Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(128)

I flop back on my bed and stare at the stars on the ceiling. A tear slips from my eyes and into my hair. Not only does my mom have a broken heart but I think Kingston does, too.

Did they break up because of me? Because my dad came back and they can’t be together anymore because of me?

Is this all my fault?





Kingston

I don’t know why I thought Ellie might come to the Penalty Box on her date with James tonight. Then again, it is a family date night, so it makes sense that she didn’t. I guess it was more wishful thinking than anything. However, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to handle seeing them together. Once was definitely enough.

After getting Bianca’s text, I couldn’t stand to sit at home alone, though. I could practically hear her excitement. She has never texted me a message like that, but I figured she wanted to tell everyone she knows. I get that. She’s a great kid; she deserves to be happy.

“Another beer?” Noelle asks, coming to stand on the other side of the bar from me.

“Yeah.” I’ve already had two, but beer is nothing more than carbonated water for me. It does nothing for my ability to function, but it does manage to relieve a little of my stress.

“You talk to Ellie lately?” Noelle asks as she grabs a mug.

“I heard she was going on a date with James.” I don’t bother to tell her that I haven’t heard from her since the night I practically threw her out of my hotel room. I still get sick to my stomach when I think about how I treated her that night.

“I doubt that,” Noelle snorts.

“I heard he’s moving here, too. That they’re looking for a house.”

“He might be looking for a house,” she says, wiping the counter with a cloth. “But she’s not helping him.”

“Not what Bianca told me.”

Noelle slaps the empty beer mug on the bar in front of me with a thud. I meet her gaze.

“She did not say that.”

“Oh, she did.”

“No, she didn’t,” Noelle argues.

“How the hell do you know what she said?” I can feel my defenses fall in place.

“Because Ellie’s not dating James.”

“You don’t know your friend all that well, now do you?”

I can see the anger glittering in Noelle’s eyes. “I know her a hell of a lot better than you do.”

I cock an eyebrow. I could say something crude, but I’m not the kind to soil a woman’s reputation by mentioning that she’s been in my bed or me in hers. I manage to keep my mouth shut.

Noelle leans in. “Let me tell you something, Kingston Rush. That woman is head-over-f*cking-heels in love with you.”

I snort.

“This guy is her daughter’s father. It’s not a bad thing that he came into her life. Bianca deserves to be happy.”

“So does Ellie,” I remark.

“And she is,” Noelle counters. “With you. Not with James.”

“What we had was pretend,” I tell her, the same as I told Spencer.

“You’re a jackass, you know that? An oblivious jackass.”

“Can I get my damn beer?” I snap, ready for this conversation to be over.

Noelle ignores my question. “Do you know how long that woman has had a crush on you?”

That gets my attention. I hold her stare, waiting for her to continue.

“I remember when that girl came back from visiting her brother at college. God, that was what? Sixteen years ago? Something like that. Anyway…” Noelle gets animated and her voice changes slightly. “She comes back all smiley. ‘Oh, Noelle. You should meet Spencer’s friend. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone hotter.’”

She’s mimicking Ellie, I assume.

“And for the past sixteen years, I’ve heard the same thing. Remarks under her breath. The way her eyes glaze over when you walk in a room.” She narrows her eyes and slaps her palms on the bar. “Don’t even get me started about how she gets when you flirt with her. She’s been pining away for you for as long as I can remember. Quite frankly, it’s pathetic.”

She says the last part with a smile.

I’m still trying to process her words.

“And Rush … this pretend thing… It’s only pretend in your head. Because it’s very real from where the rest of us stand. I’ve never seen her happier than she is when she’s with you. And vice versa.”

“James is Bianca’s father,” I state unnecessarily.

“Yes. And Ellie hasn’t seen him in thirteen years. I can guarantee, she didn’t fall in love with the man during that one-night stand. And you know her… Ellie’s one of the most level-headed people I’ve ever met. She never romanticized the guy. She never wondered whether he would swoop in and be her hero. From the second Bianca came screaming into this world—and she was screaming, I know because I was there—Ellie has been in love with only one person. That kid. She would do anything for Bianca. Including getting to know her father so that she can ensure her kid is safe.”

I have no words. No argument. Nothing to justify my actions. Noelle’s right.

“I thought I knew you better than that,” Noelle says, finally pouring my beer. “I thought you knew her better than that.”