Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“You need to treat Ellie right,” he says, arching a warning eyebrow.
“What do you mean?” I ask, but as the words slip out of my mouth, I immediately feel like a douchebag. Dornan knows. He probably knows everything and doesn’t deserve to have me treat him like a fool. I hold my hand up before he can reply. “We want to treat her right,” I say. “She deserves nothing less.”
Dornan flares his nostrils and grabs a napkin to dab grease from his lips. It’s the same expression he gets on the field as a play is set in motion; part anticipation and part steadying himself for what’s coming next. “You need to know that it won’t an easy road,” he says. “She’s had feelings for you all for years. She just never wanted to admit it. But I’ve known that girl since she had pigtails and freckles. She can’t hide anything from me.” He closes his eyes for a moment, and I scan the twitch in his jaw and the slight downturn of his mouth. “I love her like a sister, Colby. And sometimes, when you love someone, you have to help them see who they are and what they truly want, even if it might hurt them. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I nod and purse my lips. He’s encouraged her to face her feelings for us, even though he’s worried about her getting hurt in the long term. It’s brave and maybe a little stupid, but I get it. He just wants her to be happy, the same as us. And right now, I need to show him we’re a safe bet. Or at least safer than he currently believes. “Ellie doesn’t know how to face her feelings or take steps forward when there’s resistance. That’s why she relies on dares so much.”
“So you understand her?” Dornan nods. “The key thing is not to just become the person who’s pushing her. You have to be the person who helps her take her own steps.”
“Have you met Ellie? She’s as stubborn as fuck.”
Dornan snorts, picking up his burger again. “She’s stubborn, but she’s ride-or-die. Once you’re in her life and she trusts you, there’s no better friend in the world.”
I look across the cafeteria at all the other students eating lunch. There are big noisy groups, couples, and people by themselves, scribbling notes to catch up with late work or cramming up on knowledge from books. Every person is going through their own set of circumstances. I just wonder how many of them have a life as complicated as mine is right now.
“Our parent’s relationship is about as fucked up as it could be,” I say. “They can’t take hearing about our feelings for Ellie or her feelings for us.”
“That might be the case,” Dornan says. “But as long as Ellie knows you have her back, and as long as she feels secure, she’ll be okay to keep things between the four of you.”
I stare at him, trying to work out how he’s okay with the three of us being with his best friend. I mean, I’ve always suspected there is more to Dornan and Ellie’s relationship than they make out. He’s a good-looking guy, and she’s as gorgeous as they come. Why the hell aren’t they dating?
“What’s the score with you and Ellie?” I ask. “Like, you must see how hot she is.”
“She’s fire, my friend.” Dornan shoots me a lopsided grin. “You’re wondering why I’m not angry with you?”
“Yeah. I’m wondering why you’re so cool about all this.”
He grimaces, revealing an undercurrent of his less-than-positive feelings, and I brace myself for the can of worms I’ve just opened. “I’ve been watching you guys for a while,” he says, biting a fry and nodding slowly. “From the point that I suspected she was developing crushes on you, I started keeping track. I wanted to make sure that she wasn’t crushing on a load of douchebags. If I thought you were assholes, I would have told her she was crazy a long time ago. I didn’t notice any behavior from you or your brothers that concerned me. I was impressed that you defended Ellie when people were talking about her. And I like that you’re always straight down the line with girls. I haven’t heard any nasty gossip about any of you. Yeah, you might fuck around, but what guy our age doesn’t? But you’ve always hooked up with girls who are on the same page and not played around with feelings. And you work hard. It might not be your everyday setup, but if you guys make her happy, then why the fuck not? We’re living in different times, Colby. The concept of what makes a relationship isn’t what it used to be.”
“You’re a lot cooler than I would be if Ellie was my best friend,” I say.