Page 37 of Only Ever Yours

“Yes, I guess it’s just the stupid hormones.” She sniffs, swiping at the tears streaming down her face, and we both start laughing.

“Damn, girl, don’t do that shit to me… I thought something was wrong with you, or the baby, or something.” I say shaking my head. “Just please don’t fucking do that shit again. I can’t handle anything else today.”

“Sorry… I’m just a mess, Ell. Come on…” she says, laughing as she grabs me by the arm.

We‘re both giggling at our craziness when she pulls me inside. As soon as we step in, I smell the wonderful aromas of garlic and tomato that fill the air.

“Mmm…something smells amazing,” I say as we walk from the foyer into her large, open kitchen. “Can I help you do anything?” I ask when she finally lets me go.

“No way… I invited you for dinner, so just sit and talk to me,” she replies, waving me off.

“Are you sure? I just feel weird not helping… Youarethe pregnant one, not me.”

“I’m pregnant, not disabled.” She turns to me with a grin as she says the last part.

“Okay, I know, I know… I will just sit and watch then. I still feel weird, though,” I admit with a shrug.

She laughs and gestures to the island. “Help yourself to the veggies and dip.”

Her tears have finally dried, and I take a seat at the kitchen island, reaching for the fresh carrots and other veggies she has nicely arranged around the bowl of dip.

“So, what’s going on in your life? How’s the house hunting going? Any luck yet?” She asks while glancing into the huge pot she has on the stove and stirring its contents.

“No, I put an application in for the apartments downtown, but they said they didn’t currently have anything available in my price range. I have no idea what I’m going to do. My time is running out. I have been working longerdays at the café to help save, but it’s just not enough. There is no way I’m moving across the country with them… I just can’t fucking do it, Hales. Breanne is being even worse than normal lately; I’m not living with her. I’m so fucking done.”

She spins, concern etched in her face, “Wonder what her deal is? Has she said anything to you?”

Ugh, I can’t tell her about my sister and Jaydon. She still has no idea I even slept with him the night of her birthday. I’m such a shitty friend for keeping this from her. I literally have no one to talk to about this. Fuck, it's driving me crazy.

“No… You know how she is. She’s just a bitch, but it’s just worse here lately for some reason.”

“Well, you know the offer still stands to stay here while you figure something else out.”

She’s the best friend I could ever ask for, and I’m not even telling her the entire truth. I feel horrible. But I just can’t tell her about Jaydon and me right now.

“I know… but I can’t do that to you and Ryan. Speaking of Ryan, where is he anyway?”

“Oh, he will be home in a little while. He had to go into the office to help Jaydon with something.”

“Hmm…” Now she said his name. I’m thinking about his earlier text messages and imagining him with his shirt off. Fuck. Why do I do this to myself? It’s pure torture. “… yeah, I meant to ask you the other day. Did Jaydon start hisown business or something? I know you mentioned something a while back about Ryan going in with him to help cover expenses. Did they ever do it?”

“Yeah, they actually did! It was Jaydon’s dream, but he just didn’t have the money he needed up front to start. So instead of getting a loan, Ryan decided to go in with him. He’s mostly a silent partner, but with his experience, Jay calls him in a lot to help.”

“That’s pretty exciting! I didn’t really know… and I felt weird asking.”

She giggles, “Come on… You know I would have told you anything you wanted to know. Jay would have, too. You’re like family to us, Ells.”

“Aww, thanks. Now you’re gonna make me cry, don’t say that kinda shit to me. Although…” I put my finger to my lips in thought, “… I’m not so sure your brother would feel the same way…” We both burst out laughing.

She swipes her hand through the air, brushing off my last comment, “Oh… stop it, you know he would have told you.”

“So, what kind of business is it exactly?”

“It’s sort of a cyber program, mostly supporting the government. I’m not privy to all the details since it's like top secret shit or whatever, but I know in the short amount of time he’s made his start-up money back. I guess it helps when you have aninand are familiar with the team that actually uses it.”

“Hmm… that’s really interesting. I had no idea that’s what they had been working on this whole time.” It’s actually kind of shocking to me that they have kept all this so quiet.

“Yeah, it was actually in the works for years. Jay started working on it before they ever came back home.”

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