Chapter 10
E LLIE
“Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” I’m still sitting on Henry’s bed as Elijah taps an inpatient foot on the floor, a scowl hardening his face.
Henry’s cowboy hat is lying next to my brother’s dancing boot, as though they’re together at a dance hall.
Jude looks back and forth between us, then mercifully, makes a beeline for the kitchen.
I watch him go, then shrug. “Not really.”
“I thought you didn’t like Henry Yoder.” His eyes squint, as though he’s examining my every thought.
“I don’t. Not really.” At least, I never thought I did.
“Then why in the world did I just see you practically on top of him with your lips glued together?”
I wince at Elijah’s words. Because not only did he and Jude just see that unintended fiasco, Henry’s mamm did too. My cheeks burn at the embarrassing thought.
That’s a good question. One I’m still trying to figure out myself.
Instead of answering, I shrug again. Because I can’t just say that I was snooping through Henry’s personal belongings, and I didn’t want to get caught so I concocted a last-second scheme to distract him. Of course, the original distraction didn’t include Henry’s bed, but here we are. Or there we were. Whatever.
“Do I need to have another talk with Henry? Did he force himself on you, Ellie?” Elijah stands like he’s prepared for battle, his fists tightened.
The last thing I want to do is ruin their friendship. “What? Nee .”
He visibly relaxes and his hands unclench. He unloads a sigh. “Ellie. I don’t know what to make of this. You’re not making any sense. Either you like Henry or you don’t.”
“I… don’t ?” Honestly, I’m a little confused myself. Because the more I discover about Henry, the more I do like. Is it possible I’ve been wrong about him all this time?
“Do you want me to tell Henry to stay away from you?”
And now I feel sorry for the guy. Henry has every right to be in his own bedroom. I’m the interloper here. He can’t help it if I attack him the moment he walks in.
“ Nee . No, I’ll deal with Henry.”
Eli studies me carefully. “You’re sure and certain?”
“ Jah , I’m sure and certain.”