Page 66 of Unspoken Words
She blushed and snatched the bottle from me, tipping it to her lips. “Thanks. You look pretty hot too. I’m liking the ponytail. You haven’t worn one in … months.”
I ran my hand down my hair; almost imagining it was Ellie’s hand and not mine. She’d had a habit of doing that when we watched movies together and I’d always loved it, even her little tug at the end.
“Okay, that’s enough,” I said, snatching the bottle back before Lilah skolled the contents. I needed it more than she did. I needed it to erase everything I was bloody thinking. “You’re underage, remember?”
She scoffed then laughed. “Oooh, does that make you my older man?”
“No.” I raised an eyebrow; I wasn’theranything.
“Geez, Connor, ease up and have another drink. Clearly, you need it.”
I did, and I was about to put the bottle in my glovebox when, from out of the corner of my eye, a flash of red caught my attention. My heart hammered in my chest, and I froze in my seat, my arm suspended over the dashboard. Across the car park was Ellie, dressed from head to toe in red, one of her big bows from when we first met perfectly secured in her gorgeous hair. Her beauty made the strongest parts of me weak; I couldn’t move, I couldn’t think, I couldn’t speak. But it was her laugh that rendered me immobile, the sparkle in her eyes and the joy that burst from her mouth. I loved it, every part of it, except I wasn’t the one currently drawing it from her as I sat in my car with Lilah. Tristan was.
Fuck it.Taking another long swig, I closed my eyes, shook my head, and placed the bottle in my pocket before opening the car door. “Come on, let’s do this.”
*
Eastside reception centrewasdecorated in Eastside High school colours: maroon, white, and blue balloons and streamers fixed to every corner of the building. A big, foil sign that read “Congratulations, Class of ‘94’” was displayed on a stage at the back of the room, and round chairs and tables covered in white damask cloth bordered a large, makeshift dance floor.
“This sucks,” Lilah spat out as we walked through the main doors, her arm looped over mine.
I’d tried to subtly ease away from her before we’d stepped inside, but she’d whacked me and explained she needed my body for support because her heels had minds of their own. I didn’t get it. If she couldn’t walk in them then why wear them?
“Our venue would’ve lookedsomuch better. This place is old and tiny, and the decorations are cheap and nasty.”
I glared at her. “We’re lucky we’re even having a formal. You should be grateful.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, I guess.”
Craning my neck in search of Ellie, I scanned the sea of heads for a familiar red even though my stomach churned at the thought of talking to her. It had been so long with so much heartache in between. But I had to. I had to see her, smell her, touch her. While she ‘breathed’ when we were apart, I’d stopped. Suffocated. And I was now more than ready to breathe again with her.
Lilah reached up, pressed her thumb to my lip, and then giggled an over-the-top, very unlike her girly-giggle. “You have something on your face, silly.”
I furrowed my brow at her sudden weirdness when the sound of Ellie’s voice sounded from behind.
“Connor?”
I spun in her direction, moving so quickly that Lilah nearly fell to the ground, my hands finding her waist to steady her on her ridiculous skyscraper shoes.
“Hey! Ellie!” I stuttered like an idiot. “You look … absolutely stunning.”
Her glittery green gaze landed on my hands but she quickly diverted it to my shoulder, her smile vanishing. “Thank you.” She glanced at Lilah, acknowledging her by only saying her name before looking back at me.
Ellie opened her mouth, ready to speak when Mr Mitchell called out, interrupting her. “Ellie, honey, can I borrow you for a second?”
“Sure, Dad.” She lifted her dress from the ground and went to walk off. “Sorry. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Yeah. Later,” I said, watching her walk away, her red Chucks peeking out from underneath her dress. It was typically Ellie: cute and comfortable, and it made me smile until I realised I was still holding onto Lilah’s waist.
“That was awkward,” she said, not making a point to move.
Letting go, I decided that no matter how much she ‘needed my support’ that she could support herself or take off her stupid shoes.
“I need a leak,” I blurted out. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. I’ll find us a seat.”
Hauling my arse to the bathroom, I pushed through the door and stood at the urinal, placing one hand on the wall for balance. I hung my head as green eyes, red hair, and a perfect smile tortured me. “I can’t fucking do this,” I murmured under my breath.I can’t be near her and not be near her.
