Page 7 of Rumor Has It

I try to hide the fact that I’m rolling my eyes, and nod to Garrett. “Let’s play some pool.”

Best thing I can do is get out of the way and let that whole situation marinate. I’ll be lucky if she comes up for air from her Colin fog before the end of the night.

I rack the balls as Garrett chalks his stick. Once he breaks them, we fall into a nice pace, exchanging bullshit and bragging about the shots we make. Ten or more songs have been sung by people who shouldn’t be singing, and they’ve now swapped to the jukebox. I survey the room but don’t see Ellie anywhere. Colin is near our table talking to one of Ellie’s coworkers, but I don’t remember her name.

“Hold on a second, Garrett,” I say, setting my stick down. I step around a crowd of people, scanning the dance floor and surrounding tables, but she’s not there either. I scope out the bar to see if she went for another drink, and nothing. Walking past the bar, I finally catch a glimpse of her in the small corridor leading to the bathrooms.

“What are you doing over here?” I ask. As she turns, I immediately notice her eyes are red and puffy. “Oh my god, what’s wrong?” I slip my hands around her, pulling her into a hug. I hate it when she cries.

“I’m stupid,” she says. “I should’ve known.”

“Known what?”

“Colin, he’s not into me. I made my move and he said I was a great girl. Super sweet. Super smart. But not his physical type,” she says.

Anger swells in my chest. I hate this for her. I hate him for doing this to her. You may not know this about me, but I’d burn down the world for my friends. I’d burn down the world for Ellie if she asked me to.

“Well, then he’s a dumbass, El.” I lean back from her, looking her straight in the eyes. “If he doesn’t see how beautiful you are, it’s his loss.”

“You’re just saying that to get me to stop crying,” she says, sniffling.

“I’m saying it because it’s the truth.” I run my thumb over her right cheek, wiping away a single tear. I stare at her in silence for a moment, and she stares right back.

Out of nowhere, there’s a very loud thud against the women’s restroom door. It’s definitely the sound of two people who are having a very good time. A very good, very loud time.

“Jesus, that’s louder than two skeletons fucking on a tin roof.” I shake my head.

“You say the stupidest shit,” Ellie says, and laughs.

I’m relieved I got her to laugh. Hopefully this whole thing will pass on by and she’ll be herself again. Though, there’s still sadness in her eyes.

We listen for a few moments longer. It sounds like the man is pressing the woman into the door repeatedly. I don’t know if they’re actually having sex or if it’s just a very intense make-out session.

“Let’s give these two some privacy,” I say, taking her by the hand. It’s small and soft against my rough palm.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

“To the dance floor,” I say. “Pretty, sad girls deserve to dance.”

SIX

ELLIE

Theo leads me out to the middle of the dance floor by my hand, then departs to the jukebox. Moments later, he’s walking back toward me. I can’t explain it but there’s a swagger in his step. I don’t think I ever noticed how confident he can look.

“Ready?” he asks. A song begins to play, and I immediately recognize it as one of my favorites. “Rumor” by Lee Brice always makes me feel things.

Theo pulls me in close, pressing his body to mine, his right arm wrapping around my waist. I drape one hand on his shoulder and the other meets his, locking our fingers. I’m comforted by his familiar scent as I bury my still red and puffy face into his chest.

We sway back and forth slowly as he leads me. He’s always been an excellent dancer—one of those guys in boots and worn jeans but a crisp white T-shirt, who glides effortlessly over the floor to any song that plays. Yep, that’s him. It’s probably one of the reasons women are attracted to him.

His grip around my waist tightens as his mouth dips to my ear. “Feeling better?”

I lift my head from his chest, looking up into his eyes. “Yes.” Our faces are mere inches from the other’s as we both smile. Truth be told, he comforts me in ways no one else can or ever has. I’ve always been safe around him, and I always will be.

We stay like this for the rest of the song, looking at each other and smiling, not needing words to speak to each other.I’m okay. I’m here for you. You’re beautiful. Thank you for being my friend.

Movement at the bar catches my attention as I turn to see the one person I prayed wouldn’t be here tonight—Theo’s ex-girlfriend. Lindy Slater has never liked me, and I’ve never liked her. When they were dating, we rarely hung out all at the same time, which was sad for me because that meant less time with him.

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