Page 29 of No One But Us

JAMES

We arefour hours into work, and not one word has left Elle’s lips that isn’t a drink order. It’s making mecrazy.

It was a dick move, setting her up to close tonight, yet I feel zero guilt about the whole thing. She said Ryan is “irresistible” on stage, and it just took 30 seconds with the guy for me to see he wants herback.

I’m saving her fromherself.

And I’m saving me too. Because the idea of her sleeping with him makes my desire to punch him in the face almostunbearable.

We close the bar insilence.

“You ready to go?” Iask.

I can tell just by the way she folds her arms across her chest and levels me with her gaze that she’s about to tell me to fuckoff.

“And just so we’re clear,” I add, “you are not walking home alone at this hour. So either you walk with me or you ride with me, but either way we are going hometogether.”

She walks out. I find her a minute later, waiting next to my car with her arms still folded across her chest and a mutinous look on herface.

“Are you really going to spend the whole summer not speaking to me?” I ask. “Overthis?”

“Are you admitting you didit?”

“No.”

“Well, I still think you did, but no, going the whole summer without speaking to you seems a littleunrealistic.”

I open her door and find myself smiling as I walk to the driver’s side. It’s wrong, how cute I find her irritation. We head down the road, and her silencecontinues.

“So exactly what portion of the summer will you refuse to speak to me before forgiving me for doing something I’ve never said Idid?”

“What do you care?” she asks. “You avoid me all day unless you’ve beendrinking.”

She’s right, but somehow it sounds worse, hearing her say it aloud. “I’ve tried really hard to bepleasant.”

Her frown deepens, and her eyes grow so sad it’s hard to look at her. “That’s kind of the point, James. You’re not supposed to have totry. Being in the same room with me shouldn’t be astruggle.”

I pull into the driveway. “You’re twisting what Isaid.”

“It’s okay,” she says quietly as she opens the car door. “I’m used toit.”

She doesn’t come out to the back deck after we walk inside, and I’m not sure what I could possibly say in my own defense anyway. I have a sudden memory of some grade school award ceremony of hers and Ginny’s that my parents made me attend. Elle won three awards, more than anyone else, and when the ceremony ended and all the parents swarmed the stage, she stood there alone. She didn’t bother looking for her parents. She was just looking for an exit, her head hung low. My parents were off hugging Ginny, but it struck me that Ginny had enough—enough care, enough adoration—and that Elle, who deserved just as much, hadnone.

I felt so bad for her. I never thought I’d wind up being one more person she feels rejectedby.

Chapter 19

ELLE

The next morning,Max still hasn’t come home, so I’m leaving for yoga by myself when James emerges from hisroom.

“I’ll walk with you,” he says. “I need better coffee than the shit we drinkhere.”

I’m guessing it’s about our conversation last night. He’s trying to prove he doesn’t avoid me. All it really proves is that he doesn’t want it toappearhe avoids me, but I’ll takeit.

We take the boardwalk, though it’s not the most direct route. Early in the day like this, when the tourists are still asleep and Funland is closed, Rehoboth is a different, more peaceful place. Even the water seems calmer. I enjoy my walks with Max, but this isbetter.

James’ presence makes almost anything better forme.

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