Page 51 of Trip Through Your Wires

“What did he do?” He lowers his voice.

“Yes, he made a move on her, and no she’s not my girl. In case you haven’t noticed, she isn’t talking to me.”

“So,” he shrugs, raising his voice back to normal. “Call her until she does.”

“I’ve tried. It doesn’t work. It’s starting to get a little pathetic.”

“No,” he says deadpan. “Pathetic would be telling the girl you’re crazy about, to have the high school football team run a train on her.”

“Man, who the…” I look over at him and he lifts his brows. “Wait, is that the fucked up shit you said to Ellery the night of our party last summer?”

He holds up both hands. “Guilty.”

“Dude,” I shake my head in disbelief. “No wonder you drank yourself into an oblivion that night. I’m surprised she forgave you because that was fucked up.”

“It was,” he agrees. “And at the time, the fact she forgave me surprised me, too.”

“Well, what happened between Jenica and I isn’t about jealousy.”

“What’s it about then?”

Now I am the one to lift both eyebrows. He hops down from the counter and comes over to where I’m standing. “Wait,” he leans in, “did you two…”

“Yes,” I whisper, “and she hasn’t talked to me since.”

“What?” He looks at me like I just told him I’m from the future. “Why?”

“I don’t know, man, but it’s driving me crazy.”

A grin tugs at his lips and I hold up my hand. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”

“I wasn’t thinking anything, brother.”

“Yes, you were.”

The kettle whistles and I turn off the burner, reach for the towel hanging from the oven, and using it to grip the handle, pour water into each cup.

“Just admit you like her,” he continues as I stir each cup until the mix is dissolved. “What O’Brien said wouldn’t have gotten to you if you didn’t. I went after him because she is Ellery’s best friend, but you…classic marking your territory, brother. I know that instinct, trust me.”

“She’s not my girl,” I say for a second time.

“The hell she’s not. You never get hung up on a girl, which means in your eyes, she’s yours. Face it. You’re sprung my friend. Welcome to the club.”

“I am not.”

“Hey,” I laugh. “I’d walk on hot coals with a basket of fruit on my head singing “Eye of The Tiger” for that girl upstairs, and do you know what, I’m not ashamed.”

“Now that I would pay good money for,” Ellery says sleepily as she pads into the kitchen.

“How long have you been awake?” Cruz smiles with a shake of his head.

“Just got up.” She makes her way over to him and steps between his legs, tilting her head up. “Morning baby.”

He cups her face and leans down, kissing her. “Morning.”

Stepping back, she turns and looks at me, yawning. “Morning buddy.”

“Morning Ells.”

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