Page 24 of Standing Still

Putting the mug behind me. Because she is right, Acer’s coffee tastes like battery acid. I push away from the counter. “I said some shit that day,” I start, remembering how hurtful I’d been.

I’d lashed out. I didn’t want her to leave, but knew if I hadn’t pushed her to believe we were never going to work, she wouldn’t go. Elle had a dream. I didn’t want her to hold back and miss out on that. I don’t think she ever realized that was what I did. She hated it here.

Her family had fallen apart and if she wanted to pursue her dream of becoming an author, she had to go to college and spread her wings, instead of staying here ending up like her parents, hating every missed opportunity.

“We both did,” she reminds me. “I regret a lot of the things I said that day.”

My head nods in agreement. It’s time to stop living in the past and to try to convince her that staying in Mystic for a few months out of the year won’t be so bad. “It all worked out, Elle. You achieved your dream. I’m really proud of you.”

She swallows and lifts her eyes. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. However, there is something you can do for me,” I say, taking a step closer.

Elle looks up at me and her throat works as she swallows, making me wonder exactly what it is she thinks I’m going to ask for. I grin at her. “Let me reintroduce you to Mystic.”

“Huh?” she tilts her head, clearly not expecting me to say that. “What do you mean?”

“Let me show you that Mystic has just enough to offer as New York and that being here for six months won’t be so bad. There are no stipulations on it being six months in a row. You can spread it out and let’s be honest, I’m not going to enforce the terms. If you wanted to, or couldn’t be here the whole six months, I’m not going to tell anyone.”

Biting her lip again about drives me nuts. I’m so tempted to reach over and pull it out from between her teeth.

“The River Jam starts tonight,” I point out. “You used to love going when we were teenagers, remember?”

Elle nods. “Dawn has already reminded me of that.”

“So come with me tonight.”

“With you?” her chin drops slightly, but she looks up at me through her eyelashes.

“Yeah, don’t make a big deal of it,” I laugh and lightly kick at her sneakers with mine. “I just want you to see that Mystic isn’t as badas you remember. Sure, there are bad memories, and no one gets that more than I do, Elle. I lived through it with you, and I am not saying we need to forget about that, but what if things can be different now that there is some time and distance behind you?”

I duck down a little, so she looks up at me.

“This place, you don’t need to keep it, or come near it even. There is plenty of great housing. My brother has been busy throwing houses up around here,” she frowns, and I reign myself in. That may have been a step too far. “What do you say? Can you give it a chance?”

Jedi barks and we both look over at him. His tail is thumping hard against the sofa he’s sitting on, and he looks like he is grinning. Elle laughs slightly at the expression on his doggy face, and I silently tell the mutt he’s getting a huge bone tonight.

“See, even Jedi wants you to give it a chance. He can come along too if that entices you.”

“Don’t try to bribe me with your gorgeous dog,” she laughs.

“Is it working, though?”

“I can’t promise anything.”

“That isn’t what I’m asking. I just want you to take a chance. Like you did when you left.”

Her nostrils flare slightly, and she blinks. She’s holding back tears. Fuck, I don’t want to make her cry, but if it helps to push those emotions on her.

“Take a chance on coming back, Elle. Come with me tonight.”

She looks from Jedi to the surrounding room, and then straight into my eyes, her shoulders straightening slightly. “Okay.”

Chapter Eleven

The River Jam Festival is held in the shipping yard in Mystic every summer. There is an eclectic mix of music, mostly local musicians who take to the stages. Vendors from all around come, food trucks and stands make the air smell mouth-watering and the crowds swell with people from all walks of life. I declined a ride from Ben because I felt like I needed some space to prepare for this.

I hadn’t intended on coming here but his plea had been so heartfelt, I couldn’t say no. Especially when his dog got in on the act. Jedi is so damn cute. Ben always wanted a dog when he was younger, but his parents didn’t want the additional hassle of a dog when they had five boys in the house. Ben had spent a lot of time at our house when we had our two dogs.

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