Chapter Nineteen
Lee
Eloise Hawthorne—Ellie Thorne, the same girl. Who knew I would fall for the girl from the other side of the tracks. The more prominent, rolling in money, side of the tracks. One where lives were carefully constructed, and futures mapped out. Ellie is everything I never wanted. She stands for a life I have run from but am now sprinting toward. She is searching for a future I constantly try to bury. Yet, here we are. Writing, erasing and marking it all back up again.
“You and me.” Rain comes toward me. “Dance now.” She pulls me up, but I sit right back down.
My plans for the rest of the night are to watch Ellie on stage. Tonight is big for her and I want to make sure she knows I’m here, watching.
“Come on. Jordan is out there and Jake is behind the bar and, well…” She yanks me back up. “I don’t have time to give you my history. The point is, it’s fucked-up. So, I’m calling in a favor from my best friend’s boyfriend. Dance with me.”
“Fine. No twerking or whatever it is you have been doing with that thing.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s called working it and you’re just jelly that you don’t have all this.” She turns around and does this little thing with her ass, causing me to fall forward laughing.
Catching my breath, I follow her out to the dance floor. “Just know the only reason I’m going out there is to be closer to the stage. To Ellie.”
“I get it, Lover Boy. Don’t make this more than what it is.” She pulls us down the two levels of stairs and across the dance floor until we are practically next to the stage.
“Nice spot!” I try to move toward the music.
“Don’t talk.” She moves around me in a circle. “I’m trying to figure out where they went.” She raises her voice, trying to be heard above the pulsating beat.
“Have you thought about just talking to him?” I shout.
“Yes! Just a million times.” She comes to stand in front of me. “Look, I’m trying to get someone’s attention. So, I’m going to turn around and back it up on you. Act like you enjoy it. Hell, look at the stage and play Where is Ellie. You know, like Waldo?” She swivels around and does exactly what she promised. “Remember, enjoy it.” Rain reminds me, hollering over her shoulder.
Scanning around the stage area, I finally see Ellie. “Rain, I don’t think Ellie would—”
Not a fucking chance.
Not giving Rain even a second thought I push through the small crowd blocking me from the one person who needs my help the most right now.
Some drunk guy is standing behind her, hands all over her as she tries to get ready for her set. Ellie is trying to push him off, but he keeps coming back.
“I have a horn you can blow.” The drunk fuck tries to flirt or whatever he thinks he’s doing.
“Cheesy pickup lines are my thing.” I grab the guy by the collar and pull him off. “When a girl says no, you fucking listen.” I throw him down to the side. “Don’t fucking touch her or anyone else tonight,” I seethe.
“I thought I told you to never come back.” A deep voice barrels toward us. “Out! Now!” He swoops the drunk up by doing some kind of death grip to his neck where he instantly rises. “Sorry, Ellie.” He gives her an apologetic look and leaves.
“Who’s that?” I point my thumb toward the exit.
“Shapiro, the bouncer.” She watches them leave then turns around.
“You okay?” I place a hand on her shoulder and wait for her to acknowledge me, but she doesn’t.
“I’m not. What you did,” she twists around, “Was—”
“Saving you?” I point out.
“I don’t need saving.” She pulls the strap over her head.
“Hey, where is this coming from?” I pull her in and envelop her in my arms. Her tension begins to deflate.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just nervous,” she confesses.
“I thought you don’t get nervous.”
“I normally don’t, but tonight is different.”
“Different is good.” I lean down, kissing her on the top of the head. “You better?”
She nods.
“Good, me too.” I turn her around in my arms and give her a little push to the stage. “You’re up.”
“Watch me?”
“Of course.” I wink and turn to find a spot close to the stage when she comes over the speakers.
“Hey y’all. Let’s give it up for our favorite Nashville girl, Myles Davis.” she works the crowd, continuing, “I’m Ellie Thorne and who is here looking for a little trouble? I heard this is the place to come to,” she says into the mic, slow and confident, while the audience is bursting with excitement. “You ready for what I got?” She strums chords of the song, a song I know all too well.
Breathe.
The walls are closing in. Everywhere I look, walls of people.
Breathe.
Pushing my way through one person at a time.
Breathe.
“Lee, you okay?” Someone calls after me.
Breathe.
Hands on my knees, I try to catch my breath.
Breathe.
I hear someone behind me.
Everything is muffled.
The voice.
The music.
Her.
It’s just words. I tell myself. Words my mother listened to. Words sung by a beautiful, caring and supportive girl. Words that mean nothing.
But Ellie, she means something. She deserves a chance. The same chance she has encouraged me to take.
Pushing back the demons, I turn around and take a single step toward the stage. Fighting the war within, I take another step and then another. Keeping my eyes on Ellie.
My strength.
My choice.
My chance.
So, I stand here. In the front row, looking up to the girl who inspires me to be more. Watching her every move, listening to every word, laughing at every joke.
I stay.
Ellie Thorne not only owns the stage, she owns my heart.