Page 139 of Reconciling With the Rival

Ella: My friends are. I’ll be fine, Leo.

Leo: Okay. Thank you, again.

Ella: Stop thanking me, weirdo.

42

Does That Mean I Won?

Two Weeks Later

Leaving England has provendifficult. I knew it would be, that it would be as bad as last time, if not worse, and it was.

Alissa and I almost missed our flight because we couldn't bear to go, but my parents insisted everything would be fine. We flew back the day after Christmas, and we’ve talked to our parents every day since to check in. Thankfully, there’s a plan in place to minimize the risk of another stroke. I think the family conversation we had helped. We told him how scared weall were, and when he woke up, he was surprised to see us in England, as if we wouldn't have dropped everything to see him.

But he finally agreed to the plan. He’s on the road to recovery with a physical therapist, and since we left, our parents have called every single day with updates. It’s nice still feeling like a family even from two different continents.

Alissa and I also got tested for my dad’s condition while we were at the hospital since it’s a genetic condition. Neither of us was positive, thank fuck. It feels good knowing, but I was definitely terrified to get the results back.

I could have used a hand to hold, but the only one I wanted in mine was back in the States.

Which is where I am now. I’m back in my flat, trying to fucking sleep, but I can’t, and it’s all her fucking fault.

I’ve seen her at work the two days I’ve been back, and all we’ve done is speak in passing. It’s like every single time I want to talk to her about something more, she shuts me down. I get it; we’re in a professional setting, and Brody is always lurking around every corner, but she even turned down offers to talk outside of work.

She always has some sort of excuse ready.

Ella is officially avoiding me, and if I had to describe a feeling it’s comparable to, it would be like being shot in the face.

I miss her fight. I miss watching her eyes narrow at me when I piss her off. I miss watching the wheels in her head turn with whatever comeback she has for me.

Now, it’s like we’re strangers who only coexist in the office. I have to pretend I don’t know all the little things I know about her. I have to pretend I don’t know all her orders from the places we used to eat. I have to pretend I don’t know her matcha order from the place she loves—an iced matcha with two pumps of vanilla and oat milk. I have to forget she sleeps with her favorite books on the stand next to her bed so they’re always close. I haveto forget the way she furrows her brows when she starts to get pissed off at me, the way she giggles over her favorite fucking romance books.

I have to pretend like I don't know what her lips feel like on mine.

I miss the way her cheeks used to flush when I called her by her name—or the nickname that slips out every once in a while. I have to pretend my guarded heart I used to keep under lock and key wasn't completely demolished by Ella, and that I never want that wall back up.

I have to fucking talk to her. I need to tell her all this shit, or I might explode.

She even infuriates me when she won’t talk to me, and that’s how I know she’s the only one for me. The girl won’t leave my bloody mind, despite my many efforts to rid her from it.

Now, I never want her gone. I want her by my side, in my bed, and even after I claim her as mine, I want us to argue and fight. I want it all with her; I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.

Most of all, I want to know she feels the same way I do, right now. I think she does, but I won’t be sure of it until I talk to her.

I swing my legs out of bed, grab some actual clothes and throw them on, uncaring if they match or look good, before I grab my keys and hop in my car.

It’s almost midnight, so the roads are empty, and as I’m about to pull into their complex, I dial her number.

I’m afraid I’m going to get her voicemail until her voice filters through my phone.

“Leo?”

God, the way she says my name should be illegal. “I’m glad you’re awake.” I park my car in their lot and head to their place. I know my sister is home, so we’ll have to be quiet about this, but I can’t go another night without knowing how Ella feels about me.

We’ve been dancing around one another for too long, and I’m tired of it.

“Um, why?”

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