Chapter 13
Ella
Eleven years ago
It’s almost midnight; the weather is warm for October. I pull into the field, the monster-sized fire up ahead casting a glow that lights up the faces of Jesse’s buddies. All their trucks are parked in a loose circle around the bonfire.
I don’t even see Jesse until I get out. He’s laid up on the hood of his truck, someone else beside him. Mitch, or maybe it’s Jake? It’s too dark to tell for sure. The other guys scattered around are talking, laughing, and drinking beer. The smell of cigarette smoke hits me as I get closer.
“Jesse,” I call out. There’s a tightness in my voice. I’m not thrilled to be here considering I was just going to bed and it’s late.
He picks his head up to see me. “Ellaaa, hello beautiful.”
I can hear it in his voice right away, the way he drew my name out. A surge of anger races through me. He didn’t say he was drunk, just that he had more than he felt safe driving home after.
“Jesse Lee—” I start, but a loud thud interrupts and it’s followed by a groan.
He fell off the hood of his truck. Everyone, besides me, laughs.
I cross my arms. “ It’s not funny.”
He stands up. “You’re not the drunk one.”
“Get in the car,” I demand.
“I’ll do whatever you say. Like a soldier. Yes, ma’am, commander!” He salutes.
“Jesse! Shut up! You’re going to be in so much trouble!” My teeth gritted, I smack him in the arm.
“No, I’m not. I’m gonna go home and go to sleep and feel better in the morning.” He shrugs.
“Do you not remember what a hangover feels like?!”
“Nope.”
“Oh, you just wait!”
“I’m waiting,” he says, opening my car door.
As I’m getting my seatbelt on, he rests his hand on my face and pushes my hair back behind my ear.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re pretty. I love you,” he mumbles.
“Yeah, you better.”
“I really do. Even more than beer.”
“Wow. How romantic,” I mutter and swat his wandering, curious hand away.
When I get him back to his house, we don’t even make it to the back door before he throws up again. He already threw up once on the way here. Which I can handle. I want to be a nurse for crying out loud, I better be able to handle it.
I finally get him upstairs. He doesn’t know how to be quiet—his boots make his footsteps sound like there’s a stampede coming.
At this point, I’m just waiting for someone to come out into the hall.
My bet is on Mason or Maureen. They have ears like a dog.
Speaking of dogs, why on earth didn’t they go nuts when we snuck in?
I slowly shut his bedroom door. Jesse sits on his bed and kicks his boots off, letting them clomp onto the floor. He is clueless.
“Jesse, why aren’t the dogs barking?” I whisper.
“’Cause they know it’s just us.”
“But—”
“Lay with me.” He grabs my waist and pulls me down on top of him.
“No. Babe, no. I need to get out of here before I get in trouble. I’m not allowed up here.”
“You’re not gonna get in trouble. I’ll protect you.”
“No, I have to leave.” I laugh and push myself up off him.
“But will I see you tomorrow?”
“Probably, as long as your parents don’t—”
“Jesse.” His mom’s voice sounds through his door and my body goes numb. “Ella? I know you’re in there too,” she adds calmly.
My heart beats faster, feeling as if it’s going to explode. I walk over and open the door. Maureen is in her pajamas, glasses on her face, hair pulled back.
“I just drove him home,” I spit out.
“I know. I watched you pull up.” She walks past me. “Jesse, what are you thinking?”
“Right now?” he asks, and I close my eyes. This oughta be good.
“Yes, right now!”
“That beer tastes better going down than coming up.”
“Oh, Lord,” I mutter, and Maureen crosses her arms at him. If you look closely, you can see fire coming from her ears.
She turns to me. “Ella, thank you for driving him home, but you should go.” She points me to the door.
“Okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was drinking that much tonight.”
“Don’t worry. This is all on him, not you. Okay?”
I nod and see myself out. He’s definitely going to regret this in the morning. His dad’s going to give him hell. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t drag him up to the front pew in church tomorrow and make him sit there by himself.