Page 38 of When Ellie Falls in Love

“Yeah, that sounds fun.”

“I’ll load up a playing card.”

The machines were a newer addition to the arcade, replacing coins just under a year ago. Ellie walked over to the machine and put her parents’ credit card inside. She selected to add twenty dollars to the arcade’s playing card, which should keep them busy for a while. The machine spit out a vinyl card with a barcode on it and Ellie took it before walking over to the air hockey table. Sadie was already poised on her side of the table, looking adorable as she tried to look intimidating.

“I hope you know I’m super competitive, Mackenzie.”

“Oh yeah?” Ellie scanned the barcode on the air hockey table as the game came to life. She arched an eyebrow at Sadie as she set her bag down on the ground and took the puck out of the slot. Holding it up, she smiled at Sadie. “Well, for your sake, I hope you can handle defeat, Baxter, cause you see that?”

She pointed behind Sadie, which made Sadie turn around. And allowed Ellie to easily score a point with the distraction.

“Hey!” Sadie spun around, a hand on her hip. “That’s not fair.”

“Says the woman already one point behind.”

For the next hour, they trash-talked each other and laughed through nearly every game in the arcade. They were oblivious to everyone else who came and went from the arcade as they hung out together. Ellie was keenly aware each time Sadie’s hand touched hers or they got too close when scrambling for the basketballs for the basket toss game. It was doing little to convince her mind that she was trulyjust friendswith Sadie.

Because there was definitely something more there. Whether they verbally admitted that or simply let it grow between them.

“Are you hungry?” Ellie asked as they stepped outside the arcade. Sadie nodded. “What are you in the mood for?”

“I’m good with anything.”

“Want to grab an Italian and eat down on the pier?”

Sadie’s brow furrowed in confusion as she laughed. “Awhat?”

“An Italian?” Ellie waited for a beat; surely, she knew what an Italian was. Right?

Her blank stare indicated otherwise.

“A sub. A hoagie,” Ellie flatly stated as Sadie laughed.

“Oh, okay. I’m with you now. I’ve never heard them called that before.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that must be a Maine thing.” Sadie took a few steps toward Main Street before looking back at Ellie. Her hair tossed perfectly over her shoulder as she smiled. “Come on. Let’s go get anItalian.”

After picking up two to-gosubsat Carlson’s, they headed down toward the pier. They found an empty bench and sat; Ellie straddling the bench as Sadie delicately sat and crossed her legs. The difference made Ellie smile as she unwrapped her food.

They ate in silence for a few moments. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocky shore mixed with the sound of the boat horns as they entered the cove. Ellie watched Sadie watch the ocean, and she took in the sight.

Sadie was unlike anyone Ellie had ever met before. She had captivated Ellie when they’d first met over two years ago, but little came from it. In fact, Ellie had written it off as a childish crush on the new girl in town.How boringly stereotypical.

It wasn’t until recently that Ellie began to realize just how much she liked Sadie. As more than a friend. Not that she was ready to admit that to Sadie.

Or anyone.

At seventeen, Ellie had never dated anyone. She didn’t know the first thing about how to ask a girl out or how to kiss a girl or how to hold a girl’s hand. Ellie did, however, know how to hug a girl based on her earlier hug with Sadie. The way her hands perfectly wrapped around Sadie’s back gave her all the confidence she needed to repeat that again.

Hopefully soon.

“What are you looking at?” Sadie snapped Ellie out of her own mind.

“What?”

“You’re staring. Do I have something on my face?”

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