Chapter 9
nine
ROWAN
Ellie sings to Celine Dion as it blares through the speakers–I feel the vibration near my leg. She attempts to hit the high notes, and I applaud her for her effort, no matter how terrible. She always did this when she was about to do something that made her nervous, and I am very okay with watching this performance. It always puts me in a better mood. It’s great entertainment. My own private concert.
After breakfast, we went to pick up her car at the brewery, and she offered to drive. My head is literally touching the car ceiling. I put the seat back as far as it would go, and my knees still hit the glove compartment. Of course, I’m not going to complain and say anything because this is her car, and it works for her. Being tiny and all.
She’s been back home for one day, and it’s like a breath of fresh air. When I’m with her, I worry less about work, my anxiety, Mom, Addie. She takes all those stresses in my life and tucks them away into a jar she hides from me.
As we pull up in the driveway of her parent's house, she shuts off the engine and slumps into her car seat. I reach for the door handle to get out, but Ellie doesn’t move.
“You ready?” I ask.
Ellie glances at me, and the corner of her lip tugs upward slightly. Her eyes look clear, but there’s still so much pain behind them that all I want to do is take it away and tuck it into the same jar with all my problems. Her eyes break away from mine, and she looks down at her ring. The sound of the metal circling over and over can put someone in a trance. Her teeth pull at her bottom lip, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. The space around us fills with her anxiety, trying to suffocate her.
I grab her hand to pull her attention away from her own thoughts. “It’s going to be fine,” I say quietly, letting a small smile escape me. “I’m going to be right next to you the entire time. I know your mom can be… a little over the top?—”
“A little over the top? Remember sophomore year during homecoming? She decked out the house in balloons and flowers when I told her I was having everyone meet at our house for photos. She spent a week making sure that the colors of the balloons matched the theme of homecoming. She called the principal for the colors, Rowan.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“We were only there for ten minutes,” she exclaims and lets out a laugh.
“It’ll be fine,” I reassure her before opening my door and getting out of the car.
My muscles are screaming as my body stretches from being cramped in the car. The time it takes to drive from the brewery to her house is less than ten minutes, but my neck feels like it took an hour to get there as I stretch it from side to side.
Opening the back door, I grab Ellie’s suitcase and shut the car door. Ellie, “ Ms. Do It All Herself,” tries grabbing it from me. I pull the suitcase away from her and put it behind my back, carrying it from the strap instead of using the wheels on the ground.
“I got it,” I say sternly.
Ellie puts her hands up and backs away. “Whatever you say, muscle man.”
“Muscle man?” I arch a brow.
“You’re carrying that thing like it’s one pound.” She points to it.
“It’s really not that heavy at all.” I show off and lift it above my head like it’s nothing. My workout consists of lifting bags of barley that are almost two hundred pounds.
“Considering you carry around bags of grain every day at the brewery, I’m not surprised. You’ve gained some muscles. Have you ever thought about modeling near your brewing machines? That would be a great advertisement for you.” She crosses her arms, eyeing me from top to bottom
“Look, if you want me to toss you over my shoulders, just say the word, El.” I give her a wink, and her jaw drops.
She looks around, making sure we’re alone, before looking at me, “Rowan Williams, don’t you dare even attempt to toss me over your shoulder.”
The corner of my mouth tugs up, tilting my head to the side while I eye her up and down. “Alright, stop stalling and let’s go.” I jerk my head toward the front of the house.
“I’m not stalling. I just complimented you on your physique. Take the compliment.”
“I’ll take the compliment when you step through the front door.” I place my hand on top of her head, leading her toward the front steps.
The pinks, purples, and blues of hydrangeas come into view, bursting from the front porch. The scent of honey surrounds us when we walk up the stairs. Ellie stops in front of the door, and her finger hovers over the doorbell. She hesitates before pushing the button and we hear the loud chime from inside the house echoing.
My brows pinch together in questioning. “Why are you ringing the doorbell?”
“I don’t know!” she exclaims, “I panicked. I should have just walked inside. I know they leave this door unlocked, even though they shouldn’t.”
“This isn’t New York, Ellie.”
She glares at me and says, “You would lock your doors too if you’ve seen what I’ve seen. Now zip it.” She turns back toward the white door.
The large lavender wreath bounces on the door when it swings open, and we’re greeted by August. His smokey blue eyes go comically wide, and his lips pull into a grin of excitement. He’s coated in sweat and looks like he just came from a run.
“Holy shit!” August yells out.
August pushes the screen door open and grabs Ellie into his arms, enveloping her tightly. He pulls her off the ground, squeezing her. If you were to meet them for the first time, you’d think August is the big brother when he stands next to Ellie.
“Oof, you just cracked my back,” Ellie grunts as he sets her down. “Thanks.” She smiles up at him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” August asks excitedly while pushing his round glasses back up his nose.
“I’m… uh, well, I guess I’m home for the summer?” Her words trail off as a question, and the corners of her mouth tug up slightly in an awkward smile. “Surprise,” she says, raising her hands to her sides.
August’s dark eyebrow arches, and a wicked smirk pulls at his lips. He places his hands on his hips. “Did you warn mom?”
Ellie sucks some air through her teeth, the awkward smile still playing along her lips.
August’s shoulders bounce as he laughs. “Oh, this will be fun.”
He looks past Ellie and sees me with a suitcase. “Rowan.” August nods, still smiling at me. “I’m assuming you’re here to soften the blow?”
I shrug. “You know how much your mom loves me.”
Ellie turns to look at me with a deadpan expression.
I laugh, throwing my free hand out in questioning. “What?”
She turns and looks at August. Her brother looks at us, smiling, and turns around to walk back into the house.
“Ooh, Mom! Dad! I have a surprise for you!” August shouts gleefully.
Ellie looks over her shoulder to me again, her head falling back. I place a hand on her lower back, gently guiding her in as she groans.