Page 29 of Rumor Has It

The truth is, I don’t care who knows. Maybe I don’t yet know what this is between us, but I don’t give two shits about who sees us or talks about it. People in this town talk, that’s no surprise, and trying to keep an actual secret from any one of them is impossible. But more than that, Ellie isn’t some mistake to be ashamed of. She’s not a random booty call I want to hide away from the world.

I’ll walk down Main Street holding her hand with a sign on my back that reads “Ask me about that time I made Ellie come three times.” So you get the point.

But I take her feelings on the matter seriously. The mere fact that she brought it up as something she thought I might want to do hurts me. And enrages me. I’m not aware of any man in her past that did this to her, but if there was one, I want his name and address.

I’m tempted to ask about it but I won’t. It doesn’t matter now, and no good can come from it. But still. I don’t want her to ever think that’s something I’d do to her.

Which really only leaves one logical move.

“Ellie?” I press my thumb to her jawline and rub circles as she closes her eyes. She looks quite peaceful lying here like this, naked and sated in my arms.

“Hmm,” she says.

“Will you go out on a date with me?” I ask.

Her eyes dart open, immediately searching mine like she’s trying to make sure I’m serious. Rest assured, I am.

“Yes,” she says.

She giggles for probably the same reason I smile. Because I just asked Ellie Hayes on a date. Me. Her best friend. On the surface, I guess it’s not that huge. But underneath a couple of layers of friendship, it’s a very big deal.

Though, hopefully she won’t find herself laughing at the idea for too long.

TWENTY

ELLIE

I nod my head again, just as I did a few seconds ago. And a few minutes before that, too.

“You,” Kelly Ann says slowly, “and Theo.”

I’m still nodding my head as I take another bite of my lunch.

“Had sex,” she says, “yesterday.”

“Yes, Kels. That’s what I’m saying to you.”

“And you’re going to go out on a date tonight?”

I nod one last time. “Yes, tonight. Friday night. Date night. Me and Theo. Theo and me. On a date.”

I hope we’ve cleared that up, because I don’t think I can say it out loud again without a little vomit coming up. I’m a nervous wreck.

Yesterday, after I agreed to the invitation, Theo and I lay there a little while longer, talking about nothing in particular. It’s the same thing we’ve done so many times before. Except for one distinct difference. We were naked. Which I thought would bother me, but it didn’t.

I lay there, naked as a mole rat next to my best friend, and just… talked. It was nice. Really nice. I can’t recall being able to do that in any past relationships, at least not with such ease.

“So?” she asks. “How was it?”

I knew this was coming. Kelly Ann is biting into her lettuce wrap and practically salivating for details. In the past, I’ve told her everything. And I do mean everything, right down to the degree in which a dick curves. But this is Theo. It feels different.

“I can’t divulge everything,” I say. “I just can’t. But here’s what I will tell you, and it’s all anyone really needs to know.” I lean in closely to her, nodding my head for her to do the same.

She stops midbite and gets as close to me as she can with this table between us.

“It was hands down the absolute best sex I’ve ever had.” I sit back up to continue eating my lunch.

Meanwhile, Kelly Ann is still suspended over the center of the table, seemingly trying to process what I’ve said.

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