Chapter 16
Ellie
After having a snack in the food court, Bri and I talk while we are using the restroom.
She just finished telling me how much she really likes Cole.
I’m thrilled to hear this from her after how much she didn’t like Jason.
It is like a weight lifted off my shoulders because I don’t think I could go through another relationship where she doesn’t like the guy I’m with.
Her opinion means a lot to me, especially now that we live close again and will be spending time together.
I’d like to think Cole will stick around, so being able to have all of us get along is important to me.
We walk around the corner, back to the food court where the guys are, and the first thing I see is a woman all over Cole.
“Are you kidding me?” I say. She has her hand on his arm and is smiling at him, clearly flirting.
I glance to Jordan, and just as I do, he glances up and sees us.
I see him say what looks like “fuck” and jump up and come to us.
I glance back at Cole, and he’s turning around and sees me.
Guilt is written all over his face. Of course, he was loving the attention until I came back.
I turn around and start walking away. I will not allow myself to be hurt by him. Jason hurt me enough; I’m not going to let Cole do it too.
Jordan catches up with us. “Ellie, wait. It seriously isn’t what it looks like. I promise you.”
“So, I didn’t just see some woman’s hands all over him?” I ask.
“Well, yes. I mean, you did. Cole wants nothing to do with her though. I swear.”
“Yeah, OK. Whatever. I saw what I saw, Jordan.”
“I promise you, Ellie. You mean the world to him. That woman means absolutely nothing to him. I don’t even think he remembers her name if I’m being honest. Just please give him a chance to explain himself. I swear, she is no one important.”
Cole finally reaches us, and I just glare at him.
“Ellie, please. I know that didn’t look good, but it wasn’t what it looked like. Can we go out to the car and talk about this alone? Please. Please don’t run away from me right now.”
I stand there for a minute, debating, before reluctantly I nod. Jordan and Bri say they are going to go walk around while Cole and I go out to the car to talk.
We get into the car, and we are both quiet for a moment before he finally speaks up.
“I hooked up with her a while back. It was a one-night thing, ever since then I see her around at random places and she tries to talk to me, but we were only ever together that one time. Every time I see her, she’s all over me like that.
I swear to you she means nothing to me. I can’t even tell you her name, that’s how little she meant.
I was trying to get her away from me and was about to tell her I have a girlfriend to get her to leave me the fuck alone.
Of course, you walk in just as I’m about to tell her.
I know it probably didn’t look like that, but I promise you. ”
We sit there for a minute in silence as I think about what he said. I picture the moment in my head, trying to see it the way he’s telling me.
“Please believe me, Ellie Girl. You mean everything to me, you have since the night we met. While I was trying to get her to go away, all I could think was how I needed to get her away so I could ask you to really be my girlfriend. I really, really like you, Ellie. I hate that I fucked this up again.”
I glance up at him. I can see in his face how sincere he is being. “I don’t allow cheating,” I say finally.
“Good, you shouldn’t. I would never do that to you, Ellie. You are perfect. I would never do anything to risk losing you.”
“Jason cheated on me. I walked in and found him fucking some random woman on our bed.”
He stares at me, seemingly unsure what to say for a moment. Finally, he speaks. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Ellie. I would never do that to you. But I will say, even though that asshole hurt you, I’m glad he fucked up, because that’s what brought you to me.”
I look up at him again. “I’m sorry I thought the worst of you.”
“It’s OK, Ellie Girl. I’m sure it didn’t look good. I’m sorry for my past mistakes.” He laughs lightly.
“Can I tell you something?” I ask him.
“Of course.”
“I really like you too,” I say, smiling. He looks into my eyes, grabs my face, and kisses me.
“Will you be my girlfriend now?” he asks, grinning ear to ear.
“Yes.” I smile and kiss him again.
“How about we go get some dinner?”
“That sounds good. I’ll text Bri and let her know we are ready.”
Cole
We are out eating dinner, and I am on top of the world.
After Ellie saw that woman’s hands all over me, I really thought she would be done with me for good.
But thankfully she let me have the time to explain what really happened, and I now have the most amazing girlfriend who is pregnant with my baby. I can’t stop staring at her.
“Bro, take a picture. It’ll last longer,” Jordan says, breaking me out of my thoughts of Ellie. He and Bri start laughing, and Ellie’s cheeks turn bright pink.
“Fuck off, dude. I’m happy,” I say, smiling at Ellie’s blushing.
“Yeah, I know, man. It looks good on you. I just gotta fuck with you a little,” he says, and I can see how genuine he is being.
We spend the rest of dinner having easy conversations together.
I really am the happiest man alive. Not only did Ellie and our future child fall perfectly into my life, but there is even room for her best friend too.
Last night when I found out about our baby, I decided it’s time for Ellie to meet my mother.
She might not be happy to find out Ellie is pregnant already, but I know she will love Ellie as much as I do.
If not more. That’s when I realize, oh shit, I’m in love.
Ellie places her hand on my arm, breaking me out of my thoughts again. “Hey, you all right?” she asks.
“I’m perfect.” I smile at her.
“You’ve just been really quiet.”
“I’ve just been thinking. I would like to take you to meet my mother.”
“You want me to meet your mom?” Her eyes go wide.
“Uh, yeah, I think that this week sometime would be great.”
“If you are sure you are ready for that, we can set something up.”
“If I’m sure? What does that mean?” Why wouldn’t I want them to meet?
“Just it’s kind of soon, but if you want me to, I will,” she says hesitantly.
“Ellie, you are having my baby. I don’t think this is too soon,” I say with a laugh.
“OK, if you are sure,” she says again, clearly still unsure about meeting my mother.
“Oh, you are going to love Ms. S!” Jordan exclaims, butting into our conversation. All my friends love my mom. She has always treated all of them like they are her own.
“And she will love you,” I tell her. I almost tell her I love her too, but I want to do that when we are alone, so I hold it back.
“Well, are we all ready to leave?” I ask as I pay for our bill, and everyone agrees.
We drop Jordan and Bri off at their houses, and we’re on our way to Ellie’s place. “Would you want to spend the night at my place tonight? We can stop by your place and get whatever stuff you need,” I say.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” she says, smiling at me.
Twenty minutes later she comes walking out of her bedroom rolling the biggest suitcase I’ve ever seen and two other small bags.
“Not that I don’t want you to, but are you planning on spending more than one night, Ellie Girl?”
And she looks at me, confused.
“That’s like two weeks’ worth of stuff you’ve packed there.”
“Oh. I mean, yeah, there are a few extra things in here that I might not actually need. I like to pack extras in case I have a change of heart on what I want to wear. It’s really not that much more …
I guess I could leave some of this … You are right, I don’t need all this,” she rambles as she heads back to her room.
“Ellie. Stop.”
She freezes and turns to me.
I walk up to her and grab the bags. “It’s fine. Bring what you need. I was just joking. Hell, you can bring everything in your apartment if you really want to.”
She is staring at me with her wide eyes again.
“You know what, you should bring all your stuff to my place and leave it all there permanently.”
I didn’t think it was possible, but her eyes grow even wider. “What are you saying right now?” she asks.
“Move in with me.”
“What?” she yells and starts laughing. She walks away from me and sits on the couch.
I sit beside her. “I’m being serious, Ellie. Move in with me.”
“You are not asking me to move in with you right now. We just officially got together.”
“Although that’s true, you are also already having my baby.”
“Oh, no you don’t. You don’t get to drag my peanut into this.”
That just brings a smile to my face. Her peanut?
I reach my hand over to cover her stomach.
“That’s our peanut, Ellie Girl.” And I kiss her on the cheek.
“How about you come spend the night tonight and then the rest of the week? Then on Friday we can discuss this over dinner after spending a few days together.”
She nods.
“And then that’s when you can tell me I was so smart to ask you to move in with me,” I say, smiling at her, and when she rolls her eyes, I kiss her. “Let’s go, Ellie Girl, you are coming home!” I stand up. I grab her bags and walk toward the door.