So unlikehersister, which reminds me… “Where’s Charlotte?”
“Drama class. She won’t be home for an hour. Here,” she says, sticking a spoonful of something saucy in my mouth.
My taste buds instantly dance in my mouth with delight. “Holy crap, what is that? It’s delicious.”
Eleanor smiles proudly. “Thai basil fried rice with marinated chicken. That trip we took to Thailand inspired me.”
“Well, I’m glad I stopped over at dinnertime. I’m starving.” I rub Chloe’s back and she snuggles closer. “All’s good with the girls? Charlie’s not giving you a hard time?”
She huffs loudly. “I’m assuming Wills made you stop over? He forgets Charlotte is Evelyn 2.0, and I can handle her just fine.”
I look over the stove and quickly open one of the other lids, groaning at the sight before me. “Is this fresh bread? You know that’s my weakness. Maybe I’ll stay with you all week instead of going home.”
She slaps my hand with her spoon. “Hands off, and I’m not sure your new roommate would appreciate you staying.”
Caught off-guard, I turn to face her, completely surprised by her comment.
“Don’t give me that look. Mums know all, like how something’s wrong, so sit down and talk to me about it.”
I don’t hesitate. I sit, still stunned. “Were we that obvious?”
She laughs sarcastically, sounding so much like Wills. “Jackson, you’ve been obvious the entire time I’ve known you, so it was no surprise I recognized the shift the instant I saw you two together this weekend.” She makes me a plate of food, places it in front of me, then continues, “But you should know by now that we’re one big family, and you can’t hide anything, like how you’re now living together. Nora told me this morning.”
I try to put Chloe down, but she’s like a koala hanging on, so I eat around her. “We haven’t told Sadie and Wills yet. We’ll tell them the second they get home… Well, as long as we’ve worked out everything between us,” I mumble around my food. If she’s going to be here cooking like this all week, I’ll have to double up my sessions at the gym.
“Explain what’s going on, and I’ll help the best I can.” She smiles softly, leaning back, giving me her full attention.
So I do. I tell her everything from our past to our present, not leaving out one single detail. If I trust anyone besides Belle and my sister, it’s Eleanor.
When I’m done talking, she nods toward my food. “Finish that up, because you’re leaving.”
I hesitate, blinking in bafflement. “What do you mean?”
“Men,” she huffs, then picks up my plate even though I’ve taken two bites. “You bloody lads don’t have a clue, do you?”
She wraps up my bread and puts the rest in a takeaway container. “Here.” She thrusts it into my hand and takes a now sleeping Chloe out of my arms. “You’re going to go home, pack, and get on a plane to Italy.”
I protest, but she stops me. “Before you tell me she wants her space because she said she needs to think, you’re wrong. Annabelle is very similar to me in ways—strong-willed and sometimes too prideful for her own good. She doesn’t need any more time in her head. She’s had the last thirty-odd years for that. What she needs is you, Jackson.”
I mindlessly stand up.Am I going to Italy?
The second Belle left, all I thought about was running after her, following her until she got it through her head that it wasn’t what it looked like. It’s not in my nature to sit back and let things play out. However, considering I’ve never had a girlfriend in my life, I was trying to be reasonable and respect her wishes.
Eleanor guides me toward the front door, then lowers her voice and speaks in a gentle tone. “You love each other, and although I respect your thought process, sometimes it’s okay to assert your dominance. A little push won’t hurt.” She tugs at my shirt, so I lean down for her to kiss me goodbye. “Make the best of it, Jackson. These are the best times of your life, young and in love—nothing will ever compare.”
17
Annabelle
I want to go home.
Not one part of me wants to be here, plain and simple. There is no use for me when I’m physically unable to enjoy myself. The only thing on my mind is Jack and how childish I acted, letting my fears get in the way and not letting him explain when I knew the second I saw him that nothing happened.You have to let go of your fear.
Still, I couldn’t control myself in the moment, and I’m completely mortified over it.
Scared of future incidents where my emotions play a bigger role than anything else, letting my insecurities once again rear their ugly head, incapacitating me as a rational human.
So, needless to say, it’s been the longest thirty-six hours of my life, and now Jack’s not answering any of my calls, texts, or emails.
