Page 36 of Uniquely in Love

She winced. “Oh, well, I’m teaching in Bellevue. I wanted to be closer to the school, but I had to find something I could afford on my salary, so I’m a little farther out. It’s okay though. I rented a small apartment, and it’ll be fine. It’s just for this year, anyway.”

It certainly didn’t sound fine. And what wasa littlefarther out?I wasn’t her dad, or her brother, though. Being this overprotective wouldn’t serve me well. And what did she mean by it was just for this year? Would she be going back to Portland after that?

A frown covered my face, and she bit her lip. “What?”

“You said one night.” My voice was low. I didn’t know how else to bring it up. Were we ever going to talk about it? I’d left because I had to. Because she’d left me once before, and the idea of her kicking me out had felt like a punch in the gut. “But you’re here.”

Ellie nodded. “I know.”

Right, then. I took a deep breath, forcing the words out. “I think we should try to be friends again. Like we were before.”

She frowned. “Before?”

“Yes. Before we dated.”

“Oh.” Her face fell.

Fuck, I was an asshole.

Of course, she wouldn’t want to be friends. I’d fucked her and then left in the middle of the night. What was I thinking? Sure, we’d always be connected by our families, but maybe that was all we’d ever have anymore.

Maybe that was all I deserved.

No matter how much I wanted Ellie Bradford again, I couldn’t have her.

Not anymore.

TWELVE

Ellie

THEN

Sophomore Year

Inever imagined how it would feel watching Owen’s high school graduation ceremony, knowing that in a few months, everything would change.

That he’d be leaving.

It felt so unfair that we were together, but we’d be forced apart so soon. Long distance wouldn’t be easy, but he was only going to Washington for college, so at least he wouldn’t be on the east coast. Seattle had added a D1 college team recently, and they’d recruited him to play. Plus, the NHL draft was at the end of this month, and this was his first time being eligible. I knew someone would snatch him up. After all, I’d spent countless hours watching him at the rink. I knew he could do this. I wouldn’t have encouraged him to pursue his dreams so hard if I didn’t think he could make it. We all did.

Every step towards a future for him just felt like he was leaving me in the past. I hated being two grades behind him. The age difference suddenly felt sobig.

This fall, I’d be in my junior year ofhigh school and he’d be a freshman in college. I wouldn’t be able to ride in with him to school anymore, or hold his hand as we walked through the hallways. We certainly wouldn’t be able to sneak kisses at the ice rink in between practices when we thought no one was looking.

Everything was about to change, and I was trying to remind myself that it was okay. In two years, I’d start college too, and I’d already planned on attending the same school as him. And after he graduated, if he was in the NHL, we’d make it work. We had to. We wereEllie & Owen, after all—inseparable since birth. He was my friend before he’d ever been my boyfriend. Probably my best friend besides Penny.

Owen walked across the stage in his graduation gown, accepting his diploma from the Principal before heading back to his seat. He looked over at where we were sitting—me, next to Penelope and his parents and gave me a big, dopey grin before blowing me a kiss. I blushed, too embarrassed to blow him one back with all of our family sitting near me.

On the other side of me was Aunt Angelina, Uncle Benjamin, and their daughter Lucy, who was still in elementary school. Their twins, Zachary and Wesley, were also graduating today. We were having one massive graduation party later today at the Sullivan house, complete with a barbecue and a pool party.

I’d never complain about a chance to relax in their pool while we all hung out. I loved my cousins, even if things got a little crazy with all nine of us. Plus our parents, extended family, and friends.

Owen’s cousins Avery and Amelia were also coming to the party later today, though they were both younger than me, so I wasn’t as close with them. His aunt Tessa was a big Hollywood star, and their family would often live part of the year down in LA when she was filming something and the rest at home in Portland.

Aunt Angelina and Uncle Benjamin’sboss, Nicolas, would be here with his wife, Zofia, and their two kids, Alexander and Bianca. Alex was the same age as Abigail, while Bee was a few months older than me. We didn’t go to the same school, but I still saw her often. She was a singer and a dancer, and I hadn’t been surprised at all when she’d announced her intentions of attending Julliard once she graduated high school. If anyone could do it, she could. Plus, the Larsens were two of the most supportive parents I’d ever met—besides my own.

The ceremony dragged to a close. I hadn’t been paying much attention, too busy thinking about the party and seeing everyone to focus on what anyone was saying. And then we were heading outside, waiting under the shade of the trees for our graduates to find us.

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