The Last Thing She Wants (Chestnut Hills #1)

7

ellie

Standing in front of the mirror, I laughed at myself. It was a workout in itself just to pull the leggings up and over my ass, not to mention the suffocating top over my boobs. Ignoring my panting, I took a second to appreciate the hard work it took to get dressed.

Damn it, Daisy was right. The brightness of the pink was a little loud, but it popped against my lingering spray tan.

Daisy

Are you wearing it?

Ellie

I am.

Daisy

Good, make him cry.

Daisy’s approach to men always made me laugh.

I didn’t even really know how I felt about Theo. Sure, he was cute and kind, but I knew little else about him. Not to mention the fact that he knew my past very intimately. It made me nervous. I couldn’t make the truth a little more digestible, passing my last relationship off as it didn’t work out , or that I broke up with him because I needed more. He knew. He knew that I must’ve fallen short in a way that led to me being cheated on. That realization alone was enough to make me want to skip the gym all together.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, I pulled out a gray shirt two sizes too big from the top right drawer of my dresser. The clock read two minutes past our five thirty meeting time as my head poked through the shirt and I pulled it down over my smothering top. I sneaked a glance out of the peephole and saw Theo leaning against the wall scrolling on his phone. If I wait long enough, maybe he’ll leave.

He shifted his weight, put his phone in his pocket, and stretched his hand towards the door. The sudden movement made me jump back just as three quick knocks came through the door.

I plastered a smile on my face and braved opening the door. The moment I came face to face with Theo, it took no effort to smile at him genuinely. Our eyes connected for a moment and I watched his gaze trail over my body, landing on my bright, slap-ya-across-the-face pink leggings. Immediately, I felt self-conscious.

“Oh, hi Theo. I just need to change. I’ll be right back.” I tugged at the hem of my shirt, willing it to suddenly grow four feet and reach the floor.

My arm heated from his touch, stopping me before I could turn and retreat to my room. “Why?” his husky voice was laced with concern.

“Daisy made me buy this,” I gestured to the neon-colored leggings. “I didn’t even want this.” He still held my arm as he slid his hand down to mine, lifting it to spin me around. Sparks trailed after his touch, and, too shocked to decline, I awkwardly twirled .

“It makes you look like the pink Power Ranger.” He gave me a wink that sent an array of butterflies loose in me. “Totally badass.”

Loosening his hold and dropping his hand to his side, I wanted to ask him to not let go. Maybe Daisy was right. I did have a crush.

He patiently waited while I grabbed my water, headphones, phone, and keys. Quickly locking my door, I fell in stride next to him, just as I had every weekday for the last few weeks. While I was faced with both want and a feeling of nervousness, I was also consumed with doubt and worry.

If there was anything I learned from my past relationships, it was that I wasn’t enough. At least not enough to maintain someone else’s happiness. Contrary to what one might believe, that notion was not something I was keen on being reminded of. Our budding friendship was beginning to mean a lot to me, and risking the loss of it through my inability to be in a successful romantic relationship was nowhere near the top of my goals list.

I decided then and there. I totally did not have a crush. To change the subject, I threw out the first thing that came to my mind from his earlier comment. “So, Power Rangers, huh? Want to say ‘Go Go Power Rangers’ to kick off our kickass workout sessions?”

Theo decided he would not be shouting the activation phrase with me daily, surprising me. Despite thorough conversation as to why and him admitting his childhood crush on the pink superhero, I was still offended. I was even more sure than before; I really didn’t have a crush on him.

I scoffed and power walked ahead, letting the sound of his laughter fall behind me. “Wait, okay. I’ll do it.” Theo caught up to me and stepped in my path, opening the door for me before I could grab the handle. Something I realized he always did. Squinting my eyes in suspicion, I was gifted another laugh from him .

“I can’t have you scoffing and walking away like that. I need my walking buddy. You left me alone and vulnerable,” he dramatically batted his eyes. “How would I defend myself if I were attacked all by my lonesome? No Power Ranger to protect me?”

Taking a long step around him, I rolled my eyes. Without stopping, I aimed straight for the gym and called over my shoulder, waving my hand in the air above my head. “I’m sure you would have managed.”

His rich laugh echoed through the empty hall and caused another flutter in my heart. I opened the door this time and motioned with my head for him to come forward. “Well…come on. Let’s Go Go Power Rangers.”

He jogged towards me with a boyish grin and wrapped his hand around the door, pulling it away from my grasp. “Your charm isn’t going to work on me,” he gave me a pointed look as I began to protest. “Even if you do like damn good walking away.”

Sorry, what? Was he flirting…again? A gaggle of questions filled my head, and I carefully dissected each word of the sentence. Recognizing my awe and imagining what my stunned face must’ve looked like, I awkwardly chuckled.

“Clearly it did. You agreed to do it.”

“Only because you abandoned me, threatening my personal safety,” he pointed at me with one hand, his other propped against the door.

“I’m so sorry,” I feigned sympathy. “I’ll never leave you vulnerable again.”

“Promise?” his wink and flash of teeth nearly made me keel over. All I could muster in response was an eye roll as I slid my headphones over my ears and pressed to play my music, Taylor Black filling my ears.