The Last Thing She Wants (Chestnut Hills #1)

11

theo

That was quite a sight to walk in on, Ellie and her friend wrestling, Ellie’s shirt wrapped around her head. I chuckled to myself as I shut her door. Although it was their screams that triggered an instinct reaction to run in, it was her glorious cleavage that melted my brain to mud.

I’ll admit, my running in was part instinct, but also part selfishness. Ellie had been avoiding me all week.

Our kiss was amazing. You know that zing in the chest people always talk about when they kiss the love of their life? But, because you haven’t felt it yet, you think they’re full of shit? Well, that was what I felt in that kiss. Which was why I stupidly said I thought we might soulmates.

Admittedly, that was possibly one of the worst things to say in that moment. I didn’t blame her for avoiding me, but there was something there. I knew it.

When I saw her, there was a tightness that crept over my chest.

When I watched her walk, a warmth spread through my veins .

When I heard her laugh, I couldn’t fight the smile that found its way onto my face.

When I kissed her, I felt my heart whisper to my head, ah, there she is.

It was clear Ellie wasn’t a fan of Daisy inviting me along, but this was an opening to reconnect with her. I needed to show Ellie that we were meant to be more than friends. We were meant to be.

Taking out my phone, I shot a quick text to Jake.

Theo

Got plans tonight?

Jake

Going to the movies with Penny. What’s up?

Theo

Y’all want to go to Wild Cider?

Jake

We’re down. Be there around 8.

At the edge of downtown, the back parking lot to the brewery filled beyond capacity. Cars pulled into the surrounding grass, some with one tire haphazardly over the curving curb. Finding a spot in the elementary school parking lot across the road, I leaned against the hood of my car, waiting for Jake and Penny.

Distracted by my phone, I didn’t see as two women passed. That’s him, I heard one say to the other. Looking up to see who they were talking about, I realized I was the only guy in sight. Before I could look back at the women to figure out who they were, Jake approached from behind.

“Damn, it’s packed. ”

“The Assets are playing tonight. Remember? They were at Street 7 a few weeks ago.” Penny clutched her fiancé’s arm with an excited look.

“Ah, right, the accountants.” Jake laughed, recalling a recent get-together.

The indoor bar of the brewery was sparse. A few people lingered while others waited for drinks at the bar top. From inside, I could hear the loud music travel through the open garage doors that made up the back of the building.

Standing at the edge of the room, I stared out at the crowd. My eyes were drawn to her like a moth to a flame. At the base of the stage, she stood looking up with her hands placed over her heart while she swayed to the music. The band played a cover of “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, and her body moved to the slow rhythm.

Immediately my body began moving towards her with a magnetism I couldn’t persuade. I mindlessly stepped around tables, couples, and families, until she was just within reach. A heavy hand on my shoulder pulled me from my trance.

“Dude, did you hear us?” Jake came around, stepping in front of me and blocking my view of Ellie. “We found a table in the back.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone waving in our direction. With a quick glance, I registered Daisy, motioning me to join her. “Oh, my friend is over there,” I motioned to Daisy, perched on the ledge of a table to the left of the stage. “Follow me.”

“Who’s that?”

“Daisy,” I responded nonchalantly.

“And who is Daisy?” Jake asked quizzically, with a spark in his eye.

“A friend,” I emphasized the word friend .

Jake laughed to himself and shrugged just as Penny stepped up. “We’re sitting over there,” he motioned with a beer in his hand, directing his fiancé.

“Who’s that?” Penny almost exactly mirrored Jake.

“Daisy.” Jake parroted his friend, causing Penny to raise a brow.

Ellie was still in the crowd as we approached. I watched her offer the lead singer a smile, the same smile that was now permanently etched in my memory. A flash of jealously hit me and I could feel my cheeks heat. Seeking a reprieve from the exchange, I looked away. Daisy threw her arms around my neck, giving me a big squeeze.

“I’m so glad you came,” she yelled over the loud music pouring from the speaker several feet from us. “Hi! I’m Daisy!” She introduced herself to Jake and Penny.

My focus shifted back to Ellie as the group chatted. I watched as she made her way over, the band having just left the stage to take a break.

A light smile rested on her lips, her cheeks were rosy, and her hair was slightly tousled from dancing. My cock twitched as her hips swayed. The denim hugged her waist, sliding over her hips and flaring out at the bottom, highlighting her curves in a way that made my fingers want to trace them. Her cleavage was on display, but this time in a simple black top that made them seem like a hidden mystery adventure. She was something special and exciting, and she was letting everyone know it.

We shared a quiet greeting in passing as she approached the table. Avoiding speaking with me, she walked past and glued herself to Daisy, who made another round of introductions. The band began re-tuning their instruments and the lead singer returned, taking a sip of freshly poured cider.

“Thanks for joining us tonight here at Wild Cider.” There was a sudden wave of applause and whistles from the crowd. “My name is Brian, and we are the Assets. If you don’t know, we’re a team of accountants that met at work.” Another round of applause exploded. “My dear friend Ellie is here tonight. She has some kick ass pipes and we’ve been begging her to join us on stage. She always refuses, but I’m hoping tonight we can use a bit of peer pressure to persuade her.”

Brian shot a wink at Ellie and flashed a smile to the crowd. Commentary began coming from all directions, littered with shouts telling her to get on stage, including a few chants of her name. Her surprised face turned two shades darker of red and she placed both her hands on either side of her cheeks. Gently shaking her head, she mouthed the word “no,” exaggerating the movement.

“Come on, Ellie,” the lead singer coaxed through the microphone.

Ellie dropped her hands from her face and shook them out at her sides. Her chest rose and fell with a big breath just before she whispered something to herself. Chants still echoed around her as she found her way on stage.

“Oh, we’re here for her.” Penny said in a light voice.

“Yeah, man, wipe the drool from your face. At least try to play it cool.” Jake interjected.

“Did he tell you they kissed?” Great, now Daisy was in on it.

“What?” Penny and Jake asked in unison.

Their surprise clearly delighted Daisy. “Oh yeah, and he told her he thinks they are soulmates.” Fuck. I didn’t know she knew that.

“What!” Penny and Jake said again in unison, but this time with more disbelief and volume.

Jake pushed his shoulder. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Penny shook her head and took my face in her hands. “Theo, babe. What were you thinking?”

“He wasn’t,” Jake answered for me as Penny pulled me into a hug, patting my back .

The lead guitarist struck a loud chord, urging the audience to erupt in applause.

Ellie sang the first line of “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac. And wow, she was good. Like, really good. Captivated, I became locked in a trance as she performed. As the song continued, her confidence clearly grew. Transitioning into the song’s instrumental break, she and the lead singer moved around the stage together. Shaking her hair, she threw in a few head bangs, lost in the music.

The audience was into it, and a thick crowd grew around the stage. People were dancing all around. Some swayed their limbs without a care, while others were entangled with their partners, their faces close together. As they closed out the song, a deafening roar of encouragement and enjoyment filled the space. The look on Ellie’s face was pure happiness.

From then on, it became harder for me to get alone time with Ellie. People kept engaging with her, approaching her to compliment her singing. Every time I tried to approach her, another person pulled her into conversation.

Penny was venting about an old lady at work who she was in silent competition with. No matter how hard I tried to pay attention, my eyes remained transfixed on Ellie.

“You should go dance with her,” Penny changed the conversation.

I shook my head. “I can’t dance.”

“Sure, you can! You just sway and move to the beat. No one’s asking you to be on America’s Got Talent or anything.”

In the crowd’s thick, Ellie spun Daisy around before releasing her. Daisy lightly danced back to the table as Ellie continued to sway alone. Breathlessly, Daisy nodded in her direction. “You should go dance with her.”

Penny gave me a pointed look .

“Do you two have telepathy all of a sudden?”

Daisy and Penny laughed in unison. Looking back at Ellie, I admired how carefree she looked, clearly lost in the music. Before my mind could catch up to my feet, I began walking towards her, unable to ignore the pull. She stopped and looked up at me in surprise, her lips parted.

“Hey, asshole,” a familiar female voice called from directly behind me. I looked over my shoulder and recognition clicked, Sarah. She was the voice I heard in the parking lot; recognition quickly clicked.

Within a breath’s moment, cool liquid hit my face and a small gasp collectively came from the people in our immediate vicinity. Triumphant in dousing me, Sarah walked away with her friend.

Ellie was still there, having just watched the entire scene unfold. “Who was that?” While her tone tried to convey amusement, I thought I saw something else in her eyes. Maybe confusion or hurt?

Wiping my face, I shook the excess liquid from my hands. “Just someone I went out with once.”

“Once? She seemed pretty upset for only going out with you once.” Lifting a shoulder in a shrug, she pushed past me and met the group at the table. I followed closely behind, cursing the whole situation. I placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Ellie, can we talk?”

“What about?” she nonchalantly sipped her amber drink.

Connecting eyes with Penny, I silently pled for help. “Hey babe, can you get me another drink?” Penny asked sweetly, prompting Jake to give her a kiss on the head and disappear into the crowd.

“Who the hell was that?” Daisy asked, shooting him a glare and protectively stepping in front of Ellie.

“Someone from Dately. We only went out once. ”

“Wait! Was that Sarah?” Penny asked, laughed out loud as I shook my head in confirmation. “Dodged a bullet there,” she slapped my shoulder and turned to the girls, “they went on one date, and she had the weirdest personality. Then got upset when Theo ended things. Looks like that was a bit of an omen, huh? Excellent judge of character Theo.”

I gave her a pleading look, begging her to stop.

Recovering from her fit, Penny grabbed Daisy’s hand and pulled her away. “Hey Daisy, wanna come with me to help Jake with the drinks? Maybe we can get some wings too or something.”

Daisy’s eyes bounced between me and Ellie. “Sure,” she agreed, drawing out the u in a long breath.

Finally, alone with Ellie again, I reluctantly faced her. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

“I haven’t…I’ve just been really busy.”

“Okay…because it feels like you’ve been avoiding me.” I scratched my head. “I’m sorry about the other night. I crossed a line. I need to make sure I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable.”

“Not at all Theo-”

“Thank you all for a wonderful night. It’s been a pleasure to rock with you,” the band spoke to the crowd, having returned from their break. “We have time for a few more songs tonight and we’d like to invite Ellie back on stage to help close us out. Is Ellie still here?”

The crowd cheered and those near us pointed her out, urging her to go back on stage.

“There she is! Ellie, get back up here!”

Offering a polite smile to the crowd, she placed her drink on the table and gave me a small shrug. A roar built from the audience as she breezed past me. The guitarist ripped a loud chord and Ellie climbed onto the stage, speaking into the lead singer’s ear. Nodding in agreement, the opening to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” played through the speakers.

Her rich voice carried through the microphone and warmth spread through my bones. Stunned into hypnosis, I stood in place and watched her in her element. Daisy, Penny, and Jake returned. We all watched in awe, moving our bodies in time with the music. The energy flowing through the crowd was undeniable as we were all enveloped in the music.

Applause erupted as the song came to an end, causing Ellie to brightly laugh with the lead singer.

“Give it up for Ellie Branson everyone,” Brian paused, allowing space for more recognition. “For all those singles out there, Ellie is-” She whacked her arm across his chest with an exasperated look, stopping him mid-sentence. Chuckling, he brushed it off and continued, “anyhow, this is the last song for the night. It’s been a pleasure. My name is Brian and we’re the Assets!”

Everything faded around me, and my heart dropped to my stomach. This Brian guy basically just put out a calling card for Ellie. Not only did this stir jealousy deep in my gut, it also challenged our current…situationship.

“Ha! That shit head,” Daisy stood in amusement, “pure gold. I can’t believe he did that.”

In a state of disbelief, I contemplated what this meant. Regardless of how I felt about her, she was still undecided. She had the freedom to do as she pleased, and I wouldn’t hinder that. But I also wouldn’t stand by and willingly watch it happen.

“I’m going to head out, guys.” I sighed and gave Penny a hug and Jake a slap on the back. “Thanks for coming out with me.”

“You sure?” Penny held sympathy in her eyes. “The bar is open for a few more hours. We can still have fun. ”

Looking back at the stage, I shook my head. “I don’t really want to watch guys hit on Ellie the rest of the night.”

“Cheer up buttercup,” Daisy grabbed by cheeks, gently pinching them. “I know it’s you. Just give her a little time.”

Before the song finished, I was already through the bar and on the street, crossing the road. The last chord carried through the parking lot, mingled with hoots and hollers. My chest ached, painfully aware that I was leaving my girl behind.