Page 19 of When Ellie Falls in Love

Blake took the phone from Alexis. “Yeah, but she’s my little sister. Why are you sending those messages?”

“I wasn’t.” Ellie couldn’t remember a time she was as embarrassed as she currently was. Maybe the time she got her period during her ballet recital, but this was running a very close second. “Will you let me explain, please?”

“Wait.” Plopping onto the couch, Blake sat the phone between her and Alexis as she rubbed her face with her hands. She took in a few deep breaths before looking at Ellie. “Proceed.”

“Thank you.” Taking a few deep breaths of her own, Ellie stood in front of Alexis and Blake as she explained what happened. “I had just opened the message when Blake walked into the room. I didn’t ask her to send it and I swear, Blake, I’veneversent that kind of picture toanyone.Ever. I promise.”

“I believe you. And I’m sorry I overreached.”

“Well, youareIsla Mackenzie’s child,” Ellie tried to tease, and it made them all laugh.

“Touché.”

“And I don’t know if this makes things better or worse, but I don’t even know if it was meant for me.”

“Do you want it to be meant for you?” Alexis’s question wasn’t judgmental; in fact, it was something Ellie could imagine Vera asking. After she got over the shock of the situation, of course.

“I,” Ellie searched for answers she knew she didn’t have, “I don’t know.”

“Come here, sweetie.” Holding out her hand, Alexis invited Ellie to sit between them. Ellie put her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands as Alexis rubbed her back. “It’s okay; you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I just feel so bad. If that picture wasn’t meant for me, she must be embarrassed.”

Alexis pulled Ellie closer, and Ellie willingly snuggled up against her. Although the two hadn’t been particularly close over the years, Ellie always knew Alexis was there for her. She was proving that to Ellie more than Ellie could have ever expected. Ellie rested her head on Alexis’s shoulder.

“You’re a good kid, Ellie, with a big heart. Just like your moms and your sisters.” Alexis kissed her forehead. “I wish I had some words of wisdom to give you, but I feel you’ve learned enough of a lesson with this situation.”

“Oh yeah. Never send nudes on Snapchat.”

“How about we take the last two words out of that sentence, hmm?” Blake was teasing, but Ellie also knew she was serious.

“I won’t send them, I promise.” Ellie sat up a little, while also remaining in Alexis’s warm embrace. “I’ve never even received one until now. So, I really have no idea what to do now. Because, like I said, I don’t think it was for me. I mean, we’re barely friends. Acquaintances, maybe. But notthatkind of friends.”

“And you knownotto send those pictures, right?” Blake had her Isla mom voice on. “Because you never know who may see them. I know people think Snapchat is secretive because things go away but nothing is really secretive on the internet. Someone could screenshot it and share it with more people and it’s just not good, okay?”

“I know. I hope that doesn’t happen to Sadie.”

“Well, you didn’t screenshot it, did you?” Blake arched an eyebrow.

“God, no.”

“Then hopefully, if she sent it to anyone else, they didn’t either.”

Ellie nodded. “Yeah. So, what do I do now?”

Alexis and Blake looked back and forth at each other for a moment before Alexis responded.

“I think the best thing to do here is to forget you saw it and never bring it up to Sadie.”

“Unless she says something,” Blake added with a shrug. “Maybe. I really don’t know.”

“Well, look at it this way,” Ellie playfully tapped her sock-covered foot on Blake’s knee. “Now, if this happens to Harper, it won’t be your first experience.”

“Oh, geez,” Alexis laughed as she playfully tickled Ellie. “Don’t remind me that my baby is growing up too fast.”

“Sorry,” Ellie giggled. “So, can we please just watch the movie now?”

“Totally.”

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