Chapter 6
Ian
“So, how are we on that bet?” Dylan asked the next afternoon after we came out of a strategy meeting for Project Z. We’d just convinced a big partner to work with our software to develop an insurance product, so I was in a celebratory mood.
“What bet?” I asked.
“The one where you won’t last a month before deciding off-limits wasn’t in your vocabulary.”
I shrugged as I made myself a coffee at the machine we kept in the reception area. Our office was in a high-rise near Battery Park. From the window, I had a direct view over the Hudson River.
“I never made that bet.”
“Because you knew you’d lose?”
“Exactly.”
He clapped my shoulder. “I always appreciate your honesty.”
There was no getting whatever this was out of my system. I was talking myself into asking Ellie out with every passing hour. Dylan made himself a coffee, too, checking his phone.
“Mom and Dad are coming to the city again,” he exclaimed. “Next month. They want to celebrate their wedding anniversary with us.”
“Cool. It’s nice they’re coming out more often. Are we buying the tickets?”
Dylan nodded. “Yes. I spoke with them after you left the engagement party, when they mentioned the possibility of celebrating it here. They sort of agreed for us to pay for the tickets.”
“Sort of?” I asked with a laugh. “I don’t want to know details.”
“Let’s buy them before they change their mind.”
“Yes. I’ll do it this time.”
Even though Dylan, Josie, Isabelle, and I were financially well off, my parents flat-out refused monetary help. It was exasperating. I understood they had their pride, but if we could help them, why not? I wanted them to live comfortably. So we all took turns funding their flights.
“What are you doing this afternoon?” he asked.
“I’m planning a coding session but won’t stay too long.
” I liked leaving early on Fridays. It was past lunchtime, so I didn’t have much of the afternoon left, but I still could get in a few hours.
Many business partners were surprised that Dylan and I still wrote our own code, but I enjoyed it.
Sometimes it didn’t even feel like work.
I went straight to my office, sitting in my chair, lifting the armrests to a comfortable height for typing hours on end. It was a chair that gamers usually used, but it did the job.
I’d barely opened my laptop when the screen of my phone lit up with an incoming call.
It was from my sister. She rarely called during working hours because she knew I frequently turned the phone off, and reaching my voicemail exasperated her.
I assumed she wanted to talk about our parents’ upcoming visit.
“Hey, Isabelle,” I said.
“Ian, are you busy?” Her frantic voice set me on edge. I sat up straighter in the chair.
“What’s wrong?”
"Ellie just texted me that she had an accident at work and she's at the hospital. The doctor advised her to call someone to take her home, but I have a client coming in, and I can’t just leave."
"Fuck. Tell me the address, and I'll get her."
I rose to my feet, jotting down the address on a Post-it. Why hadn't she come to me first?
“I’ve got it. I’m going there now. Do you know what happened?”
“No. I don’t think it was anything too serious. She called herself, and she seemed fine.”
Then why would Ellie need someone to take her home?
As soon as I hung up, I left my office, ordering an Uber before I got in an elevator. When I stepped out of the building, I groaned. It was stuck in traffic, so the trip was canceled. I ordered a new one.
Dylan had a driver during the day, and it always seemed pointless to me, but I was starting to change my mind.
Ten minutes later, I was in my Uber, heading to the hospital. Isabelle was right. If Ellie had called her and not some hospital staff, it couldn’t be too bad. But I wouldn’t calm down until I saw her with my own eyes.
When I arrived, I just followed the instructions Isabelle texted me.
It looked as if she’d forwarded me the message she got from Ellie.
I found her in a small room by herself on the eleventh floor.
She was lying down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling.
I scanned her body. She was in her chef uniform—long white pants and a white coat buttoned up in the middle.
Nothing seemed wrong at first glance, but my nerves were still on edge.
"Ellie, hey," I said, walking up next to the bed. She looked at me with a bright smile.
"Hey. Thanks for coming.”
“What happened to you?" I asked.
"Kitchen accident. It happens all the time. I slipped and hit my head. They sent me here to get checked. The doctor says I have a minor concussion. I’m just a bit dizzy. Otherwise, I feel fine.”
“Shouldn’t they keep you here for observation?” My tone was harsh, but Ellie just chuckled.
“I’ve already been here a couple of hours. I just called Isabelle once they gave me the all clear to go home.”
I sat at the edge of the bed, taking one of her hands in mine. They were cold.
“Wait, how long have you been here?”
“Umm, I slipped right after I started my shift, so five hours, I think.”
“Why didn’t you call me when they brought you in?”
“What for?” she asked as if this was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard.
“To wait with you.”
Ellie laughed, waving her hand. “If I had a penny every time I got an injury in the kitchen, I’d be a millionaire right now. I’m used to this.”
“What, being in the hospital on your own?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, while you’re in New York, get used to me waiting with you. Next time something like this happens, call me right away.”
She opened her mouth in protest. I silenced her, putting a finger against her lips.
“Don’t fight me on this, or I’ll kiss you right here.”
Her breath caught. A doctor joined us just then.
“Ah, Ms. Cavanaugh, how are you? I just signed your discharge, but I want to ask how you are before you leave.”
“I’m good.”
He looked at me. “I want a few moments alone with the patient.”
“Sure.”
I stepped outside, looking for something to cheer up Ellie. There were just a few vending machines with food and drinks. No, wait, there was also a small gift cart by the elevators. It was meant for children, but I was sure Ellie was going to laugh her ass off, which was the whole point.
I chose a green teddy bear and paid quickly by card. I kept an eye on Ellie’s room and saw the doctor leave. As soon as I grabbed the green toy, I headed back to her room, holding it behind my back.
“What are you hiding?” she asked.
I took the teddy bear out in a somewhat theatrical move, and Ellie’s face exploded in a grin.
“That’s for me?”
“Yes.”
Walking up to her, I handed her the toy. She squeezed it against her chest like it was some prized possession.
“Thank you. I love it. I can’t believe it.”
To my surprise, there was genuine emotion in her eyes.
I mean, it was just a green kids’ toy meant to cheer her up, but it seemed to mean more to her.
She attempted to push herself up from the bed, and I immediately splayed my palm on her back, helping her into a seated position, then putting the jacket that lay at the foot of the bed on her shoulders.
“Ian, what are you doing?” she asked.
“Helping you.”
The corners of her mouth twitched. “I don’t think I can injure myself by getting up. But thanks for having my back. Literally.”
“Is this amusing to you? You scared years off my life.” Although I said this a little lightheartedly, the meaning was still the same.
“Oh!” Her smile faded as if only realizing what I was saying. Wasn’t she used to anyone caring? I knew Henry did, but then again, they’d always lived in different cities, so maybe that made things different.
“Do you need to fill any prescriptions?” I asked.
“No, I’m just supposed to take Tylenol if I need it, and I have some at home.”
"Then let’s go.”
When she rose to her feet, I put an arm around her waist, guiding her down the hall to the elevator. I ordered an Uber just before we went into the elevator, which was crammed, and I kept her tightly against me. The ride down to the main floor seemed like it took forever.
By the time we stepped out of the hospital building, the car was already there. I helped Ellie in and then went on the other side, climbing in.
"I'm fine. Don't fuss about me. I feel so silly," she whispered as the car lunged forward.
"You're not silly. Ellie, tell me if you need anything, okay? It doesn’t matter if it’s during the day or in the middle of the night. I. Want. To. Know.”
She exhaled sharply, nodding.
We were silent for the rest of the drive, but I kept looking at her from time to time. She rested her forehead against the window, smiling whenever she caught me looking at her. She was carefully holding the teddy bear in her lap like it was something special.
I touched the back of her hand with my fingers until I heard her breath quicken.
I wasn’t used to getting so uptight about anyone I wasn’t related to.
I could pretend I cared because Ellie was Henry’s sister, but it went beyond that.
Whenever I saw, texted, or spoke to her, my whole demeanor changed.
Even if I was stressed because of a client, I felt better just by being around her.
Her apartment was empty when we went inside.
“Tell me you’re not working tomorrow,” I said.
She shrugged off her jacket, grinning. “I’m tempted to tell you I am just to see what you’ll do.”
“Ellie!”
“I’m not. I never work weekends, okay? And anyway, the manager forbids me to come back until I’m in top shape. She said I could take off next week if I want to, but I won’t do that."
“Why not?”
“Because I want to make a good impression. I’m not going to miss work unless it’s necessary.”
“Ellie! You have a concussion.”
“A mild one. Barely even that, really.” She put her hands on her hips, looking me straight in the eyes. “What are you going to do? Show up on my doorstep Monday morning to police me?”
I stepped closer, tilting my head, looking her straight in the eyes. “Not even close to what I’m thinking. You don’t want to know what’s on my mind.”
Ellie blushed and didn’t press the issue. I was so close that I could smell her perfume again. It was driving me crazy. I wanted to taste her so bad.
She slipped past me, walking to her bedroom. I followed her, leaning against the doorway, watching as she sat on her bed and placed the teddy bear on the shelf just above the headboard.
"When is Harper coming home?" I asked. She pulled her brown hair behind her back, running her hand through it. It was thick and silky, and I wanted to thread my fingers through it before wrapping my hand around the strands, pulling her to me, claiming her lips.
"Harper is gone for the weekend. She's visiting her parents."
I didn’t like that for one minute. She was going to be alone the whole weekend, and that was not good.
“Didn’t the doctor say you shouldn’t be alone?”
She waved her hand. This woman! “Doctors like to overreact. Besides, he said I shouldn’t go home alone, not that I needed someone to watch me.”
I walked inside the bedroom, crouching in front of her.
"Ellie, I want to be the first person you call, no matter what. Do you understand? Not Isabelle, not Josie. Me."
She smiled faintly. "I know. I wanted to call you, but then I thought maybe… you know."
I leaned in with a growl. "The first person you call, you understand?"
"Why?" she whispered.
"Because you're mine.”