Page 72 of The Boy I Once Loved

Chapter Fourteen

“So, how was the date?” Aria asks me loudly.

I glance around our lunch table and notice that Dylan is looking over, waiting to see how I respond. I smile. “It was nice.”

He scoffs and I look over at him with a frosty glare. “Nice. Nice means boring.”

I eyeball him from my seat before returning my attention to Aria, whose eyes ping pong from me to Dylan. “It was great. He cooked and set the table with candles and everything, and then we played cards afterwards. I enjoyed his company.”

“Pathetic,” I hear Dylan murmur under his breath.

“Pardon?” I ask in a tone that could cut glass. “If you have something to say, spit it out, Dyl?”

Dylan throws his burger down on his plate. “Okay, I will. I think the guy’s a sleaze. There’s something about him that’s off. I don’t like him.”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Well, it’s a good job you’re not the one dating him then.”

“So, you’re dating him now?” he asks, scowling at me.

I shrug my shoulders, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

Freya clearly doesn’t like the fact that Dylan’s attention isn’t on her and she whispers something in his ear, running a finger slowly down his bicep. Dylan listens to her as he continues to glare at me. Smirking, he stands to his feet and he wraps his arm around Freya’s shoulder and they make for the exit. I glare after them. No doubt she is probably taking him off to suck his dick somewhere. I mean, that is all she is good for.

“Don’t let it get to you,” Aria says, following my gaze. “Sometimes people do stupid things when they’re angry.”

My eyes snap back to hers. “What does he have to be angry about? So, he doesn’t like my choice in guys. He’s not my fucking brother,” I hiss.

Caleb chuckles from across the table. “I don’t think he sees himself as your brother, Ella.” Connor clips him across the back of the head. “Ouch, fucker. I’m just keeping it real.” Connor gives him a warning glare and Caleb shrugs his shoulders and returns his concentration to the enormous pile of food on his plate. The guy could eat.

Dylan isn’t in any of my classes for the rest of the day, which is a relief as he is majorly pissing me off right now. I’m glad when the day is over, and I can retreat to my house and get lost in a good book. When I arrive home, my mum is in the kitchen cooking up a storm, there are bowls and pans everywhere. I lean on the doorframe as I take in the chaos.

“Are we feeding the whole street tonight?”

She looks up wiping her forehead and smiles. “Oh, hi, honey. I didn’t hear you come in. The James’ are coming for dinner tonight. It’s the date of Stacey and John’s anniversary, and I thought she could use a distraction.”

I groan internally. “Great,” I reply with a tight smile. I’m not sure I can tolerate any more of Dylan and his frosty attitude today.

“Go get showered and changed and then you can help me set the table,” She orders, turning her concentration back to the cookbook in front of her. I remain watching her for a few minutes. This is the mum I remember, the one who lived and breathed for her family and was always making us home-cooked meals. Liam would always hover around her, trying to dip his hand in whatever she was mixing, and she'd slap his hand away with a tea towel and tell him off. I really want to believe she's changed, and she is better, but I'm too scared to let myself have hope because hope has the power to crush you when it is lost.

I shower and I change into a pair of black jeans and a red t-shirt with the slogan ‘Not today Satan’ on it. I am a sucker for a good slogan top. I run my hands through my unruly wavy hair and pop a dash of blusher on my cheeks.

When I walk back into the kitchen, it smells amazing. Again, I’m assaulted with memories of Liam, mum and me all sitting around the dining table talking about our day. Liam would always talk football, and I’d yawn and pull bored faces until he’d get me in a headlock and ruffle up my hair. I miss him so much that sometimes it takes my breath away.

“Ella, you’re a million miles away. Shake a leg and get the table set,” Mum says as she glances up at me in between stirring the large pan.

I quietly set the table as I try to manage the wave of grief I feel inside. I wonder if it will ever get any easier. Will there be a day when it doesn’t hurt as much? Mum leaves me in charge while she dashes upstairs to change and make herself look presentable.

The doorbell rings and I put down the cutlery and head to answer it. I smile warmly when I open the door. “Hey Stacey, come in. Mum’s just getting changed. I hope you’re all hungry because she’s cooked up a feast.”

Stacey laughs. "Why doesn't that surprise me." She hands me a bottle of non-alcoholic wine. My mum comes bounding down the stairs and sweeps Stacey into a hug before they both disappear off into the kitchen, leaving Dylan and me alone.

“No Charlie?” I ask. I hate this awkwardness between us.

Dylan shakes his head. “No, he’s having tea at his friend’s house tonight.”

I nod my head, chewing on the inside of my lip. Dylan sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Look El, I’m sorry for today in the cafeteria. I was out of order.”

I bob my head. “Yeah, you were.”

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