Page 97 of Ellie Hayes and the Himbos
Alistair blinks, lips pressing into a line. After another beat of my wretched silence, he stands. He shakes his head, disappointment clear in each side-to-side movement. “Then I guess you never really knew him. Because if you did, you’d never believe that you’d ever have to ask.”
35
“ABSOLUTELY NOT,” I SAY,retreating to the back door. “Nope. No thank you.”
“Ellie Hayes, don’t youdare,” Babs calls after me.
I turn back around. The entire Coffee Coup has assembled in the backyard. They’re dressed to work out, which was what I was hoping to do after Diego knocked on my door, inviting me to try a kettlebell set Grant wanted to test. It had been a ruse.
I level a glare at my roommates. Grant and Diego look appropriately abashed, though Alistair raises his head, defiant.Traitors.But while my roommates are at least impressionable enough to consider forgiving, Heather and Mark, who are also here, should really know better.
Heather raises a shoulder. “You’re not the only one who can activate a phone tree.”
Fine.I focus all my ire on Mark; he always breaks first, anyway.
“We haven’t shared any business that isn’t ours to share. But…” His shrug conveys some degree of remorse at least. “Come on, Ellie. We’re worried about you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Babs scoffs, hands on her hips. “We’re here for some evening kettlebells. So, I propose that we start moving these weights, and if Ellie decides to explain why she thinks she can simply vanish into the ether at the same time that Ian transforms into a complete ogre? Well! We’ll just turn down the music to listen.”
Helen frowns at her. “An ogre? Really?”
“He’s been grumpy,” offers Russ. “Mostly, he looks miserable. Lots of moping.”
I am dying to know more. But I’m not giving in to their manipulation so easily. I turn to Grant. “We warming up or what?”
“He misses you,” Helen whispers. I check my watch; she made it a whole four minutes.
I pivot my curtsy lunges to the opposite direction. It puts me face-to-bug-eyed-face with Bleu Cheese the Frenchie, who Jacob is using as a weight.
I scratch the dog’s chin and smile at his owner. “Thanks again for taking care of matting and mounting all those clippings,” I say, to get ahead of anything he might have on deck for me. “They look amazing. Are you sure the petty cash covered it?”
“I was happy to do it,” he blurts. “Firehouse means so much to me, and I think you did such a beautiful job. What you’ve done for the gym, and how Ian—”
I pivot again. This time I’m facing Maggie. She raises her brows.
Nope.
I’m about to circle back to my starting point when Grant callstime. The Coffee Coup spreads out, choosing from the kettlebells we have on hand and deciding who’s going to share which weights.
“I’m looking forward to these endorphins,” I tell Diego, because he’s the only person in the vicinity not actively watching me for some sort of performance.
“That’s good! Because… endorphins make you happy! And I like for you to be happy.” His eyes are wide and imploring. “And… for Ian to be happy?”
“Oh, Diego, I—”
The music cuts off suddenly.
Babs stands beside Grant. She’s taken his phone, her finger on the green Pause button dominating the screen. “Oh, I’m sorry. Ellie, dear, were you about to say something?”
Anger lashes through me. This is stupid. I don’t owe anyone anything. I am well within my rights to go back to my room and ignore the meddlesome horde gathered in my backyard. But at the same time… they’re my meddlesome horde. They’re here because they care. And I care about them. And now I’ve hurt someone we all care about.
“It’s my fault,” I say. “Ian being in ogre mode. Well, not my fault. His behavior is his own,” I amend, making eye contact with each of my roommates in turn because this is an important distinction to make. “But I wasn’t honest with Ian about some things that I’m going through. And when he found out, I downplayed our relationship.” I sigh. “When we started seeing one another, I was treating it like a fling—”
“Ooh!” Diego crows. “Just beingsexy.”
“Yes. But…” I throw up my hands. “It’shim. I don’t think there’s a way to keep thingsjustsexy with him.”
Grant scowls, I assume, at the mention of the wordsexyin conjunction with his brother. But then—“You love him!” He is belligerent with delight, his smile massive. “YouloveIan!”
