Page 29 of Into the Light
“I hope you know how ridiculous that is. My brother calling you, treating me like I’m a child, expecting you to drop everything to babysit me.”
I didn’t know how to respond. I saw her point of view, of course. She was a grown adult, and not many other grown adults had their brothers looking out for them like that. But I knew where Sam was coming from too. Wasn’t that the original reason I came tonight? To make sure she wasn’t preyed on by horny assholes?
Only, I became the horny asshole. Fuck.
Ellie saw the war I was having all over my face, and huffed out a sigh.
“Whatever,” she said. “I’m going home. Feel free to follow behind me like a prison guard, since I can’t be trusted to get there on my own.”
I felt bad. I really did. I felt confused and ashamed and still so damn hungry for her. But Sam’s call put into perspective just how fucked up I was for lusting after my best friend’s little sister so much.
I watched her walk down the alley and back to the main street, and I followed behind, because of course I did. Ellie only lived a few blocks away, so we walked, separately, but together, until she got to her door. She grabbed a hidden key from under a flower pot, no wonder since her costume didn’t exactly have storage space, and unlocked the door.
When she turned around to close it, she looked me in the eye and shook her head, disappointed, angry, and who knows what else. I thought about how it was reminiscent of the night of the rehearsal dinner. Me fucking up, but still making sure she got home safe. Seemed like a theme.
“I’m locking it,” Ellie said, closing the door. I heard the deadbolt click in place.
This time, she beat me to it.
fourteen
ELLIE
A few daysafter the party, I was helping my last customer and closing up shop when Raf walked in. I did a double take, not expecting to see him any time soon after the disaster of Halloween, but there he was, strolling in like it was no big deal. His big frame stood out like a bull in a china shop, and when he saw me with a customer, he pretended to be interested in the beaded bracelets in the front case.
I took my time packing up the sea glass pin I’d just sold, placing it in a box and gift wrapping it to perfection. I always prided myself on my packaging but today, it also had the added benefit of making Raf wait.
The customer, a cute little old lady with white hair, thanked me profusely and then shuffled to the door. Raf hurried over to open it for her, causing me to scowl. He really had to be perfect, didn’t he?
“Oh, thank you, young man!” The lady called as she left.
“My pleasure, Miss.”
She erupted into a fit of laughter and turned down the street. I stood there watching with my arms crossed.
“Hey, El.”
“What do you want?”
“To talk to you.”
“I don’t know what you could possibly want to say.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. I got carried away the other night.”
My back straightened, and he rushed to explain before I ripped him a new one.
“I don’t regret it. I mean, I do, if it hurt you. I never want to hurt you. But I don’t regret showing you how much I want you.”
“But what’s the point of it if you can’t do anything about it? If the second you see my brother’s name, you back off like I’m untouchable.”
“I just feel so much guilt. I’ve been looking out for you since you were a kid, and Sam trusts me. I’d hate him to think that I’ve been taking advantage of you both.”
“But you’re not, right? I mean, you’d only be taking advantage if you, I don’t know, say… Danced with me, touched me, led me on, and then poof, decided ‘nah, not for me.’”
He hung his head.
“Okay, I see your point, but that’s not how it was.”
