Page 13 of Never Tear Us Apart

Ellery

Once Cruz’s friends show themselves out, I press my elbows into the counter and bring both hands to my head, blowing out a tense breath. If I thought seeing Cruz yesterday had knocked me for a loop, that was nothing compared to what just happened.

Finding four guys standing in my living room made me nearly pee my pants. It took me a moment to realize it wasn’t a deranged murderer, but Cruz and his friends. Although, if I’m being honest, I would have preferred a murderer because I didn’t like the way Cruz made me feel like I’d taken a knife to the gut.

Last night when I suggested to Jenica that we watch scary movies and play drinking games, I thought it was the perfect way to ease all the angst and emotion seeing Cruz had stirred. But as the night wore on I realized it was going to take more than a few drinks because seeing him again had rocked me to the core.

Cruz wasn’t just someone I’d had a crush on once. He was the one.Myone. And everything I felt for him that summer had been real. Didn’t matter he was eighteen and about to leave for college, and I was sixteen, and going to be a junior in high school. There was something powerful between us and I wanted him to be my first and only.

If time is what it would have taken for us to be together I would have waited. But as long as our parents were together, there was no way Cruz and I could be. He was adamant about that and said I was better off with someone who wouldn’t make my life more complicated. But I didn’t want just anyone and seeing him yesterday only reminded me just how visceral thatdesire still was.

Honestly, I was proud of myself for managing to make it through an entire conversation without asking him why he hadn’t called or written because the moment I saw those blue eyes of his, that’s all I wanted to do. Hell, I even made it through what just happened without asking him why he caredwhatI did last night or in the future. In fact, that sexy little muscle tick in his jaw told mehewas the one that was close to losing it, not me.

Looking over my shoulder to see if the coffee is done, I straighten with alarm when I see smoke coming from the coffee maker. Rushing over, I switch the button to off and fan the smoke, trying to figure out what’s wrong. It’s then I realize I didn’t add water.

I remove the pot, checking to make sure everything is okay, before filling it and then returning it back to the maker, and pressing brew again.

Once it’s done I make myself a cup, just the way I like, and take a sip. It’s warm and bold and probably not the best thing for my unsettled stomach, but it eases my nerves and hangover, and that’s what I need right now.

As I enjoy my French roast, I find myself cooking up ways to make Cruz’s life miserable this summer. A little retribution for my anxious, yet once broken heart. I could mess with his grocery delivery. Maybe even play with the AC in the Deveraux place. I could only imagine how pissed off he’d be, sitting around in a sweltering house during the epic heat we’re having.

Then again, the idea of Cruz sitting around in nothing more than swim trunks or better yet, nothing at all, didn’t exactly paint a bad picture in my mind. He’d only gotten better looking since I last saw him and his friends weren’t too hard on the eyes, either.

Maybe I could find ways to run into them and flirt with his friends, like the one who was staring at me earlier. I’m sure Cruzwould love that, considering he was obviously still territorial as hell. One thing wrong with that idea, however, was I didn’t have the heart to pretend to be interested in anyone else because I’d never been enamored by anyone, the way I was him.

I’m halfway through my coffee, ticking through all the ways I could make him miserable when the phone rings. Picking up the cordless from its cradle on the counter, I smile when I hear Jenica’s voice on the other end.

“You’ll never believe who’s here,” she says excitedly.

“Tom Cruise?” I ask while padding into the family room, coffee in hand. “No wait, Bruce Willis?”

“You’re half right,” she says excitedly as I sink down into one of the oversized chairs by the window. “It’s a cruise, all right, but not Tom. Yours. And he has three friends with him that aren’t at all my type, including this one—”

“What’s he doing there?” I cut her off.

Jenica’s parents ownedMiller’s, a grocery store at the end of town. With those on Main Street catering to tourists, with prices to match, those who lived in Cherry Cove shopped at the places owned and run by the locals.

“Well.” She lowers her voice, and I can tell by the rustling coming over the line, she’s cupped the phone with her hand so no one can hear what she’s saying. “Apparently they’re throwing a party and you know what that means.”

“You’re about to be out of beer and chips?” I take another sip of coffee.

“No,” she drawls. “That tonight is your chance to bait Royce.”

“How do you figure?” I ask, slightly confused.

“Didn’t you say Royce worshiped Cruz in high school?”

“Yeah….and?”

“Well, he wouldn’t miss a chance to stick his nose up his ass. He’ll be there and it’s the perfect chance to get closer to him.”

I tap my nail against the phone, thinking about the idea.

“Earth to Elle,” Jenica’s voice comes over the line. “You there?”

“Sorry, just thinking.”

“About?”

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