Page 51 of When Ellie Falls in Love

“Wait,” Ellie needed clarification, “what do you meanthe whole table was talking about it? Talking about what?” She looked to Brayden, then Bridget, then back to Brayden. “Hello? Can one of you answer me?”

Clearing his throat, Brayden skated a small circle around Ellie before answering. “You know that part inBeauty & the Beastwhen they’re singing about how there’s something there between Belle and Beast that wasn’t there before?”

Ellie narrowed her eyes at him.

“That might as well have been playing at our table.”

Oh, my god.

As the realization of what Brayden meant to hit her, Ellie wasn’t sure whether to smile or cry. She knew from her conversation with Mason that their parents saw it, but she didn’t think herbrothersaw it.

Ugh.

“That might be what was heard, but I doubt Sadie feels that way. Especially not after the way she snapped at me Friday night at the ballgame.”

“You mean the ballgame her team lost that kicked them out of the playoffs for state. Gee, can’t imagine why she’d snip at you then.”

Brayden chuckled, but Ellie remained frozen. Not only because her brother actually madesense,but because—she couldn’t believe she was even thinking it—he wasright. That game was a huge game for Sadie. And while yes, Ellie was honestly checking on her, roles reversed she’d probably have reacted the same way if she didn’t get cast in the spring musical.

“Damn you, Bray.”

“What did I do?”

“Made sense.”

Bridget busted out laughing. “It’s weird when he does, right?”

“Totally.”

“Well, let me drop some more truth bombs on you.” Both Bridget and Ellie rolled their eyes at him. “Maybe you should talk to Sadie again before you write her off for how she treated you on a bad day. Because, for the record, I fully support the two of you. Sadie is hot.”

Both Bridget and Ellie shot him looks, and he held up his hands.

“Respectfully, of course.” He skated over to Bridget and pulled her into a hug. “You know I love you.”

Ellie wanted to throw up at how instantly Bridget seemed to melt into Brayden’s arms. She wanted that. One day. Not with her brother, of course. Ew. But with someone.

Maybe Sadie.

The thought passed through her mind quickly, and Ellie focused back on Brayden and Bridget.

“You know what you should do?”

“Not take advice from my brother?”

“Talk to Sadie.”

“Yeah, let me just call her up right now.”

“No need.” Brayden smirked, nodding his head toward the other side of the skating rink. “She’s here.”

Ellie’s eyes desperately scanned the skating rink for Sadie. As if in some teen movie, the crowd of people on the skating rink parted and there was Sadie. She was wearing a University of Tennessee hoodie and sweatpants, which seemed overkill for late-May, even in Maine. Sadie made her way over to them as Brayden and Bridget skated off, snickering.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

“Fancy meeting you here.” Ellie tried to play it cool by leaning on the pony wall but forgot she was in skates. She promptly fell, literally busting her ass in the process. “Shit.”

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