Never Far Away (The Never #2)(15)

“That doesn’t sound too terrible,” Kalli said, smiling at Ella.

“Wait, really?” Ella was intrigued.

“Yes, really. I mean, it was really like two days, but come on. You had never acted so irrationally before.”

“But was I happy? He tells me I was happy.”

“Deliriously so,” Megan exhaled loudly.

“How much did I tell you about him?”

“Enough to know that he rocked your world, in and out of the bedroom. And I know that he really fought for you when you weren’t sure you should continue to see him.”

“Why didn’t I want to see him?”

“It wasn’t that you didn’t want to see him, you just were afraid that the distance would be an issue.”

“It seems that my brain is actually the issue now,” Ella said dejectedly.

“Honey, don’t worry about your memory. It’s out of your hands, and stressing about it won’t help any,” Kalli said as she rubbed circles on Ella’s back affectionately.

“Porter would never let anything stand in his way, now that he’s made himself known. I’m surprised you’re upright right now.”

Ella laughed at her outrageous sister.

“Meaning?”

“That you should be horizontal and totally satisfied.”

“I am not going to pretend to disagree with you. I told him that he could kiss me and he told me that he wouldn’t kiss me until we were ready. It all seems a little backwards.”

“Do you want him to kiss you?” Kalli asked.

“That seems like a ridiculously rhetorical question. Of course I want him to kiss me. Once you see him, Kalli, you’ll understand.”

“Just checking. I wasn’t sure if you were still having all the same tingly feelings for him this time around that you did last time,” Megan said, shrugging her shoulders.

“There are definite tingles.”

“Well,” Megan said, sounding resigned. “What’s next in the Ella and Porter saga?”

“We are not a saga,” Ella said as she rolled her eyes at her sister.

“Oh, yes. You are.”

“Well, we exchanged phone numbers and we are going to talk. We’ll see how things go, what happens next.”

“I foresee lots of time on your back, Ella.”

“Shut up, Megan,” Ella said smiling. “You’re just jealous.”

“Oh no, Porter’s got nothing on my Patrick.”

“I’m feeling terribly left out here, guys.” Kalli said with a frown.

“Listen,” Megan said as she pointed a finger at Kalli. “I refuse to feel one iota of sorry for you since you work, every day, with that hot actor. You get to take his shirts off and measure him, and generally just be near him. So zip it.” Kalli cocked her head to the side and thought about what Megan said. A grin slid across her face slowly.

“You know what? You’re right. My job is awesome. I know his inseam.”

“You are both ridiculous. I’m going home,” Ella said with a smile.



That evening Ella heard her phone ping and saw a text message from Porter.



**I hope you had a good rest of your evening. And I hope I’m not being too forward texting you so soon after our second first date.**



Ella grinned at her phone and sent him a message back.



**Not too forward at all. I was hoping to hear from you. Glad I don’t have to wait the obligatory three days like girls usually have to. What are you up to?**



**Nothing really, working on my boat, drinking a beer. You know, man stuff.**



**Are you literally working “on” a boat, or like, fixing a boat?**



**Building a boat. You’re damn cute.**



**Well, how the heck am I supposed to know? But you’re pretty cute yourself.**



**Glad that bump to your head didn’t mess up your taste in men.**



**Ha. Ha.**



**So, when can I see you again?**



**Do you want the reserved girl answer? Or the real answer?**



**How about you give me both and I will see which one I like better?**



**Reserved girl: I am not sure, I’m pretty busy with work these days. Maybe call me next week sometime and I’ll see what works.**



**Bullshit. Next.**



Ella took a deep breath in and exhaled loudly. Mustering all the courage she could, she typed out her real answer.



**Real Answer: As soon as possible because I cannot stop thinking about you or your lips that you refused to use on me.**



**Shit, Ella. I’m two hours away and you send me that? That’s cruel. And so hot.**



**You did this to yourself.**



**I’ll take that. Can I see you next Saturday? Maybe we could go hiking? That could be fun.**



**I won’t tell you that I just groaned because that’s six whole days from now. I will just say “Sure! Sounds great!”**



**Sorry, but I really do have to work ;)**



**Me too. Well, I will tell you in my reserved voice that I will see you next weekend, but my real voice says don’t be a stranger. I’m available for texting all week!**