Chapter 2
Ellie
I unpacked until past midnight, so I woke up at ten on Sunday, grinning as I looked around.
I had far too many clothes for this room.
I had a small double bed that had drawers under it, and at the side was a closet and some shelves.
But I still ordered a clothes rack from Amazon that I could squeeze in somewhere.
It would make moving through the room a bit awkward, but I'd get used to it.
After showering and dressing, I poked my head in the living room.
Harper was there, working on a craft project of sorts.
She was using the dining room table as a desk, and it was full of paper in various colors.
I found out on our second Skype call that she was an elementary school teacher.
"Hey, Harper," I asked, poking my head in the living room. "Do you want to go out for a bit and explore the city with me?"
I was super happy that I'd arrived when I did. I had one full day to relax and look around.
“Sorry, I promised the kids I’d have this paper robot ready for tomorrow.
But I do have lots of recs for you.” Grinning, she rubbed her palms together.
“You’re going to love Columbus Center. There’s a great ice cream shop just around the corner.
And also a coffee shop that has amazing hot chocolate. ”
“I’ll keep them in mind. Do you want me to pick up anything while I’m out?”
“I shopped before you arrived, so I’m good, but I saved you space in the fridge.”
We’d agreed that each of us would buy our own groceries, and we’d split things like milk, oil, salt, and other essentials.
“Thanks a lot. By the way, I love what you’ve done with the living room.”
“Thank you, Ellie. I love personalizing my living space, and my first roomie didn’t mind. If you want me to take down anything or you want to bring in your stuff, just let me know. I’m flexible.”
I liked Harper a lot.
“I wouldn’t change one thing about the living room. And I’m just here for six months anyway, so it wouldn’t make sense.”
Harper was an excellent decorator. The living room had a brick wall with a huge TV.
Next to it was a piano and a chair. She had a few guitars hanging on the wall.
She was also a music teacher in her spare time.
The wall around the window had a huge bookshelf that went right up to the ceiling.
She even had a ladder for it. The green metal coffee table contrasted with everything, but it somehow worked.
My small bedroom was all white. The last roomie left it in great condition, though it was repainted and the orange fluffy rug was professionally cleaned.
The wood floors could use some polishing, but the rug was large enough to cover most of the area.
I needed some decorations to make it feel homier though.
I went back to my room, checking my phone. On a whim, I texted Ian.
Ellie: Does your offer still stand? I want to explore the city a bit.
He answered almost immediately.
Ian: Yes. I’m in Central Park with my sisters and my niece. Join us.
Ellie: That’s great. Can you share your location? That way I can come to the entrance nearest to where you are.
A few seconds later, he sent me a message along with the link to a map.
Ian: Sure. I can't wait.
Ellie: Me either.
I wondered if this was the best idea. The man was so sinfully hot that I had a hard time not fanning myself when I was around him.
When I first saw Ian, I’d been twelve years old, but even then, I thought he was cute.
I was too shy to even speak around him though.
Henry had brought him to Mom’s house. I’d woken up one morning, striding into the kitchen wearing pink, fluffy pajamas, and there he was.
I’d blushed all the way to the tip of my ears, spilled tea on myself, and disappeared into my room.
I saw him a couple more times over the years, but it wasn’t until I was seventeen and I stayed with Henry for a full week that I realized Ian wasn’t just cute—he was sinfully hot.
I’d loved his humor and daredevil attitude.
He didn’t even look my way, though. I didn’t think I registered as anything more than Henry’s little sister.
The summer I turned twenty-one, Henry asked if I wanted to spend a few weeks with him, Ian, and a couple of friends in Lake Tahoe.
I said yes before he even finished the sentence.
It had been hands down the best vacation of my life: lying around in the sun for hours, enjoying cocktails and a good book.
And Ian… well, I wasn’t going to lie. I’d had a bit of a crush on him.
But who could blame me? He was six feet of pure muscle.
He was different than anyone I’d dated in college.
They’d all been boys, but Ian was a man…
who’d seemed intent on keeping me from sneaking into shady clubs, but nothing else.
I hadn’t touched base in the two years since, but seeing him when I came to interview for this job was like a shock to my system.
I'd hoped that I had grown immune to him by the time I met him again, but that hadn't happened. Maybe I’d get luckier next time.
I was sure that my body wouldn't react the same way again.
I called my brother before leaving. He’d left me a few messages already.
"Hey. I was waiting for your call yesterday,” he said. “Figured you had a lot to do to get situated.”
“I was up to my elbows trying to unpack.”
"So how do you like the city? How did Ian treat you?"
"Well, I didn't see anything of the city, and Ian was very friendly. He helped me carry all my suitcases, even offered to show me around the city. I'm meeting him right now."
"Okay. I'm glad he’s available to give you a tour, but a word of caution. Ian is an excellent friend. Very loyal and sticks around; he’s always been there throughout the years. But that said, he wouldn't make a good boyfriend. Not at all. He’s a player, just like me."
Oh, Henry, could you be any more obvious? "Thanks for the warning, brother. You’ve only mentioned that like a million times already."
"I mean it. He's my best friend, remember? I know him very well, and he’s just not the right guy for you."
"I'll keep that in mind. I promise. If it makes you feel any better, I'm also meeting his sisters."
"I don't think you need a chaperone, Ellie. That's not what I meant."
Really? Because I felt that I might need a chaperone.
If he looked at me again with those sinful blue eyes, I was going to combust spontaneously.
Oh, Ian, Ian . He had made an impression on me.
He was so gallant, helping me with my bags and everything.
I loved his humor too. It gave him an edge that enticed me.
"You have nothing to worry about, Henry." I tried to reassure him. “I'll check in with you later today. Okay? I want to open the map he sent me on my phone so I know where I’m going."
"Have fun. I'm very proud of you." Henry and I have always had a good sibling relationship, supportive of one another, so him saying that to me made me happy.
"Thanks.” After hanging up, I put on my sneakers and glanced in the mirror. I was wearing jeans and a thin white T-shirt with short sleeves. It was still warm outside even though it was September.
Henry and I were very close despite the age gap.
Our parents divorced when I was in middle school.
They both remarried, each bringing more kids into their marriage.
We had a stepbrother from my mom's side and a stepsister from my dad's side.
Henry and I lived with our mom, but neither of us fit in either of the new families very well.
We always joked as kids that we were lucky because we had twice as many presents on Christmas, birthdays, and every other occasion.
But it was quite lonely. It was perhaps one reason Henry and I were so close, even though he moved away for college while Mom and I remained in Ohio.
My brother was always looking out for me.
Not that I made it easy for him. In culinary school, I lived in Los Angeles. After graduation, I worked at a seafood restaurant in Portland and then Miami until I got this opportunity. But Henry knew how happy I was—and was always so supportive.
Once I stepped out on the street, I put on sunglasses. It was a warm autumn day, and I looked around with a smile.
The apartment building might be old, but it had a lot of character. I liked the high ceilings and absolutely loved the hand-finished plaster walls.
I liked Columbus Circle. It was pretty, with a mix of modern and historical buildings up and down the street. The storefronts were quaint, restaurants offering outdoor seating kept warm by portable heat lamps. The area had a big-city feel with a hometown vibe.
The pizza shop displays looked pretty delicious, and I was certain that I'd become a regular.
It was perhaps a bit unusual for someone who finished culinary school to eat cheap takeout.
But the last thing I wanted after coming home from work was to cook.
Most times I didn't even care what I was eating, I was usually so beat from the long day.
I followed the route to the location that Ian had shared with me.
It was just a fifteen-minute walk to Central Park, which was perfect and gave me enough time to soak in the city.
All the tour guides I’d read recommended visiting New York in the fall.
I felt particularly lucky that my job started in September, since it was still warm and the tree foliage was just beginning to turn a mix of green and red.
In a few more weeks, it would look completely different.