August chokes on a grape, coughing before he looks at me. “What? Why didn’t you tell any of us? That’s a big deal, El.”
“I don’t know!” I exclaim, raising my hands. “So much shit was happening at once. I couldn’t process it.”
“You need to tell mom and dad.”
“I know, August,” I say, exasperated.
“Right now,” he pressed, his eyebrows raising.
“What? I’m not telling them right now.”
August rises from his chair. “If you don’t tell them, I will.”
I stand up. “It’s not your business to tell them.”
“Ellie.” He walks over to me, and I peer up at him. “This is very big news. This can change a lot for you. Maybe it will be positive, maybe it will be negative, I don’t know. But what I do know is you came home partly because of work. If you were in a different position, it would be an easy answer. You know it’s not. Not anymore.”
I slump my shoulders. I know he’s right. I know that it’s not an easy choice to make. Maybe it would have been a few years ago when I was in a better space mentally. Then again, it’s an opportunity I may not have again.
August puts his hands on my shoulders. “Ellie, you need to tell Mom and Dad. The sooner, the better. Please.” He looks at me with pleading eyes. I would do anything for my brother, as he would for me.
Am I willing to put myself through more stress just to take another step in the culinary industry? Will my becoming an executive change things for me and I get back to who I used to be?
I’m scared to find out.
thirty-five
ROWAN
I tapmy finger on the steering wheel of my car as I drive to Ellie’s place. A container of cookies in the backseat, and Milo in the passenger.
I haven’t seen Ellie since we went out, but we’ve been texting back and forth, not missing a day. I could tell that we both felt weird after the couch incident. I figured it’d probably be best to give us some space, as much as I hated it.
She mentioned again that Charlie keeps texting her and that he’s not taking the hint that she doesn’t want to talk to him. At least, not right now. If she gave me full access to contacting him, I would tell him to crawl to the woman that he so desperately needed because Ellie wasn’t around enough.
I pull up to the house and put the car in park. I turn to look at Milo, his tongue hanging out, giving me a smile that dogs somehow do. My body twists when I lean back to grab the container, Milo sneaking a quick lick at my cheek, before placing the cookies on my lap.
“I don’t know if I should give these to her.” My gaze goes back to Milo, still smiling with his tongue out.
The night of the bonfire, I was looking for cookie recipes on my phone. I wanted to do something nice for Ellie. Maybe get her to miss the simplicity of desserts and baking. I’m sure I followed the recipe well enough.
If I can brew beer, then I'm pretty sure I can make decent cookies. I did not try one because I wanted Ellie to have the first one. I’m also scared they taste like shit. I know Ellie will tell me the truth and be gentle about it.
Milo and I walk up the driveway and to the gate that leads to the backyard. The greenery cascades over the path leading to the small guest house in the back.
Birds fly by, chirping and following each other. A bee sits on a bed of purple mums, causing Milo to stop and look at it. I whistle to him to keep walking. I take a minute to breathe before lifting my fist to knock on the glass door.
I made sure to let Ellie know I was stopping by, not wanting to show up unannounced. My heart eases when I see her walking up to us, a gorgeous smile on her face. I can see the tan lines on her shoulders from when we were on the boat. The ribbed tank top leaves nothing to the imagination while it shows off her golden skin.
The door swings open with a blast of cold air. “Hi!” She looks down next to me. “You brought Milo,” she says excitedly, kneeling to his level. “Hi, baby boy, I’ve missed you so much.”
I watch as he licks her face over and over. She attempts to give him a hug around his neck, but he’s too excited to sit still. She kisses the top of his head before standing up and walking back into the house.
I walk in with my arms open. “What, no hugs or kisses for me?”
Ellie turns around with a smile, rolling her eyes when she walks back to me. She pulls me in for a hug, her arms wrapping around my lower back. My arms are snug around her shoulder blades, and my nose buries itself in her hair, smelling rich vanilla.
When we break apart, our eyes stay on each other for a moment. I don’t mind this. I could do this all day. Her long hair braided and falling over one side of her shoulder, her freckles on full display on her bare skin.
