feelings. She really was adorable,
although a little reticent about her background. When he’d seen her at the
coffee shop the previous morning, he’d thought about walking away before she’d
noticed him. But something about her drew him to her, and he’d approached her
despite all the reasons he knew he shouldn’t. And then he’d gone and not only
asked to run with her, but he’d practically insisted on it. And now he’d made
it a standing thing between them.
What are
you doing Alex? He questioned himself. As much as everything in him
insisted that he pursue her, it simply wasn’t possible. And beyond stupid.
Regardless of the age difference, he might be putting her in danger based on
Lucy’s latest premonitions. I have no choice. I’ll keep everything light and
casual with Ellie, and walk away if things got intense. He made the mental
vow.
And then he
immediately went back on those few good intensions by texting her again later
that night.
“Hey.”
“Hey back atchya.” Alex
chuckled. He loved her sassy little text comebacks.
“Had fun on our run this morning.”
“ : ) Me too.”
“We still on for tomorrow?”
“Same bat time, same bat channel.”
Alex shook his
head, completely confused. “Huh?”
“Didn’t you ever watch that old hokey
Batman show on TV?”
“Lol. Can’t say that I did.”
“Sheesh. I thought everyone knew that
expression. You missed out.”
“Sounds like it. See you tomorrow.”
“With bells on.”
Chapter 11
Ellie’s life
fell into a pattern. At school, there were a few more people she recognized. A
few more friendly faces in the halls. Her days of being the focal point of
everyone’s curiosity were over. Now she was just another regular student.
Meanwhile, she
was becoming addicted to her mornings with Alex. They’d take a quick run around
the lake and then breakfast at the little shop where they’d bumped into each
other the first time. They chatted about any and everything, a casual comfort
stealing into their interaction that had Ellie opening up a little bit more
each day.
She felt a
little thrill when she thought about their time together, despite the fact that
he treated her more like a little sister than anything else. A disappointment
she chose to ignore for the time being. And he’d stopped the flirty little
texts. She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that either. Thankfully, Griffin
had kept whatever thoughts he had about the situation to himself.
Ellie spent
time with the Adelaide, Lila, and Nate at school, and felt like they were
becoming true friends. Although they never mentioned how Alex and Ellie met
every morning to run. After the first day, Griffin informed her that Alex
hadn’t shared this fact with his family yet. So Ellie kept their secret.
One day, as
she was just about to get into her car, Ellie heard someone calling her name
and turned around.
“How’s it
going?” Adelaide asked once she made her way over. She searched in her purse,
pulled out sunglasses, and popped them on.
“Same ol’,
same ol’.” Ellie grinned, leaning an arm along the top of the car door.
Adelaide got
straight to the point. “So, I know it’s been a while since I asked…” She gave
Ellie an apologetic look. “But things seem to have calmed down at home since
Alex got back. So how about that study session we talked about?”
Ellie had been
patiently waiting for this invitation. Griffin had assured her that it would
come eventually, but it had been almost two months and she’d started to lose
hope. “Sure! That sounds great!”
“Okay. So how
does Thursday night sound to you?”
They had a
French test coming up, so it was perfect timing. Ellie had a ready answer this
time, and, for once, was thankful for the recent snowfall.
“Um…” Ellie
feigned remorseful surprise. “I’d love to come over, except my family doesn’t
feel comfortable with me driving all the way to your house in the dark while
it’s snowing. We
although a little reticent about her background. When he’d seen her at the
coffee shop the previous morning, he’d thought about walking away before she’d
noticed him. But something about her drew him to her, and he’d approached her
despite all the reasons he knew he shouldn’t. And then he’d gone and not only
asked to run with her, but he’d practically insisted on it. And now he’d made
it a standing thing between them.
What are
you doing Alex? He questioned himself. As much as everything in him
insisted that he pursue her, it simply wasn’t possible. And beyond stupid.
Regardless of the age difference, he might be putting her in danger based on
Lucy’s latest premonitions. I have no choice. I’ll keep everything light and
casual with Ellie, and walk away if things got intense. He made the mental
vow.
And then he
immediately went back on those few good intensions by texting her again later
that night.
“Hey.”
“Hey back atchya.” Alex
chuckled. He loved her sassy little text comebacks.
“Had fun on our run this morning.”
“ : ) Me too.”
“We still on for tomorrow?”
“Same bat time, same bat channel.”
Alex shook his
head, completely confused. “Huh?”
“Didn’t you ever watch that old hokey
Batman show on TV?”
“Lol. Can’t say that I did.”
“Sheesh. I thought everyone knew that
expression. You missed out.”
“Sounds like it. See you tomorrow.”
“With bells on.”
Chapter 11
Ellie’s life
fell into a pattern. At school, there were a few more people she recognized. A
few more friendly faces in the halls. Her days of being the focal point of
everyone’s curiosity were over. Now she was just another regular student.
Meanwhile, she
was becoming addicted to her mornings with Alex. They’d take a quick run around
the lake and then breakfast at the little shop where they’d bumped into each
other the first time. They chatted about any and everything, a casual comfort
stealing into their interaction that had Ellie opening up a little bit more
each day.
She felt a
little thrill when she thought about their time together, despite the fact that
he treated her more like a little sister than anything else. A disappointment
she chose to ignore for the time being. And he’d stopped the flirty little
texts. She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that either. Thankfully, Griffin
had kept whatever thoughts he had about the situation to himself.
Ellie spent
time with the Adelaide, Lila, and Nate at school, and felt like they were
becoming true friends. Although they never mentioned how Alex and Ellie met
every morning to run. After the first day, Griffin informed her that Alex
hadn’t shared this fact with his family yet. So Ellie kept their secret.
One day, as
she was just about to get into her car, Ellie heard someone calling her name
and turned around.
“How’s it
going?” Adelaide asked once she made her way over. She searched in her purse,
pulled out sunglasses, and popped them on.
“Same ol’,
same ol’.” Ellie grinned, leaning an arm along the top of the car door.
Adelaide got
straight to the point. “So, I know it’s been a while since I asked…” She gave
Ellie an apologetic look. “But things seem to have calmed down at home since
Alex got back. So how about that study session we talked about?”
Ellie had been
patiently waiting for this invitation. Griffin had assured her that it would
come eventually, but it had been almost two months and she’d started to lose
hope. “Sure! That sounds great!”
“Okay. So how
does Thursday night sound to you?”
They had a
French test coming up, so it was perfect timing. Ellie had a ready answer this
time, and, for once, was thankful for the recent snowfall.
“Um…” Ellie
feigned remorseful surprise. “I’d love to come over, except my family doesn’t
feel comfortable with me driving all the way to your house in the dark while
it’s snowing. We
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