Page 56 of When Ellie Falls in Love

The two parted quickly, as Sadie had to fight her instinct to run. They stared at Mason as if they were kids who’d just been caught by their parents doing something they shouldn’t have been doing. But, thankfully, Mason seemed more amused to have found them lip-locked than ready to scold them for it.

“Well, well, well,” Mason folded her arms over her chest as she walked toward them. “I must say, I’m kinda proud this happened atmywedding.”

“Oh, geez,” Ellie groaned, putting a hand on her hip. “What are you doing? Spying on us again?”

“Hey, be glad it wasmethat found you two. Mom’s looking for you.” She arched an eyebrow at them and smirked. “But I saw you two sneak away, so I offered to come and find you.”

“You found her?” Blake asked as she rounded the corner of the garage. It seemed to take her a moment after seeing Ellie and Sadie to process what they’d stumbled upon. “Oh, my god,” she dramatically covered her eyes with her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not,” Mason laughed.

“Okay, leave. Both of you.” Ellie motioned for them to leave, which Blake started to do before Mason pulled her back. “At least give me a minute alone to tell her goodnight.”

Sadie couldn’t help but grin at Ellie’s words.

“Fine. Fine.” Mason held up her hands. She looked past Ellie to Sadie. “If she’s a good kisser, you can thank me for teaching her how to do it. If not, you can blame Blake.”

“Hey!” Blake playfully punched Mason. “Alexis thinks I kiss great, thank you.”

“I bet Chase would say I’m a better kisser.”

“I’m not arguing with you about this here.”

“Great, you can argue about it back at the party.” Ellie looked back at Sadie and mouthed anI’m so sorryas she led Blake and Mason around the corner of the garage. They were gone for a few moments, and Sadie worried that Ellie had left too. But just as she was about to follow them, Ellie came back around the corner.

“I’m so sorry about that.”

“It’s okay,” Sadie waved her off. “Better them than our moms.”

Ellie chuckled. “True that.”

“And, for what it’s worth,” Sadie said, taking a step toward Ellie and leaning in again for a kiss, “you’re a great kisser.”

Chapter 19

Ellie

As the party was wrapping up, Ellie searched in the dwindling crowd for her parents. She found them standing by the snack table, mindlessly munching on chips as they talked to each other. Ellie would forever love watching her parents together. They so easily got lost in each other’s eyes and made it seem like the rest of the world had fallen away.

Ellie wanted that someday.

Isla noticed her first and smiled at her.

“Hey, angel.” Holding her arm out, Ellie went to her mom for a hug. “Have I told you tonight that you look beautiful?”

“Not nearly as beautiful as you two.” Ellie smiled up at her mom, then over at Vera. “You’re both stunning. I hope I look that good when I’m your age.”

Vera dramatically winced. “Ouch.Your age.That makes me feel so old.”

“And we’re not old,” Isla added with a laugh.

“I never said you were!” Ellie protested, joining in the laughter. “In fact, I was just watching you two lookmadlyin love with each other and hoping I can have that one day.”

“Aww, Care Bear.” Vera’s lip quivered as she pulled Ellie away from Isla and into her own embrace. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she mumbled against her mama’s chest. Vera had a tight hold on her, but Ellie didn’t care. It made her feel safe and loved.

“Maybe you’ll have that with Sadie.”

---