Chapter 10
FISHER
I slide my hands in my pockets and lean against the wall outside Ebba’s door.
Checking my watch, I decide to give her another five minutes before I bang my fist on the door to make sure she’s okay.
Those five minutes will make her a total of fifteen minutes late.
Noah’s already sent me two texts to make sure everything is okay.
With a sigh, I run my fingers through my hair.
Requesting the room directly beside Ebba was a dangerous move on my part, but when she barely wants to look at me, let alone talk to me, I have to resort to drastic measures.
It’s been years since we were a couple, but there hasn’t been a single day in that time where I haven’t thought about her.
She might think she’s nothing to me, but it’s the furthest thing from the truth and after those few days at Noah’s house it’s made me realize that there will never be anyone in this world that I want as much as Ebba.
I have to at least try to win her heart back, or I’ll never forgive myself.
I check my watch again, genuine worry making my stomach queasy.
I have no doubt it would piss her off to know I worry about her in any way, but I can’t help it.
The door opens and relief floods my system.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” she curses, jumping back and quickly grabbing ahold of her cane when it begins to fall. “Why are you lurking there like some sort of Peeping Tom?”
“I wasn’t lurking,” I say defensively. Sliding my glasses up my nose, I wait for her to adjust her purse strap and shut the door.
She looks me up and down. “It sure looks like you are.”
“Let me take your purse,” I offer.
She waves away my hand, nearly swatting me in the process. “I’ve got it. You don’t need to hover, Fisher.”
I hold in my sigh as we walk down the hall to the elevator bay. If I was a smarter man I’d probably stop trying when it comes to her, but I’ve never been smart when it comes to Ebba Johnson.
“I’m not trying to hover.” I push the button for the elevator.
She cocks her head to the side, dark brown curls sliding over her shoulders. I itch to reach out and wrap my hand around the back of her neck and pull her in for a kiss, but I know that would most likely have me ending up with her fist in my face.
“Then what do you call what you’re doing? Considering my brother and Whimsy are on a different floor, as well as Noah and Sabrina, I’m assuming you requested a room by mine.”
“It was pure coincidence,” I lie.
“Liar,” she immediately calls me out with a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You forget how well I know you and your left eye twitches when you lie.”
I reach up, gently touching beneath my eye. “It does?”
She laughs—and even though I know she’s laughing at me, I count it as a win.
The doors slide open and we step on. I send a quick text to Noah that we’re on our way down.
“I didn’t mean to run late,” she says softly.
“It’ll be fine,” I assure her. “Noah will survive.”
In the lobby we find the two couples waiting for us by the fountain. I shoot a look Noah’s way and shake my head to keep my best friend from making a comment about Ebba’s lateness. I don’t want her to feel bad.
“The car should be here,” he says in a grated tone.
Sabrina laughs and lets him take her hand, dragging her along.
Whimsy and Elias fall into step behind the first couple which leaves me walking with Ebba.
“You don’t need to hang back with me. I know I’m slow. I’m fine, promise.”
I squint my eyes at her. “What if I want to hang back with you?”
She turns my way, eyes narrowed. “I don’t see the point. Nothing is ever going to happen between us again if that’s what you’re hoping for.”
My lips twitch and I scrub my hand over my jaw to hide my growing smile from her. “I’m not hoping.”
She bursts into laughter again. “Your left eye twitched again.”
“Maybe I just have allergies?” I counter, trying not to laugh too.
“In the desert?”
“Allergies exist everywhere. Even the desert.”
She laughs another time, and I find myself smiling and wondering how I can get her to laugh again, even if it’s at my expense.
Her laughter is my favorite sound in the world, and I haven’t heard it enough the past few months.
It’s a good thing her ex was already taken care of when I learned he attacked her and Whimsy or else I’d be in prison for killing the motherfucker for thinking he could put his hands on them.
Outside, the six of us pile into a waiting minivan. I end up in the front seat beside the driver, and despite having that seat I almost lose the meager contents of my stomach all over the guy because he drives like a maniac.
When the car pulls up outside another hotel, I can’t get out of the car fast enough. Noah laughs as he stumbles out and claps his hand on my back. “You okay, man?”
“I think we almost died twelve different times.”
His smile has his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Don’t be so dramatic. It was only like eight times.”
I chuckle and rub the back of my neck. “I’m not sure I can eat after all that.”
“You’ll be fine.” He takes Sabrina’s hand. “Don’t be a Debby Downer.”
I shake my head, surprised when Ebba comes to a stop beside me. “Are you okay?” The genuine concern in her dark gaze has something stirring inside me.
“I’ll survive,” I reply.
“I didn’t know you still got car sick so easily,” she comments as we follow behind the other two couples.
“It’s not as a bad as it used to be.” I shrug. “But that guy drove like a maniac.”
“He did,” she agrees.
When we’re seated at the restaurant, it’s natural that, again, Ebba and I end up next to each other. It’s not like the other couples are going to sit separate to keep us from having to be beside each other, which works to my advantage.
“What have you been up to?” I ask after drinks and small plates have been ordered.
Ebba turns to me, arching a brow. “Small talk—is this what we’re doing?”
“Why not?” I unfold my napkin and lay it in my lap. She makes me nervous, so it’s nice when I can do something with my hands.
The others are engrossed in conversation and not paying us a bit of mind, so I take a risk and scoot another inch closer to Ebba. Her eyes narrow on the movement, and she shakes her head.
“I never wanted to stop talking to you,” I remind her.
Her eyes close and she visibly swallows. “Can we not do this right now?”
“When?” I press. “When can we do it? I think we’re long overdue for an adult conversation about this, don’t you?”
Her shoulders curl inward. “Fisher, I…” Her lips scrunch. “I’m going to the restroom.” She shoves away from the table and silence descends as the rest of the table watches her go.
“Did you say something to upset my sister?” Elias asks in an accusing tone.
Ignoring him, I stand and adjust my sleeves. “I’m going to check on her.”
As I’m walking away, I hear Noah mutter, “What the fuck just happened?”
I find the restrooms easily enough and hang around near them so I can spot Ebba when she leaves.
She notices me and rolls her eyes, ready to ignore me and walk on by, but I plead, “Ebba, talk to me.”
“Why?” She slides her arms across her chest and looks me up and down.
“Don’t you think we owe it to ourselves?”
Her nose scrunches in obvious annoyance. “Maybe years ago, but not now.”
I take a chance and say, “You still feel something for me. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t still be so angry.”
Her eyes narrow. “You think I’m angry? I’m merely annoyed by your presence.”
“Sure,” I drawl. “Annoyance. That’s it. So, you’re saying you don’t miss me at all? That there’s not still some sort of attraction?”
Her eyes flick to my lips and hold for a solid two or three seconds before she makes eye contact again. “None.”
My smile is a slow spread on my lips. “Now who’s the liar?”
She lets out a huff and nearly smacks me in the face with her hair as she hurries back to the table.
“You didn’t deny it,” I taunt. My lips brush the shell of her ear when I pull out her chair.
“Shut up or I’ll stab you with my heel.”
“Promise?”
Her lips part in shock and I have to pull out my own chair to occupy my hands, so I don’t tap her chin. “You … you’re … ugh.”
“Glad to know I can still render you speechless.”
“Is everything okay?” Sabrina asks, taking a sip of wine. Since we were gone the glasses have been filled.
“Fantastic,” Ebba replies, flashing a smile and giving a thumb’s up.
Sabrina and Whimsy exchange a glance, their lips twitching with barely held laughter. I narrow my eyes on the two and swing my gaze to Ebba. She quickly grabs her glass of wine and takes a long sip, her eyes focusing anywhere but on me or the girls.
The rest of dinner is uneventful, and since the show Noah booked for everyone is within walking distance we head out on the strip.
It’s not my first time in Las Vegas, but I find that I might like the city even less than I have before.
It’s loud, and bright, and too chaotic for my tastes.
As much as I love my job, coaching and getting to travel to some of the most beautiful cities in the world, it’ll be nice to retire one day and just be able to relax at home.
The three girls walk ahead of us with their arms intertwined. Ebba’s on the right, using her cane to steady her gait, and the girls match their steps to hers.
“You’re about to get married,” I say to Noah. “How do you feel?”
The grin he wears is happiness personified.
“Like I could’ve married her yesterday,” he says. “I’m so fucking lucky she walked into my life."
“You weren’t saying that at first,” I point out.
He laughs. “That’s true. I was blinded by my own annoyance at life itself. But Sabrina is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me after everything.”
Sadness crosses his features before he hastily shakes it away.
Sobering he says, “What was up with you and Ebba and the whole bathroom thing?”
Elias chokes beside me and my own feet stumble at Noah’s sudden question.
I adjust my glasses, hoping he doesn’t notice the slight tremble in my fingers. “Nothing. Why?”
He shrugs. “Didn’t seem like nothing. You got a thing for her or something?”
Elias lets out another funny noise, and I shoot him a confused look.
“No. Of course not,” I reply.
And my damn left eye twitches.