Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
E lla
Climbing into my car, I drove home with tears streaming down my face. I felt sick, and all I wanted to do was climb into bed and hide under the covers. But I couldn’t. I promised my dad I would be at family dinner.
Unlocking the door to my home, I set my bag and purse down, kicked off my shoes, and walked into the kitchen for a glass of wine. Grabbing the bottle from the refrigerator, I poured a glass and stood at the sliding door, staring out at the water. How could Landon do this to me? I thought we were happy. I heard my phone ringing. Walking to where my purse was, I pulled it out and saw Landon was calling. I should have declined his call, but I didn’t. I wanted to hear what he had to say.
“What do you want?” I answered.
“Just so you know. Your Uncle Christian fired me. Thanks a lot, Ella.”
“You’re seriously blaming me, Landon? You’re the asshole who was fucking Penelope. How could you do that to me? I thought we were happy together?”
“You’re too much, Ella.”
“What do you mean by that?” Tears streamed down my face.
“You’re just too much. I don’t know. Anyway, thanks a lot for getting me fired. I have no idea what to do now.”
“I do. Crawl into the sewer where you belong. It’ll be a cold day in hell before you get a residency in another hospital in Los Angeles. Not only will I see to it, but my family will, too. I’m sure Penelope was fired as well. So, the two of you can ride off into the sunset together and live happily ever after.” I ended the call and blocked his number.
Throwing my phone down, I walked over to the couch, grabbed the blanket, and covered myself with it while I sobbed. I heard the sliding door open, and when I looked over, I saw my dad walk in.
“Oh, sweetheart.” He walked over, sat beside me, and pulled me into him. “Uncle Christian called me. I’m sorry.”
“He told me I was too much. Do you believe that?” I sobbed into this chest.
“Shh.” He held me tight. “He’s an asshole, and you deserve so much better. Look at me.” He broke our embrace. “You are a highly intelligent, beautiful woman. One day, you’ll meet someone worthy of you. Landon never was. We all knew that.”
“I know the family didn’t like him, but I did!”
“Did you really, sweetheart? Or were you settling because he was the first man you committed yourself to? Think about that for a minute.”
“Dad! I loved him! That’s it. I’m done. I hate men. They’re all liars and cheaters.”
“Sweetheart, that isn’t true. You can’t let the actions of one man allow you to think that.”
“He said I was too much! God, what does that even mean?” I stood up from the couch and paced around the living room.
“He was jealous of you, kiddo. You’re a doctor, and he’s a resident with years of training to go. Honestly, I’m not sure how he even graduated med school. He isn’t all that smart.”
“So this is how it’s always going to be?” I threw my arms out to the side. “I’m too smart for any man. Are they always going to be jealous of my accomplishments? Dad, I want someone who will love me for who I am as a person.” I placed my hands over my face and sobbed.
He walked over and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re only twenty-two years old. What happened to that little girl who said boys were distracting and her career would always come first?”
“Dad, I’m fully established in my career. I have a Ph.D. in cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, and trauma. I am too much for guys.”
“No, you’re not. Stop it, Ella.” His arms tightened around me. “I know it hurts now, but you’re a strong woman, and I promise you’ll get through this. Your mom is really upset and wants you to come to dinner. So, dry your eyes and come over. In fact, spend the night.”
“I’m not spending the night.” I broke our embrace.
“Okay. Then, after dinner, we’ll light a bonfire, meet the family down at the beach, drink a few beers, play music, and have a good time. You know the beach always makes you feel better.”
“We’ll see, Dad. I’m going to freshen up. Tell Mom I’ll be over soon.”
He pressed his lips against my forehead. “I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
I went upstairs to the bathroom, grabbed the hairbrush, and ran it through my hair before fixing my makeup. The image of walking in on Landon and Penelope played repeatedly in my head, shattering my already broken heart.
I’d been dating on and off since I was sixteen years old, but I never let myself get serious with a guy because of my studies. Landon was the first guy I seriously got involved with, and he would be my last as far as I was concerned.
After changing my clothes, I walked to my dad’s house, opened the sliding door, and stepped inside.
“Come here, sweetheart.” My mom ran over and hugged me.
“Don’t Mom. I’ll start crying again, and I don’t want to do that.”
“You got this.” She cupped my face in her hands.
“Hey, sis.” My brother Nicholas walked into the kitchen. “Sorry about that asshole. I’m going to kick his cheating ass when I see him.”
“Thanks, little brother, but I’m pretty sure Uncle Christian already did.”
“Babe, where’s Willow?” my dad asked my mom.
“She’s at the dance studio practicing her dance routine. I told her it was okay for her to miss dinner tonight.”
My brother, Nicholas, and my sister, Willow, were both in high school. Once Nicholas graduated, he would go to Stanford to study medicine and become a plastic surgeon like our father. My sister Willow was an amazing ballerina who studied and trained under our mother.
“Everyone sit down. Dinner is ready,” my mom said.
I mostly picked at my food because I wasn’t hungry.
“Sweetheart, you have to eat something,” my dad said.
“Leave her alone, Dad. She’ll eat when she feels like it,” Nicholas said. “Okay, fam, I’m off.”
“And where are you going?” my dad asked.
“I have a date with Gretchen tonight.” He walked over and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t give that asshole another thought. You’re way too good for him, sis.”
I gave him a small smile, stood up, and took my plate to the sink.
“I just got a text from Jackson. The family is down at the beach,” my dad said.
“You two go, and I’ll meet you down there as soon as I clean up,” my mom said.
“I’ll help, Mom.”
“No, you won’t. Go be with the family. It’s mostly cleaned up anyway.” She smiled.
My dad grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge and handed me one. “Come on, sweetheart.”
We walked out the sliding door, and suddenly, humiliation filled me as my family stared at me from the bonfire.
“Get over here.” My uncle Conner stood up and wrapped his arms around me. “Nobody cheats on my girl and gets away with it. Are you okay, sweetheart?” He hugged me tight.
“I’m okay, Uncle Conner.”
“That’s my girl.” He broke our embrace and kissed my forehead.
“I’m sorry, Ella.” My Uncle Jackson reached over and squeezed my hand.
“Thanks, Uncle Jackson.”
I sat in the chair, twisted the cap off my beer, and brought the bottle to my lips. My Uncle Simon walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my neck.
“That douchebag has four outstanding parking tickets. I made sure there’s a warrant out for his arrest,” he whispered in my ear. “Nobody breaks a Kind’s heart and gets away with it.” He kissed my cheek.
“He can’t afford the parking tickets,” I said.
“Then I guess he goes to jail, kiddo.” He winked before sitting down.
I opened my eyes the next morning and stared at the sun filtering through the curtains. I lived in my own home a couple of houses down from my Uncle Christian. Shaun made good on his promise and bought the houses that went up for sale over the years, ensuring that each of us would move in when we became adults. It was important to him and the rest of the family that we all stayed together, no matter where life took us. Life is family, and family is life, and none of us kids would even think about moving away. Kind Beach was our home and it would be forever.
It was my day off, and instead of doing research like I normally did, I got dressed and headed to see Riley at her shop. Walking into Pottery Paradise, I looked around and didn’t see her.
“Hey, Ella.” Gloria smiled.
“Hi, Gloria. Is Riley here?”
“She’s in the back.”
“Thanks.”
I walked into the back room, where Riley placed some pottery pieces on the shelves.
“Oh my God. I was going to call you.” She hugged me. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Listen. I know what you’re going through. You know that.”
“I know. I remember.”
“The hurt doesn’t last forever, Ella. I promise you that each day that passes, it’ll hurt less. Besides, Landon is an asshole, and nobody liked him. You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think you knew we all hated him, and you stayed with him to be rebellious.”
“I did not.” I laughed.
“Oh, I think you did.” She pointed at me. “You loved that our family didn’t like his dumbass.”
“That is not true, Riley.”
“You can’t fool me, cousin. Anyway, forget about him. You’ll meet the love of your life when you least expect it. Look at Colby and me. We’re so in love and getting married. I never thought I’d find someone after Trey.”
“And I’m happy for both of you, but I’m done with guys for a long time. I’m focusing on my career and nothing else. Guys can fuck off.”
“You’re still young. You have plenty of time.”
“I feel old.”
“That’s only because you’ve accomplished so much in your life already. Listen. I love you to death, but I have a pottery class to teach in five minutes. I’ll come over later, and we’ll talk.” She hugged me.
“Go teach your class. I’ll see you later.” I smiled.