Page 10 of Loving the Sinner
“Thank you, Elli.” She’s not the first person who’s said that to me, but she’s the first person who isn’t in my close circle of friends. She’s so genuinely good, I almost feel like I can write a song about her.
Nope. Chillax Wes. You’re way ahead of yourself, man.
Elli isn’t what I judged her to be. She’s not vain, or prissy. She’s not a know-it-all with a holier than thou attitude. She’s not judgmental. She may be a goody-two-shoes, but not in a way that I dislike.
I’m not someone who enjoys being wrong, but I’m glad I was about her.
“Elli! Wes! Where have you two been?” Luke calls from behind us.
Elli and I trade annoyed looks and she rolls her eyes, making me bite back a laugh.
“We’ve been looking for you! We were supposed to get the TV and get out of here. This was your idea.” Elli points at Izzy. Izzy, who is sporting flushed cheeks and swollen lips.
Someone’s been making out in the aisles.
“We went to look for snacks.” Izzy says innocently as she holds up a pack of gummy worms and some popcorn.
“Right, well, if you’re done, I’m ready to go.” Elli grumbles.
“Is now a bad time to ask about the pool party tomorrow at Matt’s? I know it’s Sunday but Luke wants me to meet everyone before I leave Wednesday.” Izzy rocks back on her heels anxiously.
Why would it being a Sunday matter?
“Of course we can go, Iz. I’m not going to make you go to church.” Elli says as we approach the checkout.
Oh, right.
Izzy squeals loudly, hugs Elli, then goes with Luke to pay for their snacks.
As Elli is scanning the TV, I lean down and whisper in her ear. “You know what they were doing, right?”
“Of course I know what they were doing.” She hisses. “But it’s not like much can happen beyond kissing in a public store. They haven’t seen each other in a year. I’m letting them make up for lost time.”
“You’re a terrible chaperone.” I tsk.
She gasps in offense, swatting my arm. “I am not! You take that back.”
“What kind of chaperone loses the person they're in charge of for half an hour and lets them get away with locking lips in the candy aisle?”
“The kind that wants their little sister to be happy and experience being a teenager in love. And besides,you’rejust as much to blame.” She pokes my chest.
“Touche. Alright, you’re not a bad chaperone.”
“Thank you.” She lifts her chin smugly.
Chapter 4
Elli
Back at my apartment, Wes is gracious enough to set the TV up on a stack of unpacked boxes while we chow down on pizza. I definitely donotadmire the way those black jeans hug his cute butt as he’s bending over to plug it in.
Nope, not at all.
I sign into Netflix and let Izzy pick some trashy teen romance movie that I’m not super excited to watch, but I’ll suffer through for her. I panic internally when I realize how small my couch actually is. How are we all supposed to fit? Especially with Wes’s six foot frame?
As if he can read my thoughts, Wes says, “I can sit on the floor.”
Izzy and Luke have taken the lounge part of the couch, sitting with Iz’s back to Luke’s chest, so there’stwo more cushions that can comfortably, albeit a bit snuggly, fit me and Wes.
