Page 72 of Follow Me Down

Chapter Eighteen

Fallon

The morning sun peekinginto the blinds warms my face, slowly pulling me from sleep. I roll in the bed, my arm going to Titus’ side which, to my disappointment, is empty.

Sitting up, I look around the room before my eyes settle on the clock on the bedside table. Just after nine.

I stretch my arms over my head before throwing back the covers and sliding my legs over the side of the bed. It takes me a few seconds to muster the energy to actually get up, but once I do, I head straight for the bathroom.

Because Link’s bathroom is in the hallway, and it shares a wall with Titus’ bathroom, I immediately hear the clear signs of the shower running.

After using the bathroom, I wash my face and brush my teeth, pausing when I hear voices coming from the other side of the wall.

That’s odd...

Shutting off the sink faucet, I lean toward the wall.

“You made your choice. You chose to leave with him instead of stay for me,” I hear Ellen say. Assuming she’s on the phone, I turn, ready to exit the bathroom when I hear a response. I instantly freeze.

Link?

“I didn’t want to leave. You know I didn’t. But what was I supposed to do? Live on the streets so we could be together... in secret no less? I had nowhere to go, E, and you sure as hell weren’t shouting about our relationship from the rooftops or anything.”

“I told you I would take care of you.”

“Take care of me? It’s not your job to take care of me. Besides, you were sixteen. Not to mention embarrassed to even be seen with me. I loved you, Ellen. Fuck, I still love you. But I couldn’t bet my entire future on someone who wouldn’t even tell her own brother about our relationship.”

Wait... What?

Link and Ellen?

Ellen and Link?

That’s not a pairing I would have ever put together. Then again, it kind of makes sense. The way they’ve acted toward one another. How they’ve been picking on each other since she arrived. Granted, I originally thought it was because they viewed each other as family. Now I’m starting to realize there’s a hell of a lot more to it.

I listen closer, feeling guilty for eavesdropping but also not able to stop myself.

“You know what, it doesn’t matter now, does it? The past is the past and I can’t go back down this road with you again.”

“I hate to break it to you, E, but if that was the case, you wouldn’t have crawled into my bed last night. Or the night before.”

My heart is thumping so loudly in my ears at this point that it’s a struggle to hear her reply.

“Temporary lapse in judgement.”

“Temporary lapse in judgement, my ass. Funny, isn’t it...” His voice drops so low I can’t hear what he says next.

“You need to get out before my brother comes inside.”

“Yeah, because god forbid anyone find out that something is going on.” I can hear the anger in Link’s voice.

“There’s nothing going on.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” I hear the bathroom door open and then slam closed moments later.

I’m so taken aback. I’m not sure what to do. Obviously, I was not meant to hear what I heard, and as much as I wish I could unhear it, I can’t.

Quickly exiting the bathroom, I throw a bra on under my t-shirt before making my way out of the bedroom. When I enter the living area, I see Link through the screen door, leaning over the railing of the porch, a cigarette dangling between his fingers.

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