He sat rigidly beside me, our arms brushing against each other. I had said I wanted to relax but I felt uptight. Anxious almost.
This was awkward.
Maybe I should have gotten my own place. Perhaps we weren’t at a point where co-habiting was the best idea. We hadn’t spent more than a few days together at any given time in the last three years. I was starting to think this was the beginning of a huge mistake.
I couldn’t even remember who had made the suggestion for me to move in with him after I had graduated. It had just seemed like a given. I had promised Flynn I’d come back. That we’d be together again.
And here we were.
So why did I feel as though I were standing at the edge of a cliff just waiting to tip over?
Murphy sat down on the floor between our feet. He leaned heavily against my legs and I appreciated the comfort he unknowingly gave me.
“Are you hungry?” Flynn asked after a beat.
“We just had banana bread,” I reminded him.
More silence.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, Ellie,” he admitted finally. He sounded bored but I knew otherwise. His hands were fisted in his lap, his knuckles white. His jaw was tight with agitation and I knew he was struggling.
I let out a breath and reached out to curl my hand around his fisted ones. “I don’t either. I guess we’ll have to figure it out together.”
Slowly his fingers loosened and he held my hand once again.
“I said that one day you wouldn’t miss me anymore,” he stated, and I could almost see his smile. Even if his bored tone made it hard to read him, I knew he was happy.
I laid my head on his shoulder. His words reminding me of a time I hadn’t been so certain that our story’s ending would be a happy one.
But he had been right.
Because I wasn’t missing him anymore.
“No I don’t, Flynn. I came back.”
I felt Flynn lay his cheek on top of my head.
“You came back.”
Chapter Four
-Flynn-
A few years ago
Ellie is gone. I stand on my porch and watch her drive away.
It hurt.
A lot.
But it makes me happy, too.
I know that’s how I should feel. Happy and hurting.
Because I love Ellie and I want her to do what’s best for her.
But I miss her already. She only left five minutes ago and I feel like screaming and yelling.
