Never Far Away (The Never #2)(47)

“No, it seems like just the right amount of perfect.” He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and reached in to pull it out as he planted a loud smacking kiss on her lips.

“Hey, Mom,” he said as he answered. “What’s up?”

“Porter, do you think you could come down to the bar? That damn line in the dishwasher busted again, but this time there is water flooding everywhere.”

“Damn it, yeah, I’ll be there. But I’m not a plumber, Mom, you need to get Mitch in there to look at it.”

“But you’ll come, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

“Thanks, Son.”

He hung up and looked up at Ella.

“Mom’s got a problem; I got to go to the bar. Do you want to come?” Ella winced a little.

“I’m actually really tired. Do you think your mom would mind if I stayed here?”

“No,” he chuckled. “I think my mom minds that there is currently water flooding her kitchen.” He kissed her again quickly, backing away to find his shoes.

“Stay here and rest a while. I don’t know when I’ll be home, but it shouldn’t be too late.”

She hopped off the counter and followed him to the door.

“Ok, just call me when you’re on your way back.”

“Will do,” he said as he pulled on a light jacket. “Lock the door after me.” She rolled her eyes at him and he immediately smacked her ass, hard enough to illicit a yelp. She looked at him with wide eyes, rubbing her behind.

“I’m serious. Lock the door.”

“Ok, yes Sir,” she said with a smile.

“Bye, Baby.” He kissed her quickly and then slipped out the door, smiling to himself when he heard the deadbolt clank into place.

Ella



After Porter had left to rescue his mother, in a very Porterly move, Ella made herself at home, reading on the couch, snuggled up in a throw blanket. Her eyes started to burn and she had to admit she was more tired than she had realized. She stood to go upstairs but saw the mess in the kitchen and decided to clean up a bit so that Porter wouldn’t have to deal with it when he got home.

As she walked into the kitchen, she heard a noise that sounded like it had come from the front door. It wasn’t a knocking noise, but more of a bang. One bang, then nothing. It was so eerily quiet, she started to wonder if she had even actually heard anything. She paused, mid-step, between the couch and the kitchen, holding her breath so that not even the sound of her breathing could be mistaken for any noise she might hear. A solid twenty seconds went by without another noise and she started to think she had imagined everything. She started towards the kitchen again when the bang came through the door once more.

She quickly turned towards the door, not sure what she was expecting, halted still, waiting for either Porter to come in the door or for the sound to come again. She was frozen in place, unable to move. When a few minutes passed without another noise, her nerves settled again. She took a few deep breaths and walked towards the door. She rolled her eyes and silently cursed Porter. All his master craftsmanship and he couldn’t put a freaking peep hole in his door? She put her hand on the deadbolt and took a deep breath in, let it out slowly, trying to release all her nerves with it. She went to turn the deadbolt, but was distracted by the shadow that ghosted by the front window.

Panic. Sheer Panic. She ran back into the living room, grabbed her phone from the coffee table, and immediately dialed 9-1-1.

“Hello, this is 9-1-1. What is your emergency?”

“Please, I need a police officer. I think there is someone outside my boyfriend’s house trying to break in.”

“Ok, Ma’am, stay calm. I will get an officer out to you immediately. Can I get the address?”

“Shit! I don’t know the address.”

“Ok. It’s ok. Are you in the house?”

“Yes.”

“Is the suspect in the house with you?”

“No, I heard someone outside and when I went to look out the front door someone ran by the window. I couldn’t see him. Tt’s too dark. But it was a person.”

“Ok, can you see any mail lying around your boyfriend’s house? Bills, letters, anything with an address?” Ella ran into the kitchen and looked all over the counters, which were ridiculously spotless.

“I can’t find anything,” panic started to flood her body, causing her voice to come out shaky and scared.

“Look in the garbage,” the woman told her firmly.

Ella grabbed the cupboard door under the sink and ripped it open. The garbage can was under the counter and she pulled it out and dumped it over. All sorts of things spilled out onto the floor. Her eyes landed on a white envelope and she picked it up frantically. She turned it over, desperately searching for the information she needed.

“Ok, I got it! 558 East Tidal Road. Did you get that?”

“Yes, I did. Good job, Ma’am. Officers are on their way.”

“Ella. My name’s Ella,” she said with a quiet whisper.

“Hi, Ella. I’m Mary. You did a good job. I need you to stay away from the windows and try to hide. Do not hang up with me until the officers arrive. Can you do that?”

“Yes,” she answered, unable to keep the tears from her eyes or the strain from her voice. She went into the bathroom off the living room and climbed into the tub, sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, silently crying.