Page 103 of Reconciling With the Rival

“He’s okay. Smiling through the pain like always,” I tell him. Grant is one of the most positive people I know, Paige too. Those two could smile through anything, and I don’t know how they do it.

He was in the hospital for four days while they monitored his kidney function and made sure his body was doing alright, and when he finally left, it was on crutches.

They haven’t gone to work since the crash, and I don’t know how long Hads is going to be able to not work. I’ve offered to help in any way I can, but Grant keeps telling us he’ll be fine if Hads has to go back to work.

Jacks even offered to stop working so he could be there for him, and Grant declined.

There are some stubborn fucking men in our group—Leo included. He might be the worst of all of them.

“Did he get my fruit basket?” Leo asks me, and I nod.

“Yes, he did,” I laugh. “He wouldn't stop talking in an accent after he found out it was from you.”

Leo chuckles, knowing first hand Grant would do that.

“How is hereallydoing? Car accidents are no joke. There’s no way he’s this chipper all the time.”

I sigh heavily, unsure how to answer that question. “Grant uses humor to deflect from his pain, so I don’treallyknow how he feels. All of us were fucking freaked when Hads got the call. It was a tough night, but he practically woke up joking.”

“And how are you? Still trying to take care of everyone else before yourself?”

I scoff, knowing he’s one thousand percent right. I don’t want to admit he knows something about me. That’s not the type of relationship we have. We bicker and argue and fuck sometimes, but he doesn't get to dive into who I am underneath the surface. He doesn't get to know that version of me.

“I don’t do that,” I lie.

“Come on, Ella. It’s what you always do when someone you love is in trouble.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I told you before that I see you, Williams.” He takes a bite of his food. “The night we all went out in costumes. You dropped everything in the middle of that dance floor when you heard Paige needed help.”

“I guess I didn't expect you to notice,” I tell him as I take a sip of water.

“Just because you don’t expect it from me doesn't mean I’m not capable of it.” He looks into my eyes when he says it, and I hate that my body heats under his stare. There’s just something about the way he looks at me. He almost looks like he’s trying to work through a puzzle in his head, and I hold all the answers he needs.

I don’t like it.

“You never answered my question,” he tells me.

“I’m fine, Leo.”

“You’re lying to me, Ella. Why won’t you tell me the truth for once?”

I put my plate back on the table. “Because we don’t do this!”

“Do what?”

“Talk about our feelings! This isn't us, and it's creeping me out.”

He throws his head back and laughs at me.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Only you could turn a nice conversation into some sort of argument, Ella. I know why you do it now. It’s a defense mechanism.”

What?“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is. Every time anyone asks you about your true feelings, you either change the subject, or with me, you go right to arguing.” He stands from his chair, throwing the remains of his food in the garbage before he sits down. “Why don’t you want to tell me? Are you afraid I’m going toactuallybe a prick and say something rude back to you?”

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