20. Ella
20
ELLA
H ugging Roman felt like a piece of me had snapped back into place. Our moms had been pregnant at the same time and we’d been raised more like siblings than cousins. We’re all close, but the bond Roman and I have is different.
It’s not something I can readily explain, just something I feel, his goofy smile as he grabs the food from the truck making my heart expand in my chest.
I missed him.
And it makes me want to pin Bodhi to the side of the cabin and kiss him until he knows what this means to me.
Bodhi—the man currently trying to make himself disappear into the background as he carries our stuff inside.
“Where’s everyone else?” I ask, bringing myself back to the present.
“You told me not to tell anyone,” Roman says, flicking the lights on and illuminating the cabin in one shot.
“And I just happened to be at the store when Roman came into the deli.” Eden grins like the Cheshire cat. “I wouldn’t let him leave until he agreed I could come.”
“I’d expect nothing less, honestly,” I tell her as Roman shakes his head and Bodhi closes the door behind him.
The cabin is just like I remember it. My chest fills with love and happiness as I take in the leather recliners and the flannel blanket folded on the back of the couch—the couch that they replaced after my senior year of high school because my aunt said it was her reward for surviving all our shenanigans.
But she loved it.
You’re the only one who stayed away.
The little voice in my head is quick to remind me I’m the only one who didn’t end up here in Trappers Ridge or in Ransom, the next town over, with our other cousins.
My eyes glance toward Bodhi, my heart beating a little faster thinking that maybe— just maybe —he’s the reason I stayed in Tennessee. The thing I’ve been waiting for.
Slow down, Ella.
Whatever this is between us is new—like incredibly, brand-new baby new. And I don’t want to scare him off—especially because we’re launching from get to know you to meet my parents and entire extended family.
In less than seventy-two hours.
Awesome.
“Hey, let me show you around,” I say louder than I intended, drawing the curious gazes of my cousins. Bodhi’s eyebrow arches as he turns toward me. And now I’m completely flustered. Oh, good. “This is the living room, kitchen, and there’s a powder room over there and a sunroom past the kitchen.”
“It’s really nice,” he says, following me down the hall to where the three bedrooms are located.
“We used to all pile in here. My dad has a brother and a sister, and between them there’s nine cousins. We all had sleeping bags or those little collapsable cots, and it was a complete free-for-all.” I smile as I flip the lights on in the second bedroom. “But it was fun.”
“Sounds like it,” he says, looking around the room. “I like the moose.” He smiles, pointing to a stuffed moose in the corner.
“I think there’s a bear in one of the other ones. Owl in the other? We can look.”
“Ella, what are we?—”
“Ella, come out here!” Roman’s voice booms from the living room, and Bodhi just shakes his head, amused.
“Go on, I’ll be out in a second.”
“I’m sorry. I know they can be a lot.”
“I get it,” he says, setting the bags on the floor, “but that’s why we’re here.”
“Thank you for making this happen.”
“I like seein’ you happy.”
Blushing, I give him a wink and try not to completely melt into a puddle. “It looks good on you too.”
His lips curve up into a slow grin, and I’m at risk of my panties being ruined with that absolutely wanton look on his face.
Oh, yes, please.
“Quit stalling. I’ll be out there in a second.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Turning before I tackle him to the bed, I stride back through the door, an extra sway in my step I hope he notices.
Because I have at least a couple more days with Bodhi before we have to head back home.
Back to reality.
I just hope this one looks a lot different than when we left.
* * *
BODHI
I sink down onto the end of the bed, the green and black comforter soft as I trace my finger over one of the moose silhouettes. The cabin is beautiful and cozy and I can picture wild family weekends with kids racing around every corner of the space before being relegated to the outside by the adults.
It’s a stark reminder of how different Ella and I are.
Right now it’s okay.
But how long until it’s too much for her to handle? How long until she’s looking for something more?
Pushing myself up from the mattress, I stalk into the bathroom and turn the faucet to cold, cupping my hands beneath the stream before splashing it on my face.
That’s enough of that.
Mason would be pissed if he saw me starting to spiral like this. But it’s not like I want to—and honestly, until I was trapped in a car with Ella, I hadn’t given romantic relationships much thought.
It became one of those I’ll deal with it when the time comes kind of things. Unfortunately, it looks like that time is now.
Drying my face and hands, I take a steadying breath before turning off the lights and heading back toward the living room.
“Man, you took forever,” Roman says the minute he spots me. “We’re probably gonna have to rock, paper, scissors over who gets what, but choices are pulled pork, Italian with everything, meatball, and a Rueben because I was feeling like mixing it up.”
Eden whacks him with her hand. “Stop offering my Rueben.” She turns to me, not the least bit sorry. “You can get one tomorrow if you’re that hard up for it.”
“I’m good with whatever.”
“No.” Ella scowls, slapping her hand on the counter. “You pick, Bodhi.”
“It’s fine, really,” I tell her because lunch options aren’t a hill I plan on dying on.
“I swear on those chocolate scones Rhea makes, I will call all over town right now and see what you order for lunch.”
I want to tell her that I don’t usually order lunch; it’s easier for me to make something at home rather than having to stop what I’m doing to go get it. And that’s if I remember at all.
“Meatball.”
“Thank you,” she sasses as Roman hold his fist on top of his open palm.
“Best two out of three,” he tells her, the two of them squaring off, their faces serious. Apparently this wasn’t a joke.
“The pulled pork sandwich is sacred. Roman wants it because he’s been gone for so long, and Ella just doesn’t want him to win,” Eden supplies. “If I hadn’t literally ordered this today because I want it, I’d definitely be throwing elbows for it too.”
“That good?”
She nods. “You’ll have to try it while you’re here. Where are you from?”
“New Hampshire originally but I’ve been in Blackstone Falls the last few years.”
“Everywhere you go is different with the rubs and sauces and how long they cook or smoke it. But for us, this one just feels like home, you know?”
I nod, thinking that nothing in New Hampshire felt like home, but Blackstone Falls does.
“Yes!” Ella cheers as Roman falls to his knees, the two of them playing up the dramatics as Ella holds her sandwich victoriously over her head. “Winner, winner, pulled pork dinner.”
“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing that this is my favorite too,” he says, hip-checking her out of the way as he moves toward the table, her yelp of surprise followed by her launching herself onto his back and him spinning around as he tries to dislodge her.
“You get used to it,” Eden says with a laugh, “but if you think this is bad, just wait till you meet everyone else.”
What have I gotten myself into?