Page 6 of Uniquely in Love

Her text was still unread on my phone.

Ellie Daisy

Are you coming?

I hadn’t even had the balls to open it.

Today, she graduated from college, but I’d been too much of a coward to go to the ceremony. Even if my little sister Penelope had also graduated today, and I’d promised I’d be here. My team didn’t make the playoffs, which meant our season was over. I didn’t have an excuse to hide anymore. To avoid seeingher.

“You’re twenty-four,” I muttered to myself. “You can dothis.” I was over it. It was fine. Really. I could see my ex again. The word was sour on my tongue, but that was what she was.

Stepping out of the car, I shoved my hands in my pockets as I looked up at the house that Daniel had built Charlotte. Unlike the rest of my family, I never called them aunt or uncle. Beau was one of my best friends, and my sister Penny was best friends with Ellie, but it had never feltright.

Maybe because she’d always felt likemine.

I leaned against the car. There were two packages on my front seat—a gift for my sister, and a bouquet of daisies for her.

As if summoned by my thoughts, the door opened, and my mouth went dry. There she was. Dressed in a light blue sundress, her honey blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders in light curls.

Ellie Bradford.

Beautiful as ever. Maybe even more beautiful, if that was possible. Only now, she wasn’t mine.

“Hey, Skater Girl.” I don’t know who moved first. Only that I was catching her as she launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and burying her face in my neck.

“Hi, Hockey Boy,” she murmured against my skin.

Four years I’d been avoiding this. But I was home.

I set her back down on her feet. “Happy graduation.”

“You’re here,” she whispered.

“Promised I would be, didn’t I?” I’d made that promise a long time ago, though, before things changed.

She looked at her bare feet. “I didn’t know…” Ellie‘s voice trailed off.

“Yeah. I know.” I hadn’t known either. Not until today. “Ellie…”

She shook her head. “Can we just… go inside? I can’t do this now.”

“Yeah.” My voice was hoarse. “Let me just grabsomething,” I said, turning back to my car. I scooped the gifts out, watching as her eyes widened as she caught sight of the flowers.

“Are those…”

“Daisies. Yeah.” I nodded, handing her the bouquet. “For you.”

“Thank you.” She buried her nose, inhaling the scent.

I followed her inside, the entire room of my family bursting to life as soon as I walked through the door.

“Hey, everyone.” I waved, grinning as all the guys stood up to hug me and slap my back.

There was a wide spread of food on the kitchen counter, something I was sure my mom and Ellie’s had spent multiple hours baking and prepping for. They’d always loved throwing parties ever since we were little, though I suspected it was mostly just an excuse for our four moms to sit around and gossip or talk about the romance novels they’d read.

“Owen!” A redhead dressed in a yellow sundress came rushing towards me, a grin on her freckled face.

“Hi, Pen,” I said, grinning at my younger sister. All of us kids were tight, especially since we were all close in age, but she and I had always been thick as thieves. We fought, but she was also the one who would cheer me up when I was feeling down. I’d do the same for her, of course. I was her fiercest protector, always making sure no guys at school were going to mess with my sister. “Sorry I’m late.”

---