Chapter Five
ELLA
“A nd who do we have here?” I ask, bending down and putting my hands on the knees of my scrubs. “What a handsome boy!”
The Old English Sheepdog in front of me wags his tail excitedly as I scratch behind his ears. As typical for his breed, his fur hangs down in his eyes, but that doesn’t stop him from looking at me happily.
“This is Archie,” the middle-aged man in front of me says. “We have a ten a.m. appointment for his vaccines.”
Smiling, I nod and head over to the computer, checking them in for their appointment.
Usually, this would be the front desk receptionist’s job, but since she’s out sick today, I’m covering both the front desk as well as learning my duties as the new junior vet tech. Not how I wanted to spend my first day at Ridgewood Vet Clinic, the only veterinarian’s office in Ridgewood Falls, but at least I got to greet all the cute, fuzzy faces first.
“You new?” the sheepdog owner asks, coming up to the counter. “I haven’t seen you here before.”
“Today’s my first day. I’m born and raised in Ridgewood Falls, though,” I say proudly.
His eyes glance at the name tag on my pink, paw-print decorated scrubs and his eyes light up. “I knew you looked familiar! You’re Ella Parsons, aren’t you? Lincoln’s daughter?”
“I am,” I laugh as I place a slip lead around Archie’s neck. “How do you know my dad?”
“He’s been to a few of my construction sites for consultations. Great guy. Always showing off pictures of his kids and saying how proud he is of them. Loves the hell outta that little rug rat of yours too. What’s her name again?”
“Macie.” I smile, putting Archie on the scale and writing down his weight. “She’ll be four in February.”
“Time sure flies, doesn’t it? I’m Billy, by the way. Billy Henderson.” Billy sighs wistfully as he follows me to the exam room.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Billy.” I look at the sheepdog. “And Archie.”
“Tell your dad I said hi, now!” He waves behind him as they step into the room.
“Will do, Billy. Doctor Niles will be with you in just a minute.”
Shutting the door behind me, I let out a relieved sigh. Covering the front desk won’t be so bad. Benny, the senior vet tech, will have gotten a message on his tablet that the ten a.m. appointment is checked in, and he’ll let Doctor Niles know.
Doctor Niles, who I also know as Linda, is a friend of my mom’s and was over the moon when she found out I’d be getting my vet tech certification. Originally, I was supposed to go to Tufts University to become a veterinarian, but those plans quickly changed when I found out I was pregnant, especially because there were no veterinary programs near home.
It’s been just her, the other vet tech, Benny, and the receptionist, Helen, for the last few years, and she’s been in dire need of help. They had me come in an hour early this morning to learn the computer system, which luckily is the same one we trained on during my certification course.
Going back to the front desk, I sigh as I go through the schedule for today. It’s been a few weeks since my and Brynn’s weekend in Boston, and Liam is constantly on my mind. I keep wondering if I did the right thing. Should I have just told him about Macie? Well, at least I know where he is now. Even if knowing where he is makes me twitch with the knowledge that all I would have to do is google the phone number to the hospital to hear his voice again.
The office phone ringing snaps me out of my thoughts, and I quickly answer in my best customer service voice, “Ridgewood Veterinary, this is Ella speaking. How can I help you?”
“Ella, you sound so professional!” Mom fawns through the phone. “How is your first day going?”
“It’s going great, Mom, but you really shouldn’t be calling me at work.”
“Oh, it’s fine, Ell. Linda said I could check on you today if I wanted.”
“Mom, I’m twenty-seven years old. I don’t need you to check on me.” I roll my eyes. “Though I do want to check in with Macie.”
“She’s doing great. We just got back from the park.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Sure, sweetie, hold on.” There’s some rustling on the other side of the line before my girl’s sweet, lilting voice comes on the line.
“Hi, Mommy! MeeMee took me to da park!” I smile at the joy in her voice, thankful I have Mom here to take care of her while I work.
“Hi, baby. Did you have fun?”
“Yes! We walked all da way! I was so so fast, I beat MeeMee in a race!” Macie goes on for a bit about the park, telling me about a little boy that she shared her toys with when line two starts ringing.
“I’m so happy you had fun, baby girl, but I have to go to work now, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy. I love you!”
“I love you too, sweetie. Bye.”
Taking a deep breath, I switch to line two and answer the call. “Ridgewood Veterinary, this is Ella speaking. How can I help you?”
* * *
Exhausted from my eleven-hour day, I slide into the front seat of my car, letting my head fall back on the headrest. After the clinic closed, Linda wanted to keep me for a little longer to go over some of the vet tech aspects of the job, since I spent today covering as a receptionist. So now it’s seven, and I’m just heading home after getting to work at eight.
Before I can even start the car, my phone dings in the group chat I have with my two older brothers, Nolan and Jayce.
Nolan: Bet you kicked ass today! Proud of you, Ellie-Bellie.
I snort at the nickname my brother bestowed upon me as a child, and over twenty years later is still in full effect. They used to play a game to see who could come up with the most ridiculous variation of my name. “Eleanor-Bellenor” still holds the gold for that honor.
Jayce: Of course, she kicked ass. She’s our sister. Us Parsons don’t know how to do anything else.
Me: Thanks guys. First day was great, but receptionist was out sick so I had to cover the front desk. I’ll get to more actual vet-teching tomorrow.
Finally pulling out of my parking spot, I wait for the car to take over the Bluetooth on my phone, then call Mom.
“Hello?” She answers, the quiet sound of the TV running in the background.
“Hey, Mom. Sorry I’m so late. I’m on my way to pick up Macie now.”
“Oh, no worries, sweetie. You know what? She actually already fell asleep, would it be easier for you if I just kept her overnight? She has a change of clothes here and I can drop her off at preschool in the morning. Besides, Ollie is already snuggled up next to her, and it would just be mean to make him move.”
I stifle a laugh, knowing that the German Shepherd my parents and I share custody of is in absolute heaven right now, snuggled up to Macie. Biting my lip, I debate on what I want to do. I miss her, but I’m also exhausted and she’s already asleep. I might as well take the night of rest she’s offering, especially with the day I had.
“That would be great, Mom. Thanks. I’ll stop by to give her a hug before work.”
We hang up, and I head back to my apartment. As I pull past the monument sign reading “Ridgewood Heights,” I debate what I want to do for dinner. Maybe I’ll order in. Chinese food or something. Parking and hopping out of the car, I hike my purse on my shoulder as I walk toward the entrance of the building.
Ridgewood Heights is the largest apartment building in town, meaning it has a whopping twelve units. Two stories, six apartments a floor. I’ve become familiar with all the different cars that belong in this parking lot over the last few months. As a result, the SUV backed into one of the parking spots with the trunk popped has my steps slowing. There are a few boxes, one labeled “kitchen” and another labeled “books.”
Someone is moving in? Huh. There are only two units open in the complex, one on each floor. I wonder if I’ll have a new neighbor.
I figure I’ll find out eventually one way or the other, so I continue toward the entrance of the apartment building, pulling up the information for my local Chinese place on my phone.
Opening the door to the lobby, I’m about to press “call” on my phone when the sound of footsteps has me looking up.
What. The. Fuck.
“Liam?” I choke out, my eyes wide. Liam, in a t-shirt and gray joggers, is four feet in front of me, heading toward the front door. “What are you doing here?”
And where is your undoubtedly gorgeous and perfect fiancée?
I can’t breathe. I can’t fucking breathe. What the hell is he doing here? In Ridgewood Falls?
“Ella?” He looks just as surprised as I do. “I just moved here for work. I’m actually moving boxes now. Do you live in this building?”
I’m in an alternate universe. That is the only explanation for Liam being here right now, in my small, sleepy hometown, telling me he’s moving into my apartment building. Maybe I passed out from exhaustion in the car after work, and this is all some kind of weird fever dream.
I even pinch myself, but when it stings and I don’t wake up, I have to accept my new reality. My heart is pounding wildly in my chest, and I swear I’m on one of those punked shows where some washed-up ex-boy band host will pop out and laugh at how hard they got me.
Do I tell him the truth? Yes, I live in this building. We moved in a few months ago after I received my Vet Tech certification to get out of my parents’ hair after leeching off of them for the last four years because I got knocked up by a stranger, which was you, by the way .
Nope. Just thinking that made me cringe. No personal details.
“Work? Like an EMT again?” My mouth is dry as I ask the question. I’m not sure why that’s the thing I focus on, but I’m a mess. I’m exhausted, hungry, and my one-night stand from four years ago slash father of my child is telling me he lives here now. What about the hospital? Did he quit his job as a doctor? Or did he transfer? The closest hospital is UVM, and how would he end up living in Ridgewood Falls for that? It would have made more sense for him to move to Burlington.
“I’m surprised you remember that.” He smiles at me, his gray-blue eyes twinkling. “No, I transferred my residency from Boston. How long have you lived here? This is a great little town.”
That still doesn’t answer my question about how he ended up in Ridgewood Falls, of all places. Or why he transferred. Not that any of that is actually my business. The man is getting married. Shit, why is this so complicated?
“I, uh… I grew up here,” I say nervously, wondering how he can be so calm and nonchalant about this whole thing. “How, um… how did you end up here of all places? It’s not exactly a tourist attraction.”
“Oh…” His face looks panicked for a moment, no doubt due to him finally realizing he and his fiancée are moving into the same building as a woman he’s seen naked and called a “good girl,”, but then he quickly recovers. “I’ve been sick of the city life for a while now, and thought a small town might be a good change.”
Right. Just my luck.
And then Macie?—
Shit. Macie.
If I had brought Macie home tonight, the jig would have been up. She’s not with me now, but she does live here and I can’t exactly hide my toddler. She’s much too outspoken for that. A personality trait I’m coming to see that she got from her father.
Shit. What am I going to do? I wasn’t going to tell him about her. Not after what happened in Boston.
“I only have a couple of more boxes to grab,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “Can we catch up in a little bit? You can just tell me your apartment number.”
My heartbeat is in my ears, and when he speaks, it sounds like he’s underwater.
Is this what a panic attack feels like?
I’m shaking my head so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t swing off my shoulders, my words fumbled and rushed. “Um, maybe. But not tonight. I just got done with an eleven-hour shift and I’m exhausted. I’ll see you around!”
It’s like my fight-or-flight response is kicking in, and man, am I flying . My feet are moving before I can process what I’m doing, and I nearly sprint to the elevator, aggressively pushing the close doors button. I silently curse myself as it takes its sweet time closing, leaving me to give an awkward smile to Liam as he stares, stunned, after me. It would have been faster to just take the stairs.
When the elevator finally opens on my floor, I spill out of it, my breathing coming out in heavy, dragging gasps. I can’t get to my apartment fast enough, and as soon as I’m in my apartment and the door is shut behind me, I call Brynn, my back falling against the closed front door.
She answers on the third ring. “Hey, girl. What’s up?”
The words burst out of me like acid. “Liam’s moved into my apartment!”
There’s silence on the other end of the phone for about three seconds before she says, “Excuse me, what? Start from the beginning.”
My heart is still pounding like I just ran for my life from a deadly predator. Which I may as well have.
I desperately try to control my breathing so Brynn can at least understand what I’m saying. “I came home from work, and he was just… he was just… there! Walking through the lobby on his way to his car to get his moving boxes ! Because he’s moving ! Here ! He asked me to catch up like it was a totally normal and acceptable thing to do!”
“Shit,” Brynn mutters. “What about the fiancée? Did you see her?”
Closing my eyes, I replay the encounter in my head. “No, but I didn’t ask. I was too busy freaking out about Liam being in my apartment complex !”
“Babe, chill. I know this is… unexpected. But take a deep breath.”
“Oh my god. Do you think I’ll see her? How am I going to face her? Liam’s going to be able to tell right away that Macie is his. She looks just like him, plus, the timeline from our one-night stand… I need to be able to keep her from him.” I take a deep breath, trying to think of what I can do to fix this. “What if he’s only here for a short amount of time? Last time, he was only covering an EMT shortage at UVM. If that’s the case… it’ll be easier to hide her from him.”
“Woah, hold on,” I can hear the disbelief in Brynn’s voice. “Hide from him? This is Ridgewood Falls, Ell. Where everybody knows everybody’s business. There’s no hiding here. You can try to avoid him, but not forever. You need to agree to meet up with him, tell him everything, and then figure out how involved in Macie’s life he wants to be.”
Fuck. What she’s saying makes so much sense, but it’s just so… so much. Going from hoping I’ll find him someday, to actually finding him, to learning he’s engaged and letting go, and now having him show up quite literally at my front door? With a damn fiancée in tow? My brain is about to implode. But… he’s here. What are the odds? Is this fate’s way of intervening and telling me that I’m an idiot for not telling him about Macie back in Boston?
My breathing calms and I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Okay… yeah. You’re right. Maybe… maybe I’ll have my mom keep Macie for another night so we can do dinner or something tomorrow after work. I’ll ask him in the morning.”
After Brynn and I hang up, I jump in the shower to wash away the stink of working an eleven-hour shift with animals all day. My mind wanders to Liam and how incredible he still looks, even after all this time. Despite the fact that he’s now off-limits in every way, I can’t stop thinking about the way his ocean-storm eyes drank me in when he looked at me, the flex of his arm muscles when he rubbed the back of his neck. The memory sends a wave of heat between my thighs, and I find myself reaching down as the water spills over me before I stop at my stomach. I shouldn’t be having these thoughts about him. I can’t have him, he’s taken. It would be better for Macie and myself if I put him in the little box in my brain labeled “platonic relationships only.”
But the way he looked at me today was anything but platonic. The memories that I have of our night together do not belong in that box. I may not be able to have him, but… but maybe if I act on these thoughts this one time, I’ll get it out of my system. Maybe I’ll be able to move past any thoughts of him in my life besides his potential role as Macie’s father.
I reach downward, my fingers running through my folds. Fuck, we were so good together, and a man hasn’t touched me since. A sharp gasp leaves me as I circle my clit, my other hand grabbing my breast and squeezing. Thoughts of our night together flash through my mind, how he looked on his knees while he ate my pussy, the way he buried his face in my neck as he fingered me, and our soul-deep connection as he slid into me, his eyes never once leaving mine.
My attention is glued to the way his abs ripple as he climbs on top of me until he claims my mouth with a kiss. A shocked moan leaves me when his fingers brush through my folds.
“So wet,” he murmurs against my mouth. “Is that all for me, Ella?”
“Yes,” I gasp into the kiss, thrusting my hips up as his fingers slide inside of me. They fuck me like I want him to, thrusting in and out as the heel of his hand grinds against my clit.
Burning. I’m burning alive in the best possible way.
His pace picks up and he breaks our kiss, burying his face into my neck.
“What a fucking perfect pussy you have,” he growls into my skin. His words send me over the edge once again, lighting my entire body on fire in a way it’s never done before. I’m white hot, the sensation rippling over me in waves until the pleasure subsides, leaving me panting and staring up into the ocean-blue eyes of the man who’s given me two orgasms.
The most I’ve ever had in one night.
He maintains eye contact as he slides into me, his cock stretching me in the most exquisite way. We both moan, my eyes fluttering shut at the sensation before opening again. We just breathe heavily, taking each other in. His gaze moves over my face, staring at me like he can’t quite believe I’m real. I know, because I’m pretty sure I’m looking at him the same way.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he murmurs.
A whimper escapes me as I pick up the pace, furiously strumming my clit with everything I have until the damn breaks, my orgasm flooding through me, my pussy clenching around nothing as I catch my breath. Water trickles down my body, and I wish it was his hands touching me instead.
Shit.
I hadn’t intended on masturbating to the thought of Liam in the shower, but life is full of surprises.
Sighing, I wash my hair and try to plan out what to say to him when I see him next.