted.
He didn’t sound happy about it.
I mean, of course he wasn’t.
“Is he—”
“In the bathroom. Something at dinner didn’t agree with him.”
“Ah, well, it’s nothing—”
“What do you need?” he pressed.
I sighed. “I told you, it’s nothing.”
Silence greeted my words, leaving wake for my imagination to conjure a picture of Sully sitting there, stewing. Irritated. Mad, at me. Always at me.
I lowered my voice, giving in. I didn’t want him to think I was keeping secrets from him. That I’d been talking to Theo more than just those few exchanged texts earlier. It wasn’t like that. I tried to leave his family alone, unless necessary.
“I’m just at this coffee shop, and my car won’t start—”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Sul—”
“Go back inside the coffee shop. I’ll be there in ten.”
“Sul—” I tried a second time, but he interrupted again.
“And you better not fucking call me that when I get there.”
And then he hung up on me.
Great.