Page 29 of No One But Us

JAMES

We are four hours into work, and not one word has left Elle’s lips that isn’t a drink order. It’s making me crazy.

It was a dick move, setting her up to close tonight, yet I feel zero guilt about the whole thing. She said Ryan is “irresistible” on stage, and it just took 30 seconds with the guy for me to see he wants her back.

I’m saving her from herself.

And I’m saving me too. Because the idea of her sleeping with him makes my desire to punch him in the face almost unbearable.

We close the bar in silence.

“You ready to go?” I ask.

I can tell just by the way she folds her arms across her chest and levels me with her gaze that she’s about to tell me to fuck off.

“And just so we’re clear,” I add, “you are not walking home alone at this hour. So either you walk with me or you ride with me, but either way we are going home together.”

She walks out. I find her a minute later, waiting next to my car with her arms still folded across her chest and a mutinous look on her face.

“Are you really going to spend the whole summer not speaking to me?” I ask. “Over this?”

“Are you admitting you did it?”

“No.”

“Well, I still think you did, but no, going the whole summer without speaking to you seems a little unrealistic.”

I open her door and find myself smiling as I walk to the driver’s side. It’s wrong, how cute I find her irritation. We head down the road, and her silence continues.

“So exactly what portion of the summer will you refuse to speak to me before forgiving me for doing something I’ve never said I did?”

“What do you care?” she asks. “You avoid me all day unless you’ve been drinking.”

She’s right, but somehow it sounds worse, hearing her say it aloud. “I’ve tried really hard to be pleasant.”

Her frown deepens, and her eyes grow so sad it’s hard to look at her. “That’s kind of the point, James. You’re not supposed to have to try. Being in the same room with me shouldn’t be a struggle.”

I pull into the driveway. “You’re twisting what I said.”

“It’s okay,” she says quietly as she opens the car door. “I’m used to it.”

She doesn’t come out to the back deck after we walk inside, and I’m not sure what I could possibly say in my own defense anyway. I have a sudden memory of some grade school award ceremony of hers and Ginny’s that my parents made me attend. Elle won three awards, more than anyone else, and when the ceremony ended and all the parents swarmed the stage, she stood there alone. She didn’t bother looking for her parents. She was just looking for an exit, her head hung low. My parents were off hugging Ginny, but it struck me that Ginny had enough—enough care, enough adoration—and that Elle, who deserved just as much, had none.

I felt so bad for her. I never thought I’d wind up being one more person she feels rejected by.

Chapter 19

ELLE

The next morning, Max still hasn’t come home, so I’m leaving for yoga by myself when James emerges from his room.

“I’ll walk with you,” he says. “I need better coffee than the shit we drink here.”

I’m guessing it’s about our conversation last night. He’s trying to prove he doesn’t avoid me. All it really proves is that he doesn’t want it to appear he avoids me, but I’ll take it.

We take the boardwalk, though it’s not the most direct route. Early in the day like this, when the tourists are still asleep and Funland is closed, Rehoboth is a different, more peaceful place. Even the water seems calmer. I enjoy my walks with Max, but this is better.

James’ presence makes almost anything better for me.