along - sneaking in and creeping through my things. You shit. What do you think Max would say if he found you here?’ she screamed at him.
He smiled, and moved towards her, grabbing her arms and pushing her back inside the sitting room. He easily gripped both of her wrists in one of his large, strong hands and held them above her head, running his other hand down her body from her neck to her hip.
She was about to scream when she heard the last voice she was expecting, coming from the landing above.
‘Ellie? What the hell are you shouting at Sean for?’
Max.
Oh Christ - what had she done? What had she said?
For a moment, Ellie was incapable of responding. Had she given herself away? Sean just smiled and let go of her wrists, guiding her out into the hallway.
She looked up to where Max was leaning over the banister, looking both mystified and annoyed. She was speechless. But Sean was still smirking.
‘It’s okay Max. I think I frightened the life out of Miss Scarlet here. At least she didn’t hit me with the candlestick that she’s brandishing. She must have thought I was a burglar.’
Max didn’t look entirely convinced.
‘A burglar. For God’s sake, Ellie. I asked Sean to come round and look at changing the locks. I thought that would make you happy. While he was here, he was just helping me to carry that new toy box upstairs.’
Ellie couldn’t stop herself from shooting a glance of fury over her shoulder. I bet he thought that was a joke. As if Sean changing the locks would solve the problems. He’d just have spares cut, and they would be back to square one.
Pulling herself together quickly, Ellie managed to muster up a weak smile from somewhere.
‘There are no cars here, though - I thought nobody was home.’
‘We left the cars round the side - because that’s where you keep telling me to park. Leo’s gone out, and the twins have been given the special honour of thirty minutes watching the “ginormous” television in the media room to keep them out of the way. I’ll be down in a second. Maybe you could offer Sean a drink or something by way of apology for nearly ripping his head off.’
Max disappeared from view, and Ellie closed her eyes and felt herself crumple with the relief, almost forgetting that she wasn’t alone.
‘I won’t stay for a drink, Ellie. Don’t look so worried.’ The smile slipped from Sean’s face. ‘The truth is, I can’t stand to see you two together. Not like last night. I didn’t like that.’
He reached out and grabbed her wrist, gripping it tightly. ‘I mean it Ellie. I didn’t like it.’ He let go of her, and she rubbed her arm fiercely with the other hand as if to erase all trace of him from her skin. ‘I’ll be off - but you know where I am - always.’
He turned towards the door, then stopped. ‘And by the way, while Max wasn’t paying attention I used the opportunity to move a few things around. I like the thought of something I bought you being in your bathroom, watching you undress, take a bath, take a shower. That’s why I bought it. Don’t move it again, Ellie.’
* * *
I can hear things now. And I can feel things. I feel sore. My feet hurt - was that from kicking the door? No - that was THEN. That was a long time ago. I’m getting confused.
I was going to see Chloe. That’s right! I’d forgotten. She was coming with her mum to get me.
But that’s not what happened.
It didn’t matter that Chloe wasn’t in the car - I understood that there had been a change of plan. I didn’t think that anything was wrong - I was so excited. I thought it was strange that I had to wear a blindfold, but it was supposed to be part of the surprise. I don’t think so now. I think it was so that I wouldn’t know where I was. I’d never be able to find my way back.
We went in the house, and we waited for Chloe. I kept asking - ‘Where’s Chloe? When’s she coming?’
‘Soon - but it’s nice for us to get to know each other while we wait, isn’t it?’
Well, I suppose so - but I really wanted to see Chloe.
I don’t know when I realised that Chloe wasn’t coming, but I was worried. It wasn’t right. It felt totally