Page 51 of The Boy I Once Loved

He winks and knocks his can against mine. “Only the pretty ones.”

The afternoon is fun. The boys are all in a riotous mood after their win, and the alcohol is flowing nicely. Connor introduces me to the team and a few of them joke with me about my team spirit from the stands. I'm sitting in between Connor and Aria on a garden bench listening to their tales of the pranks they play on each other at football practice and in the changing rooms when I hear someone shout Caleb in greeting. I look up to see Dylan walking through the side-gate with his arms thrown around two girls clad in crop vest tops and tiny shorts.

"Hey, big-bollocks is here! Our MOTM! Five fucking goals today, people!" Caleb shouts and all the lads' holler and whistle.

Dylan grins and tells him to sit the fuck down, but I can tell he is lapping up the attention. His eyes briefly find mine and he gives me and Connor a half-wave from where his arm hangs over the girl's shoulder.

“I love him,” Connor leans in to tell me, “but sometimes he can be a real prick.”

I shrug and smile. “Ah, Dylan is just being Dylan. Some things never change.”

“So, you’re going on a date with Kyle?” Connor asks me.

I pull my drink away from my lips and I roll my eyes. “Did Dylan tell you that?” I shake my head. “It is not a date. It is two people catching up. He was my brother’s best friend; he is one of the few people who miss him as much as I do, and yes, it will be nice to talk to someone who understands.”

Connor nods and toys with the ring-pull on his can. “Dylan understands.”

I shake my head. “It’s not the same. Kyle and Liam were best friends, losing him gutted him, just like it did me. It’s not the same for Dylan. Yeah, he knew and loved my brother, but it’s different.” I look at my watch. “I think I’m going to call an Uber and head home.”

Connor puts out his bottom lip. “You can’t go yet.”

“I can and I am.” I pat his cheek. “I want to catch up on some more Sabrina before bed.”

Ten minutes later, I say my goodbyes and make my way through the garden on my crutches. I realise I have to pass Dylan to get to the gate which fills me with no joy. He is standing over by the food, loading a burger with ketchup.

“See ya, Dyl.” I say as I walk past him. He grabs my wrist and stops me in my tracks, and I turn and face him.

“You’re going?”

I nod. “Yeah, I called an Uber. You did good today.”

He grins and I shiver when his finger softly strokes my arm as he holds it in his. “Stay.”

“Dylan, come on!” Miss crop t-shirt shouts at him from across the yard.

“Looks like you’re wanted. I’ll see you later.” I gently pull my arm from his hold and he lets it go.

“Ella?”

I look back and arch a brow in question.

He pauses and sighs. “Text me and let me know you’re home safe.”

I nod. Why do I get the feeling that wasn’t what he was about to say? I was hoping that an apology was coming my way.

I get home and I don’t know what possesses me, but I decide to make my mum her tea. She has after all been working a twelve-hour shift today and as much as it pains me to admit it, she really seems to be putting her all into living again. I’m no chef, so I make a simple shepherd’s pie with sweet potato mash and I leave it in the warming draw.

I bum-shuffle up to my room and settle down with a good book. I must drift off because the sound of my phone ringing wakes me bolt up.

“Connor?”

"Hey, El. I need your help. It's Dylan, he is wasted. I mean really wasted and he won't listen to anyone. He started a fight with some guy here and he's refusing to go home."

“Really?” That doesn’t sound like Dylan. He is never a bad drunk, he is always a happy drunk. “What do you expect me to do?”

“I’ve huh sent Aria to pick you up. He’ll listen to you; you know he will.”

“I’m in my freaking beddies,” I sigh. Just great!

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