for us and our parents would agree with it, my whole body felt as though I’d been in an MMA ring, bruised and battered beyond repair.
Over the crickets and wind, his phone continued to buzz, but he ignored it.
“I love you, Ella,” he whispered into my ear. Then, he kissed my cheek.
My fingers gripped his T-shirt, fisting it in my hands. A fear buried deep inside me that I’d never see him again.
“I love you.”
He backed away, my hands having no choice but to let go of the thin fabric. He rested his back on the door of his truck, with longing in both of our eyes.
“Go, baby. Live.”
My eyelids closed, cutting off the wetness in my eyes to form trickling tears down my cheeks.
“You, too,” I choked out before climbing into my car.
As my car drove forward, I watched him standing there until he morphed into a dot in my rearview mirror. And then he really did vanish out of my life.
Shivers run up my spine as I remember that night. I step back from the curtains and fall onto my couch. With my feet propped up and my teeth biting my nails, I start to absorb his return in my life.
My body yearned to be in his arms again. To feel his soft lips kiss the top of my head. His strong hand to link with mine, leading me through life’s ups and downs.
I can’t though. I can’t dump Liam and go right back, especially since Crosby hasn’t done what he said he was going to do. He’s as screwed up about the accident as before, and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t hurt that he had done nothing to heal himself during our time apart. I started counseling with the hope that, when he returned to me, I’d be ready. But he’s done nothing but hide the guilt and sadness.
Chapter Five
Crosby
Three days and I’m keeping my distance from Ella. Seeing her unleashed a pain that I’ve kept roped far enough away not to choke me.
It’s the first day of classes, and trying to figure out my way through this campus is similar to a treasure hunt. Buildings are linked to others while propped on hills or tucked in and out of coves. Luckily, Brax is a business major, too, and he guides me to the buildings where my classes are.
“This is White Hall.” He points to a building with ivy climbing the white bricks.
Other students line the steps leading to the front door. I scour them for Ella.
“She’s on the other side of campus where the science building is.” He laughs, rolling back on his heels.
I snap my eyes back to him and spot an emerging smirk. “I wasn’t looking—”
“Cut the bullshit. I know you want her back, and I don’t blame you.”
My fingers weave through my hair, and I release a deep breath. “It’s complicated.”
His hand clasps my shoulder. “Not nearly as much as you guys are making it. But her boyfriend, Liam, will be a roadblock for you.”
I scoff. I’m Crosby Lynch, Ella’s first and only love. “Yeah, I heard about him. He’s competition, huh?”
He shrugs his shoulders, one side of his lips rising. “Depends on how much you want him to be. There’s definitely room for you to wiggle in.” With a mischievous smile, he climbs the stairs. “See you at practice.”
“See ya,” I mumble, processing the information about her boyfriend.
As if I conjured them from my mind, Ella approaches the building, walking hand in hand with who I assume is her dickwad boyfriend.
She’s gorgeous this morning with her chestnut hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her shorts are so short that they show off the long legs that I remember being wrapped around me. Our eyes catch, and I can’t turn away from her, even when she diverts her gaze to him.
She quickly fidgets, and her eyes ping everywhere but to me. The asshole looks like he walked off the pages of a J.Crew catalog.
Who honestly dresses in a polo shirt and khakis to attend classes?
I glance down at my track pants and T-shirt. Crap. If I want Ella back, maybe I need to step up my game.
Liam ends his call and kisses her good-bye. He climbs up the same stairs Brax did moments ago, the steps I should be ascending, too, but Ella stands there, staring at me, and there’s no way I’ll allow my eyes to waver. The hustle of students rushing to their classes becomes mute as