I hadn’t prepared myself for what life would really be like living with Flynn…trying to create a unified world where we co-existed harmoniously. It had been a delusional dream. Because I had my demons and Flynn had his limitations. And they were crashing into each other with the force of a wrecking ball.
Flynn got up from his desk chair and did something that shook me to my core. He dropped to his knees in front of me, resting his hands on my knees. I sat back in shock, holding myself completely rigid.
Flynn’s eyes were on mine. Unwavering. Steady.
“I want you to be happy, Ellie. I want you to smile and kiss me. I want to hear you laugh. I don’t like it when you look sad. I don’t like hearing you yell. You’ve been yelling a lot lately. I feel like I’m always asking if you’re happy because you don’t look like you are. I’m tired of asking. Tell me what you want to do. I know you’re mad at me. I just don’t know why. Why are you mad at me, Ellie?”
His simple, heartfelt question tore at my heart. I covered his hands with mine and leaned down, pressing my lips to his. His mouth was warm beneath mine and instantly opened for me.
I pulled back, our noses touching. Flynn’s eyes closed, our breath mingling. “I’m sorry I yell at you. What I’m feeling inside has nothing to do with you. It has to do with me and my stupid insecurities.”
“That’s dumb, Ellie,” Flynn said softly, his lips brushing against mine.
“I didn’t say it made sense. But it’s what I feel. Here, I’m too close to being the old Ellie. The one who treated people badly and hated herself. I thought I could be someone else. I just worry that I’m becoming her again.” It hurt to admit such a horrible thing.
Flynn kissed me. Not urgently or passionately but lovingly and gentle. “You aren’t two Ellies. You are one Ellie. And I like you just as you are,” he said simply.
“Flynn…” I said his name on a sigh like a prayer.
Flynn rose up on his knees and wrapped his arms around me. There was no hesitation. There was no reluctance. He pulled me into the solidity of his body and I fell against him.
Flynn had always been my safe landing.
With him, things were okay.
Our kiss slowly became more passionate. I buried my hands into his thick hair and he groaned low and loud in the back of his throat. He began tugging at the hem of my shirt, pulling it out of the waist of my pants in an effort to get to my bare skin.
“I love you, Flynn. So much,” I breathed as he started to suck on my neck. My body started to tingle in the best possible way.
“Excuse me, Flynn,” a voice said, and I almost jumped out of my seat. I pulled back, repositioning my shirt over my exposed chest. Crap! When did that happen?
I tried straightening my clothes but it was a lost cause. Flynn was resistant. He tried to pull me into his arms again but I pressed a hand to his chest, holding him back.
“Flynn, someone’s here,” I whispered. His eyes were still closed and he slowly opened them, scowling.
He looked to the doorway, obviously annoyed. “What is it, Imogen?” he asked, brash as always.
I looked up at the woman Imogen and remembered she was one of Flynn’s co-workers. The one who had watched Murphy during my graduation weekend. He had been right, she did look like his mom.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need your grading report. Do you have it ready? It’s due to the dean by the end of the day,” she said, giving me an apologetic smile.
“You should have knocked instead of walking in, Imogen,” Flynn chastised, his face still flushed.
“I did knock, Flynn. I guess you didn’t hear me,” Imogen replied, looking uncomfortable.
That made two of us.
Imogen held her hand out to me and I shook it reluctantly. “I’m Imogen Stafford. I’m the Dean of Art Studies here at the college,” she said and I appreciated her efforts to smooth over this awkward situation.
“Hi, I’m Ellie McCallum, Flynn’s girlfriend,” I said.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Ellie. It’s nice to finally meet you,” she added. While she appeared to be a nice lady, I wish she would leave already. I was pretty certain Flynn had left a hickey on the side of my neck that needed to be covered up.
“Here you go,” Flynn said, shoving a paper in Imogen’s hands. She took it and looked it over, nodding.
“This looks good. Thanks, Flynn. I’ll see you this afternoon at the staff meeting,” she said.
“Yes, I’ll see you then. You can leave now?” he said and I had to hide my grin. Imogen didn’t seem bothered by his rudeness. She was obviously used to it by now and understood how to respond without responding. She just earned some major cool points in my book.
