Chapter 18
Ian
"Hey, come on in," I said, opening the door widely. Ellie burst out of her room the next second. She was still flustered from our kiss before. Her brown hair was wild, her lips red. It would take Henry no time to figure us out. She threw her arms around him, and he lifted her off her feet in a hug.
"What are you doing here? Thought you were coming on Saturday," she said, laughing.
"I wanted to surprise you.”
"Oh, you should have told me you're coming today. How long are you staying?"
"Until Sunday. What are you doing tonight?" he asked her. She stepped back from the hug. His eyes zeroed in on her mouth. He turned to look at me. "What's going on?"
Damn. It took him even less time than I predicted.
“I can explain," Ellie said.
"I will." I knew how Henry could get. I felt protective of Ellie. He could be harsh, even though he had her best interest in mind.
"Yes, you will. What the fuck, Ian? I told you to stay away from her."
"I tried, but not very hard," I admitted. "Look, we're together." I couldn’t think of the right words to say, and I knew what I just said did not defuse the situation.
"What the?—”
"Don't be like this, Henry," Ellie said. "I'm not a kid."
Henry shook his head, looking between the two of us. He was disappointed in me, I could see it in his eyes, and it fucking sucked. I didn't like disappointing anyone.
"Define you're together, " he demanded.
Ellie pressed her lips together, looking at me. I stepped next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. She felt tense. I wondered if it was because her brother had found out or because she was curious about how I was defining our relationship.
"We're dating and spending a lot of time with each other. In fact, I was going to cook for Ellie tonight at my place."
Henry's eyes bulged as Ellie leaned into me. I touched her shoulders, skimming my thumb up to her neck, and felt her relaxing, finally.
I’d given a lot of thought about what to do tonight. Ellie went out in the city a lot, but she seemed happiest when it was the two of us either at her place or mine, so that’s what I planned.
"How about we all go out to dinner instead?" she asked. "I'm sure we can get a reservation somewhere."
I looked down at her. "But you don’t like going out in the evening. You’re too tired. I have enough food for everyone."
"Okay. That sounds like a plan," Ellie said. "I'll just pick up my backpack."
"I'll wait in the living room," Henry said. I went with Ellie, wanting to make sure she was okay. I closed the door to her room, and she looked up at me, pointing her finger at me.
"No, no. No kissing."
I frowned at her. "I understood your stance in front of the building, but what's your excuse this time?"
"Henry has X-ray vision, I swear to God. So keep your hands and eyes off me while we're eating. Okay?"
I tilted closer and brought my hand to her neck, skimming and splaying my fingers widely. "I'll behave while he's with us, but once he leaves, you're mine, Ellie. And then I'll devour you." Her eyes widened, and her lips parted as she exhaled a breath. I loved keeping her on edge.
“If you can’t behave,” she said, totally flustered, “wait for me in the living room with Henry.”
I took a step back, holding both hands up. “I’ll do that. I can’t be in the same room with you and not touch you. Kiss you.”
“Or talk dirty.”
“That too.”
Still holding up my hands, I stepped out of the room. Henry was pacing the living room.
“Don’t be a dick to your sister,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes. “This is exactly what I was afraid of. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She wanted to do it face-to-face when you came to the city. Don’t ruin her birthday.”
“I’m not going to.” I hated that my best friend didn’t trust me—but all he knew was a version of me from the past, not who I was now, who I was with Ellie.
“Good. Because we’re going to have a problem if you do.”
“You have some balls to tell me that.” He narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything else.
After Ellie joined us in the living room, we Ubered to my place. Henry seemed a bit more relaxed when we arrived. When I opened the door, I barely recognized my apartment.
"What's this?" Ellie asked.
“I asked Isabelle to help me decorate everything to look more festive." My sister had asked if candles were okay, and I said yes, thinking she'd bring one or two, but I saw at least a dozen. Henry jerked his head back, but Ellie looked damn happy.
Whatever. I'd get used to 100 candles if that's what it took to see her like this.
“This is amazing,” she whispered. Her eyes were a bit watery. Why was this such a big deal for her?
Henry and Ellie sat down on the barstools at my kitchen island. I walked to the other side, where the stove was. She glanced at the ingredients with a grin.
“You’re making risotto?” she asked.
“It’s your favorite,” I replied. She’d mentioned that during the weekend at Bear Mountain, and I filed it in my memory. “I also have cake in the fridge.”
I poured all of us a glass of white wine before I chopped the onion.
“We’re meeting tomorrow, right?” Ellie asked her brother.
“Obviously! I came to visit you,” Henry replied.
They both seemed far more relaxed than before. I kept a close eye on Henry while the risotto cooked, ready to intervene if needed. I understood his concerns, but I didn’t want him to spoil her birthday.
"Where are you staying?" I asked him.
"I just crashed at an Airbnb downtown."
"Why didn't you tell me? I would have arranged something with Harper so you could stay with us."
"No, you know me, sis. I don't like doing that."
That was true. Henry had never liked crashing with people, even when we were in college. The risotto was done a while later. I put a ton of parmesan on top before we brought the plates to the table.
"So, how long has this been going on?" he asked as we finally started to eat.
"Um, a while," Ellie said nervously. “Almost since I came to the city.”
"You’ve been lying to me all this time?"
"No, Henry. We just knew you'd react like this."
"So no one else knows. She's your dirty little secret?"
“Henry!” My tone was a warning. I was on edge.
“I’m not a secret.”
"My family knows we’re together," I said calmly.
"So I'm the only one who doesn't know?" Henry replied.
Ellie grinned. "There's no winning with him when he's like this."
"I know. He's my best friend.”
"Dude, no offense, but you do realize I had a front seat to all of the shit you did in college. Obviously, I have a problem that you're now going out with my sister."
"I've changed, Henry. I'm not in college anymore. Neither are you; we’ve both grown up."
He looked at Ellie, who was just smiling widely. "Oh, come on, Henry. It's my birthday. Behave. You're not getting cake and champagne otherwise."
Henry sat back in his chair, finally smiling. "Fine, whatever, you two are adults. I don't have to get in the middle of it. But just so you know, when you hurt her, you and I are going to have a big problem."
I didn’t like the use of when . It implied it was a sure thing, but I didn’t want to be the one to spoil the mood by starting a fight.
"Henry!" Ellie scolded. “Drop it.”
“Okay. Okay. I’m not going to bring it up again tonight .”
We chatted about their parents while we ate the risotto with vegetables. Once we cleared the plates, I brought the cake out of the fridge. I uncorked the champagne, pouring for everyone, and we clinked glasses.
"Cheers," I said. "To Ellie."
"To Ellie," Henry said. We sang a weak happy birthday to you . I wasn’t much of a singer, so the cat was out of the bag. Brayden heard me once and thought I was sick, the asshole.
Henry stayed with us for another hour before announcing that he was taking off. He kept looking at the candles Isabelle set up around the apartment.
"Okay. You two, I'm going to go back to my Airbnb. Ellie, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Ellie and I walked him to the door. Once he left, I turned my gaze on Ellie.
"I love all these candles," she said. "I can't believe you asked Isabelle to help you decorate. And that you cooked my favorite meal."
I pulled her to me, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, touching her temple with my thumb.
"Why are you in disbelief?" I asked.
She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess this is something I'm not used to or something I don’t ever expect of anyone."
"What? To make an effort for your birthday?"
"Yes," whispered Ellie.
I put my forehead close to hers. "It makes you happy. I like making you happy." Her eyes clouded; she looked like she wanted to say something. "What's on your mind?"
"It's just that, after the way my parents' marriage ended… I’m not blaming my parents or anything. I know I’m an adult, responsible for what I do.”
“Ellie, some things just stay with us over the years. It doesn’t mean you’re blaming anyone.”
“I don't think I let anyone in, you know?
I'm not even sure if it was a conscious thing I was doing. But I didn't. I sort of put up a wall around myself, that way I wouldn’t be disappointed. No one's gotten in until you.” The sheepish look she had touched my heart. “Besides, you cooked for me. In my world, that’s like a love declaration.”
Fuck me. Her words twisted around my chest. I cupped her hands with mine, pinning her against the door, and told her, "It is.
I love you, Ellie. I wasn't even sure I was capable of it, but you've got me.
What I told Henry was 100 percent true. I've changed since I met you.
You've changed me." I cupped her cheek, kissing her mouth descending to her neck.
“I did?” she whispered.
“Yes. And I didn’t think it was possible to feel this way.” I didn’t plan this, but I’m glad it happened. Ellie needed to know I couldn’t let her go.
“And I love you , Ian.”
I straightened up, looking her directly in the eyes. A smile played on her lips, but her eyes were full of emotion. “Thank you for everything you did tonight. And keeping Henry in check.”
“I didn’t.” At least I don’t think I did.
“He would’ve roasted my ass even more if you didn’t glare at him every five minutes.”
I laughed, caressing the back of her head. “I didn’t want anything to spoil the mood for your birthday.”
“He didn’t. It was honestly the best birthday I’ve had. Because of you.”
I wanted to make all her birthdays unforgettable—every single one of them.
“So I’m going to spoil you tonight too,” she went on. “But I have to change first.”
“What? Why?”
“I have a sexy outfit in my backpack. Obviously, when I packed it, I had no idea that Henry was joining us.”
“It’s too inappropriate?” My dick twitched. She laughed, pressing herself against my erection.
“Someone’s excited at the thought.”
“Very.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“What if I’d planned a surprise party with more people?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I know you. You wouldn’t do that. You always try to get us to be alone.”
“I do. Because you’re mine.”
“I am,” she whispered.
Hearing her surrender like this was chipping away at my self-control. I wanted to claim her mouth and body and all her pleasure.