Rounding Third - Michelle Lynn Page 0,32
the blame on me.” I cross my arms and narrow my eyes at him.
“It doesn’t matter, Ella. I mean, this was going to end when we went to medical school anyway. Probably better now.” He looks over and must notice my utter surprise from his words. “Don’t act surprised.”
I never put much thought into if we’d be short or long-term. I was going with the flow with Liam. Maybe that’s the problem. I swear, I planned on marrying Crosby from the age of twelve. My notebooks with Ella Lynch scribbled on them are proof of that.
“Well, I guess I never thought about our future.” I shrug.
He huffs. “Exactly. Listen, Ella, I’m not sure of your relationship with that guy because you’ve never opened up about your past. When we’ve discussed high school, you’ve never volunteered information, and I’ve never pried, but to everyone in that room tonight, it’s evident that you love him.”
“No, but—”
He places his hand up in the air. “Don’t deny it. We both know it, and if you deny the fact, then you are belittling me.”
My shoulders falter.
“Not any more than you’ve belittled me.”
Do I love Liam? No.
Do I want him in my future? No.
But he’s the safe bet.
His eyes are pinned on his future. I never worried about having any rumbles in our life. We’d have lived in the suburbs. We’d have had scheduled dinners and gone on a vacation every year.
My life with Liam would be predictable.
“I’m sorry, El. I shouldn’t have cheated on you. Look, now you can be the Beast’s princess.”
“He is the better choice. I have one question though.” I stand up and move toward the door. I leave my one hand on the doorknob and the other one posed up in the air.
His face turns up. It’s red, streaked with blood, and starting to swell.
“Do I need to get tested?” I ask.
He huffs.
“According to your standards tonight, I’m afraid you haven’t been careful.”
“I’ve always worn something.”
I knew he cheated before asking the question, but there’s a sense of sadness that washes through me with his confirmation of the acts. How was I so blind to not notice?
“Again El, they meant nothing.”
I let out a hollow laugh. “Neither did I.”
I walk out of his room and down the stairs where rumors must have already started because people are huddled in small groups whispering the gossip.
The cool night of September rushes a breeze over my hot-blooded body, and quickly, my tears unleash from my eyes. Embarrassment for what my friends, especially Crosby witnessed tonight.
Jen stands, brushing her ass off, about to come to console me.
I walk across the street, and Crosby stands on the edge of the sidewalk, waiting for me. God, I want to run into those open arms and have him promise me that I’m worth more than the way Liam treated me, but instead, I take my two hands and splay them on his chest, pushing him back.
“How could you?”
Crosby fumbles to gain his footing and I run to Jen, welcoming her comfort. She’s not as warm and loving as Crosby, but she’ll do.
“What?” he asks, throwing his arms up in the air.
“You purposely made me see it. What did you want? Me to come running back to you? Well, Crosby Lynch”—I leave Jen’s body and start jabbing him with my finger—“you just lost my trust.”
“Ella”—Brax comes to my side, trying to stop me from the outburst—“he was helping you.”
“Stay out of it, Brax.” I place my hand up in the air, and he steps back.
“Whoa, it isn’t Crosby’s fault,” Oliver says next.
“Don’t even try it, Ollie. This is Keaton temper. Let her get it out, and then she’ll crash,” Brax hollers over.
Oliver seems to be appeased with the answer.
“How am I the asshole in this situation?” Crosby asks.
I narrow my eyes. “You knew he was cheating, didn’t you?” I cross my arms over my chest and stare dead center into his dreamy caramel eyes.
He sucks in his bottom lip, dragging his teeth over it. “Yeah.” His fingers thread through his hair, and he pulls lightly on the back of his neck. His little uncomfortable tell-tale signs aren’t getting him off the hook tonight.
“I knew it. That whole, Let’s go find your boyfriend, was just a bit. Smooth, Cros, really smooth.”
I flip around, and Jen’s there to swing her arm over my shoulders. We start walking away.
“I’ll apologize,” he chokes out. “Ella!” he screams out into the midnight air when I don’t answer.
Jen stops us, and I turn around.
“If he