Page 102 of Unspoken Words
“No. I told you once before that fate would have you in my arms, regardless. So shush, this is fate.”
I scoffed. “It is not.”
“Then just let me give my best friend a hug.”
Against my better judgement, I did just that and let him engulf me in his strong, comforting arms. And in those dead silent seconds, my head pressed to his chest, my ear the audience of his heartbeat, I truly did feel settled for the first time in four years.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ellie
That night in bed, Icouldn’t help but think that Connor’s and my biggest downfall was that I’d trusted him so easily, because we were effortless, in sync. Perfect. He could manifest my smile like a magician, increase the tempo of my heart like a seasoned orchestra conductor, and his words—although unspoken—penetrated every layer I possessed. We’d been young, in love, mystified, and we’d begun walking paths we hadn’t properly paved. But, mostly, we’d been blind to the fact that nothing or no one was perfect, no matter how magical or musical it all seemed.
I also came to realise, as I stared at the glow-in-the-dark star stickers peppering the ceiling of my childhood bedroom, that he’d been right even though, for four years, I hadn’t wanted to admit it.I’dbeen the one to let him go when I left our small town, not the other way around. But I’d done it for him, not for me, and he didn’t know that, didn’t see that, didn’t have to see it because, deep down, beyond the pain of our loss, I knew I’d done the right thing. His relationship with Max was the proof.
It didn’t make it all any less painful though.
The chime of my phone woke me the next morning, and I blindly fumbled for the stupid thing before prying my eyes open to find a message from Connor.
Connor: Rise and Shine. I’ll be there in fifteen.
“What the hell?” I groaned and tossed my blanket off the bed. “Fifteen minutes? Is he insane?”
A quarter of an hour wasn’t enough time to shower, wash my hair, dawdle, have coffee, dawdle some more, and then finally get my brain to focus on what was in store for the day ahead. A quarter of an hour was barely enough time to yawn and stretch my legs.
Grumbling, I stomped to the bathroom and rushed my shower before throwing on a pinstriped skirt suit and tightly pinning my wet hair into a bun on top of my head. I couldn’t be bothered applying a full face of makeup so brushed some powder on my cheeks, poked myself in the eye with mascara, and painted more lipstick on my teeth than on my lips.Screw you, Connor Bourke. I’ll be borrowing Mum or Dad’s car tomorrow.
Roughly twenty minutes post his highly annoying and unwanted text message, I grabbed my handbag and walked along the hallway toward the kitchen, pausing when I heard the indisputable sound of Chris’s deep, throaty laugh mixed with Connor’s and my mother’s laughs.You’ve got to be kidding me.
I shook my head, squared my shoulders, and entered the room.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Mum said, a mug of coffee cradled in her hands. She took a sip and then handed it to me.
“Morning.” I narrowed my eyes at the three of them, stopping at Connor. “Why are you here so early?”
“It’s not early. You’re late.”
“But it’s only seven o’clock. Our meeting with Jackson doesn’t start till nine.”
“Don’t you want breakfast first?”
“No. Why?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
“Because I prefer to sleep an extra hour instead.”
“Ridiculous. Breakfast is the best meal of the day.”
Chris swallowed his pending laugh, and mum just smiled and nodded her head. “He’s got a point. You do need to eat before your big day, sweetie.”
Oh my God!Did I go to sleep and wake up ten years prior? And when did Connor become so chummy with my family again?
“I take it Connor has filled you both in thathe’sSaxon Reed?”
“Yes.” Chris laughed. “And it’s funny as fuck.”
Mum fired him eye-daggers.
