Fauxmance (Showmance #2)(21)

She opened the door so I could step in by her, and I was instantly met with a beautiful hand-painted mural of climbing roses. It started at the door and meandered up the antique staircase.

“Do you live here on your own?” I asked.

She seemed hesitant to answer. “Yes, I, uh, inherited the place from my Grandma.”

“It’s a beautiful building.”

She nodded. “I’m very lucky.”

Ellen led me into an even more impressive kitchen. It had a large modern window that looked out into a fairy forest of a back garden. There were hanging lights and twisty vines climbing the walls, overgrown plants, and wildflowers all over. The forest theme seemed to extend into the kitchen as there were plants everywhere. Another mural encapsulated the back wall, this one of a cherry blossom tree. I wondered who the artist was. The painting fanned out around a large, intricate brass cage, inside of which were two exotic looking birds.

Seriously, who lived in a house like this? The Grandma story aside, Ellen was hiding something.

I walked up to the birdcage to admire her stunning creatures. “Hello there.”

“Their names are Skittles and Rainbow,” Ellen said quietly. “They’re lovebirds.”

I tilted my head to her. “Is it true that they mate for life?”

“Most of them do, yes.”

“Why lovebirds?” I turned to give her my full attention now. It was strange that I’d thought Elodie was the interesting one because I was starting to suspect her sister had hidden depths.

She glanced at the floor, lifted a shoulder, then said, “They make such strong bonds. They’re happy to sit side by side, day in and day out. There’s something lovely yet heartbreaking about it.”

I took a step closer to her. “Heartbreaking?”

When she spoke, her voice was still so quiet, like she wasn’t used to having long conversations. “If one of them dies, they mourn just like humans mourn loved ones.”

“That is heartbreaking,” I said in agreement. The tip of her nose was red from crying, and again, I had a strong urge to comfort her, give her a hug. I knew how it felt to be overwhelmed by the world. I resisted though. Ellen was a little like a bird herself. I felt if I got too close she’d fly away.

“And the monogamy?”

“I guess if humans could be as simple as lovebirds, there’d be a lot less broken hearts in the world.”

At this, I warmed to her, because she was so like Rose. My best friend believed firmly in monogamy, in having sex with someone you were in love with, and though I disagreed, I could appreciate the romanticism of the concept. I personally thought sex could be amazing so long as there was mutual respect. Love didn’t have to come into it. You could meet someone, have an incredible night, then never see them again. There didn’t always have to be strings.

Ellen turned and went to put the kettle on. She wore a baggy jumper and leggings, her hair piled up in a bun. I took a seat at her table and clasped my hands together.

“What happened today to upset you?” I asked gently.

I had no business asking such a sensitive question. But like I said, I felt I knew her even though I didn’t. She had Elodie’s face and a heart like Rose.

Her cheeks coloured, and she appeared embarrassed. “Nothing. I’m not upset.”

I held her gaze, my eyes telling her I saw through the lie. “When I was a teenager, I caught an ex-girlfriend out on a date with someone I considered a close friend. I was so upset I went home and cried my eyes out. We all do it. Even men.”

Some of her embarrassment faded. “I’ve always hated large groups of people. I feel like I can’t breathe.”

My voice held affection. “You picked the worst city to live in.”

She sniffed and looked up at the ceiling. “When I decided to move here, I thought it would be better, that I could be whoever I wanted, leave the old me behind. Pretty silly since I didn’t change one bit. Most days I don’t even leave the house.” Her eyes flared, like she hadn’t meant to admit that. If she spent most of her time alone in this big house, then her fear and suspicion of me made even more sense.

“Don’t worry. There’s very little you can say that would shock me.”

“You’ve seen it all, huh?” she practically whispered.

“And then some. A lot I wish I could unsee.”

We stared at one another, a moment of understanding passing between us, even though our experiences in life were probably far different. She finished making the tea and set a cup down in front of me.

“I’ve been making a lot of selfish choices lately,” Ellen revealed, then shook her head at her herself. “I don’t know why I’m even telling you this. You have a pull, do you know that?”

I placed my hands around the cup. “I’ve been told I’m easy to talk to because I don’t judge.”

“Well, whatever it is, I don’t usually talk to strangers, not as…never mind. The point is, I like talking to you, even though I know I shouldn’t.”

“Why shouldn’t you?”

“Because it frightens me. You’re a stranger, too. I shouldn’t have let you in here. It’s reckless.”

“Yes, it is reckless. Luckily, I mean you no harm. Besides, we should always do the things that frighten us, Ellen. Except for jumping off cliffs.”