Never Again(70)
“Jake, I think it’s best if I go, and let you talk with your family in private.”
“She’s right, Jake,” his mom says, and Jake angrily cuts her off.
“Ella, you’re not going anywhere. Mom, what’s the matter with you? Why are you acting so strange?”
“Jake, honey, I know you’re not blind. Don’t you see history repeating itself? It’s the incident with Liz all over again. Open your eyes.” Who the hell is Liz? I make a mental note to ask him about her later.
“Don’t drag Liz into this! Ella is nothing like her!”
“Excuse me!” I say out loud, raising my arms to get their attention. “I can’t listen to this anymore. I’m leaving!” I rush to the door.
“That’s probably for the best,” Mary yells after me as I storm out of the room, almost colliding with a young girl who must be Jake’s sister because she looks just like him. I’m mad. Furious. How can someone judge me just by my appearance? They don’t know me; they have no idea what kind of person I am. They just jumped to the conclusion I’m some white trash, trying to get my hands on his money. I don’t need this.
“Ella! Don’t you dare run away from me again!” I hear Jake yelling after me. I stop in my tracks, but don’t turn around.
“Jake, you need to talk with your parents. I’ll talk to you when you get back to Indianapolis.” I storm out of the hospital, Sophie right behind me.
Jake
“What’s wrong with you? Mom, why did you talk to her like that?” my voice is stern, anger practically steaming out of my ears.
“She’s not good enough for you,” she defends herself.
I roll my eyes. “And how would you know that? You don’t even know her; you didn’t even give her a chance to get to know her. I love her.”
“Like you loved Liz? She fooled you.”
“Don’t talk about that bitch. Ella is nothing like her, and if you got to know her, you’d realize that yourself.” Shaking my head in disappointment, I turn away from my parents. “Leave, please. I want to be alone.”
“Jake…” Mom reaches out her hand to my face, but I step back.
“Just go!”
“Honey, we’re just worried about you. We don’t want you to go through another painful ordeal.”
“I’ll be fine. Please, leave. I want to be alone.” I give Sarah a quick hug; I didn’t even get to say hi to her before, as they leave.
Chapter Fifteen
Ella
“I still can’t believe they were so mean to you,” Sophie says two days later, as she places a glass of wine in front of me. We’re sitting in her living room, talking while watching a show on the TV. Jake’s mom’s words still reverberate in my head. I am not good enough for Jake, she said. Perhaps I’m not, but I’m not playing him. “And his father kept his mouth shut the whole time? That’s weird.”
“I know, right? He seemed confused about everything, like he doesn’t know what’s going on. Or maybe he thought I’m not worth speaking to.”
“Don’t beat yourself down. Jake loves you, that’s all that matters. And who’s this Liz person?” she continues. Shrugging, I grab a fistful of roasted peanuts out of a bowl on the coffee table.
“I have no idea; he never mentioned her. But I intend to ask him about her.”
“Perhaps she’s some crazy groupie or an ex who didn’t want to accept the fact that Jake broke up with her.” I laugh out loud, and throw a peanut at her head. It hits her in the nose, and lands in her lap. Sophie picks it up, and puts it in her mouth.
“You’re crazy,” I giggle. “Thank you for making me feel a little better.
“Don’t mention it. That’s what friends are for.” We hug, and watch the show until it ends, and then I head home.
The next day, as I’m lying in my bed, I hear loud banging on my door. “Ella, open the door! I know you’re there,” Jake yells, knocking impatiently. I shoot out of my bed, and run to the door.
“Jake, it’s still early. You’re going to wake the whole building.” Our gazes meet. I smile softly, and invite him in. He’s still standing there, watching me intently. “What?” I wrinkle my forehead. His gaze travels down to my bare legs, and back up to his shirt I’m wearing, then he finally looks me in the eyes.
“Damn, Ella, you look like a goddess.” He takes a step closer so our bodies are almost touching. I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. “And you’re mine, only mine. Tell me you’re still mine.” I nod, and close the door behind us.