Chapter 17
Ellie
T wo days had passed since Sadie snapped at Ellie at the softball game, and Ellie had been sulking ever since. She’d spent her entire Saturday and most of Sunday moping around the garage apartment and binge-watching true crime documentaries. Her parents had checked on her several times, each time asking if she was okay. Ellie was, of course, not okay, but she didn’t know how to tell them why.
Sadie snapping at her was something Ellie had never experienced before. She could handle her siblings or her parents snipping at her. Granted, that didn’t happen. But Sadie? It was all new to Ellie.
When it had first happened, Ellie tried not to let it show how much Sadie had hurt her. Her angry words were because the game was going badly, and Sadie had been pulled out as pitcher. The logical side of Ellie’s brain knew that. And she believed Delaney when she repeated it to her several times as Ellie sat on the metal bench, trying not to cry.
When the game was over, Ellie couldn’t leave fast enough. She was thankful she had driven to the game because riding back with Delaney or Sadie wasn’t appealing to her. Ellie had let her angry tears roll down her face as she hit the highway, going faster than she should have. All the while Sadie’s snippy words hung over her head like a dense fog.
“I’m not okay. Thanks for asking.”
The sarcastic tone Sadie had used was one Ellie had never heard her use before. It cut Ellie deeper than she knew Sadie intended, but that didn’t change anything. Especially not when Sadie hadn’t bothered to text her or even open any of the Snapchats she’d sent her the last couple of days.
Ellie wasn’t sure why Sadie was pushing her away, but she didn’t like it. She had hoped they were heading in the direction of something more than a friendship, but the last few days had made Ellie start to question that. Maybe Sadie was mad Ellie had shown up to the game in the first place. Or worse, maybe Sadie had been doing badly because Ellie was there.
What if I’m a jinx?
Pulling the blanket over her head, Ellie groaned. She was better than lying on the couch lamenting about someone she wasn’t even dating—someone she was barely friends with.
The alarm over the garage door beeped, letting Ellie know someone was coming up the stairs. She assumed it was her parents but was surprised to see Brayden. He looked around the living room, which Ellie knew was a mess with an empty pizza box and popcorn bowl on the coffee table, along with a dozen soda cans.
“Ah, I see the parents were right to be worried.”
“What do you want, Brayden?”
“Come on.” He ripped the blanket off Ellie as she groaned dramatically. “You’re coming out with me and Bridget.”
“I don’t wanna,” she whined, reaching out of her blanket.
“Well, too bad. I already told Bridget you’re coming, and she’s excited. So, come on.” He motioned for her to stand, which she reluctantly did. “Go change. We’re going to the skating rink.”
“The skating rink? What is this, the nineties?”
“Ha ha. Just get ready. Bridget will be here in a half hour.”
Against her desire to flop back onto the couch, Ellie changed her clothes once Brayden left and, within an hour, was at the skating rink. Skate Around the Clock had two different skating options to choose from. On one side of the converted warehouse was an ice-skating rink they maintained all year long. The high school frequently used it as practice space, and several tournaments had been hosted there.
On the other side was a classic skating rink with old wooden floors, neon lights, and the faint smell of sweaty socks. Ellie was relieved that was the side where they were headed, as ice skating wasn’t her forte. Brayden had gotten all of those skills.
In the middle of the two different rinks was a large concession area with tables, restrooms, and a rental station for both types of skates. Due to the temperature difference in the two rinks, each had a door you had to enter off the common area. There, the trio laced up their own personal skates—there was no way Ellie would ever use shared skates—before heading over to the rink.
Sundays were eighties nights at the rink, and they were immediately greeted by a Michael Jackson song blaring loudly from the speakers. Brayden took Bridget’s hand as they skated out onto the rink. They looked back at Ellie, motioning for her to join them. She followed closely behind them, only mildly wanting to barf at the way they looked so annoyingly cute holding hands and laughing.
I just love being a third wheel.
As much as Ellie didn’t want to think about her brother being in a relationship, she was glad he had met Bridget. She seemed good for him, and they did look cute together. Bridget was a cheerleader, so they fit into the stereotypical jock dating a cheerleader trope perfectly. But Bridget wasn’t like the mean girl cheerleaders Ellie had seen in movies.
And had met in school.
Bridget was actually really nice and smart, and their parents loved her, which was a hard feat to accomplish. Brayden was the only boy in their family, and Ellie was sure they’d never approve of anyone he dated. Then Bridget came along. Even Ellie had to admit she liked her as a person.
After a few laps, Brayden turned to skate backward. Showoff.
“Is this working to cheer you up?” Brayden asked over the music.
“Who said I needed cheering up?”
“Your parents,” he chuckled. He skated over to the carpeted pony wall that lined the rink, and Bridget and Ellie followed. “Although, they didn’t tell me why you’re all depressed.”
“I’m not depressed.”
“Is it Sadie?”
Ellie couldn’t punch his arm fast enough. Brayden gasped dramatically, always shocked that his sister would do that to him, no matter how many times Ellie had done it over the years. Of course, her goal was never to hurt him. It was just to let him know he’d overstepped.
“So that’s a yes,” he grumbled.
“Wait,” Bridget’s eyes widened, and Ellie knew exactly what was coming, “are you and Sadie dating?”
“No,” Ellie answered quickly. Maybe too quickly. “No. Sadie and I are not dating. At all. We’re not dating. Okay? Why—why would you ask that?”
Bridget looked to Brayden, who shrugged before turning to Ellie to answer.
“I mean, we all saw the way you two were at the play.”
“God, it was just a hug ,” Ellie whined.
“Brayden never hugs me like that.” Bridget gave him a look that said he better start, which momentarily distracted Ellie. “And then there was the pool game.”
“You saw us playing pool?”
“The whole table was talking about it.” Brayden’s comment earned him an elbow to the ribs from Bridget. She gave him a look that clearly said he wasn’t supposed to tell Ellie that. “Geez, why is everyone ganging up on me?”
“Wait,” Ellie needed clarification, “what do you mean the whole table was talking about it ? Talking about what?” She looked to Brayden, then Bridget, then back to Brayden. “Hello? Can one of you answer me?”
Clearing his throat, Brayden skated a small circle around Ellie before answering. “You know that part in Beauty Ellie didn’t even have time to register how her lips felt on Sadie’s cheek. “Text me when you get home, okay?”
“I will.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
Nearly bolting over to Brayden’s truck, Ellie climbed into it as Bridget and Brayden both looked at her. She buckled her seatbelt, then shrugged.
“What?”
“Are you two chickens?”
“What are you talking about?”
Unfortunately, she knew what he was talking about.
“You just pecked her cheek like a chicken.”
“Shut up.”
“Do we need to show you how to kiss someone?”
“Ew,” Ellie pretended to gag, “shut up.”
Brayden, of course, did not shut up the entire way home. Even Bridget joined in on the teasing, but Ellie secretly enjoyed it. She’d never liked anyone like she liked Sadie. And she definitely hadn’t ever been teased about it.
After Bridget got into her car and left, Ellie pulled Brayden aside before they went their separate ways for the night.
“Can you not tell the moms or the sisters about this? At least not yet?”
For a moment, Brayden’s sparkling eyes worried her. But he playfully punched her shoulder and smiled. “Tell them what?”
“Thank you.”
After a goodnight hug, Ellie took the stairs to the garage apartment two at a time as she pulled her phone from her bag to read the messages from Sadie. There was no way she was going to read them in the truck with Brayden and Bridget. And her uncontrollable smile and giggle told her that was a good thing as she read Sadie’s three messages.
I’m home. :)
I had a great time tonight. We will have to do it again soon.
Especially that last part.