Fighting to be Free by Kirsty Moseley (20 page)

I pulled up outside her house and noticed her parent’s car was still in the driveway, they hadn’t left to go to visit her Nanna yet. Holy shit, am I going to meet her parents? I was a little earlier than we’d agreed.

I debated calling her to see if she wanted me to wait in my truck. I mean, she wouldn’t want me to meet her dad, would she? I grabbed my cell phone, surely it’s better to check first, right? It rang a couple of times before she answered.

“Hey, Stud!” she chirped happily, making me smile just at the sound of her voice. I wanted to punch myself for getting excited over the sound of her voice, but I just couldn’t help it.

“Hey, little girl. I’m outside, are you ready or…..” I trailed off.

“Oh, you’re early. I’ll just be like ten minutes or something. I’m still eating breakfast,” she said easily.

“Ok, I’ll wait in the truck then.”

“Don’t be silly, come on in,” she said, as if I said something stupid.

I groaned quietly, I’d never met a girl’s parents before and although we weren’t technically dating, I
wanted
to date her, so I still needed to make a good impression.

“Um…. it’s ok, I’ll wait outside,” I protested, swallowing loudly.

She disconnected the call and I frowned. Damn it Jamie, she asked you to go inside and now you’ve annoyed her or upset her or something! Damn, I’m such a stupid prick.

I saw movement from the corner of my eye, I looked towards her house and saw her front door open. She stood there smiling at me, leaning against the door frame, looking smokin hot in skinny jeans and a black tank top, her red hair loose and falling down around her flawless face in messy waves. She honestly took my breath away and I felt my heart speed up a little.

She held up her hand and beckoned with one finger for me to go to her. “Shit,” I mumbled and climbed out of the truck, walking across the grass to her, feeling slightly sick with nerves.

“Hey. Come in, silly boy,” she scolded, grabbing my hand and practically dragging me inside the house. “I’m hungry, I won’t be long.”

I nodded and she pulled me through the house towards the kitchen, I knew my way around her house. We kind of had free rein of her house on Saturday mornings after her parents left to visit her Nanna.

As we walked into the kitchen, I stopped. Her family were sitting around the table and all stopped talking to look at me as I walked in. I silently wished the ground would open up and swallow me. I smiled uncomfortably, Ellie’s sister looked at me with wide eyes, she was ten apparently from what I’d been told and looked a little like Ellie, but her hair was brown the same as her fathers.

“Guys, this is my friend, Jamie Cole. Jamie, these are my parents, Michael and Ruth and my little sister Kelsey,” Ellie said, gesturing around the table.

I smiled uncomfortably. “Err… good morning.”

Her dad stood up, holding out a hand to me, smiling warmly, “Hey Jamie, how’s it going?” he asked easily, as I shook his hand.

I felt myself relax slightly, he seemed like a nice guy and from what Ellie had told me, she worshipped her father. Her mother on the other had she wasn’t so fond of. I could see why too, she was looking me over slowly, as if trying to make up her mind on whether she wanted to talk to me or not. She had the same red hair as Ellie, some of her features were the same, but she was nowhere near as beautiful as her daughter. Her face was hardened slightly, not open and friendly the way that Ellie’s always was. She was dressed impeccably, make up perfectly applied even though it was not even nine in the morning.

“Good thank you, Sir. I’m sorry I’m early, I said I’d wait in the car but…” I trailed off looking at Ellie.

“Don’t be silly, and you can call me Michael. You hungry?” he asked, shrugging. He turned to Kelsey who was still staring at me with wide eyes, yeah I kind of have that effect on girls of all ages sometimes. “Kel’s, get another plate for Jamie.”

Holy crap, he’s a nice guy! Ellie smiled and sat down at the table as the little girl got up and headed over to the cupboard, coming back with a plate.

“Err… you sure this is ok? I mean, I..,” I started, but her dad cut me, off waving his hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. There’s plenty, right Ruth?” he said, smiling at his wife.

She nodded stiffly, I could tell she didn’t like me already. Wow, that was fast. “Sure, it’s fine,” she said politely, her face hard and clearly annoyed.

Ellie patted the seat next to hers and Kelsey passed me a plate as I sat down. Ellie nodded to the huge pile of bacon, sausages and scrambled eggs in the middle of the table. I didn’t really want anything, I was actually too nervous to eat, it’d probably get stuck half way down or something and I’d make a complete dick out of myself.

“Eat, Jamie!” Ellie instructed, rolling her eyes at me playfully, as she scooped food onto my plate.

“So, where are you kids off to so early?” Michael asked, drinking his orange juice. I noticed he had a big smile for Ellie, even if I didn’t already know she was a daddy’s girl I’d be able to see that just from meeting him now. This guy adored his three girls, I could tell.

“Ellie’s going to come and help me scout out a new apartment. Mine’s coming to the end of its lease and I wanted a second opinion,” I lied smoothly.

“Yeah? You live on your own?” he asked, a little shocked.

I nodded, “Yes sir, I’ve lived on my own for a while now.”

“Really? Well how old are you, Jamie?” he asked, looking at Ellie a little concerned.

“I’m eighteen, Sir.” I smiled reassuringly, showing him that I wasn’t some older guy coming to take advantage of his daughter.

“Oh, I thought you were older. Ok yeah, eighteen’s great,” he said relaxing slightly and leaning back in his chair.

We were quiet for a minute or so as we ate, but it wasn’t too uncomfortable because Ellie kept smiling at me, her eyes telling me I was doing fine with her parents.

“So Michael, I was thinking of inviting the Barrington’s over for dinner one night this week. What do you think?” Ellie’s mom asked, smiling what looked like a fake smile.

“What? Why the hell would you do that?” Ellie gasped, clearly annoyed.

“We’re still friends with the Barrington’s, Ellison. I can invite them for dinner if I want to,” Ruth replied, smiling innocently.

Ellison? Was that Ellie’s full name? It was pretty, but Ellie suited her better.

“For goodness sake mom, can’t you just leave it?” Ellie asked, frowning angrily.

Ok what is this about?

“Ellison, you two need to work it out sooner or later. Susan said that he’s missing you. You two make such an adorable couple, and you need to think of your future,” Ruth stated, her eyes flicking to me as she said thinking about the future.

Wait, adorable couple….. Is she talking about Mark?

“Well Mark’s not part of my future, he’s part of my past. Invite them to dinner if you want, but leave me out of it. Tell me what day they’re coming and I can guarantee I’ll be busy,” Ellie stated, crossing her arms and sitting back in her chair, glaring at her mother.

“Ellison, you
will
attend a family dinner and you
will
behave properly,” Ruth snapped, looking at her daughter warningly.

“You know mom, you can push this and push it as far as you want, but Mark and I aren’t getting back together no matter what you or his mom or even he thinks. It’s over, and has been for five weeks. You really need to move on,” Ellie said, shaking her head, snorting slightly.

“You should think about it, Ellison. Mark’s family are so proper, and already set up. Mark’s going to college to be a doctor, you’d be set for life,” Ruth said, looking at her pleadingly. “Think of what he can give you, you’ll never want for anything.”

Ellie closed her eyes, “Mom, you really think I want to be with someone because of what they can give me? What about being happy, or being in love? Doesn’t that count for anything?” she asked.

“Love fades, and you need to think of your future and your children’s futures,” Ruth stated, shrugging, as if this were no big deal what she just said.

Ellie laughed, “So you got with dad because of the money his parents had or because you knew he’d be a successful financial adviser, did you?” Ellie challenged.

“No, I got with your father because I loved him, and it just so happened to work out perfectly. Most people aren’t that lucky. I mean, what do you do, Jamie?” Ruth asked, speaking to me directly for the first time since I came in.

Wow, this woman is nasty.

I opened my mouth to tell them I was a mechanic, but Ellie cut me off. “It doesn’t matter what he does for a living, Mom. Stop being like this! If you’re trying to make him jealous or start an argument over Mark, then it’s not going to work. Jamie and I are friends, but even if we were more it wouldn’t matter what the hell he did. Things in life don’t revolve around money and possessions you know,” Ellie growled. She stood up and shot me a pleading look. “Are you done eating Jamie, because I’m ready to go.”

I nodded and stood up, “Thanks for the breakfast, and it was nice to meet you,” I said uncomfortably, making Michael laugh.

“You can come back another time and witness another domestic, ok?” he teased, smiling broadly and holding out a hand to me.

I shook his hand and laughed, “Yeah this was……fun,” I joked, making him laugh too.

He slapped me on the shoulder grinning. Ok he liked me, score one for that, but her mom had a serious problem with me, hopefully it was just because she wanted Ellie to be with Mark. Ellie went to the counter and grabbed her purse, before signalling to me that she was ready to go.

I looked her over, she would be cold without a jacket or something, mind you she could always have my sweater if she got cold. “You might want a sweater, Ellie. It’s gonna be cold today, apparently.”

“Oh, ok well I’ll just grab one then.” She turned and skipped off to the stairs, leaving me standing there with her parents. Oh God, kill me now. Michael snickered and grabbed the empty plates from the table, heading over to the sink.

“Come on Kelsey, let’s go style your hair,” Ruth said, heading out of the room without looking at me again. The little girl followed behind her, smiling at me shyly on the way past.

“Don’t take anything Ruth say’s personally, she wanted Ellie to get back with her ex-boyfriend. It won’t happen though, she likes you too much,” Michael said winking at me.

Holy crap! He thinks Ellie likes me? “Yeah? Did she tell you that?” I asked hopefully, as I grabbed another couple of plates and put them on the counter near the sink.

He laughed, “No, but she doesn’t have to, I can tell.”

I smiled proudly, damn I hope that’s true! Ellie came skipping back into the kitchen with a grey knit sweater over the top of her tank top, it hung down off of her shoulders and made her look even more mouthwatering.

“I’m ready, Jamie. Let’s go find you a place,” she said, walking over and hugging her dad. “Bye daddy.”

“Bye pumpkin, have fun,” he replied, kissing her forehead. He turned to me and smiled, “Take care of my girl, Jamie.”

“Will do,” I promised, nodding. He’d never need to worry about that while she was with me.

Ellie rolled her eyes and gripped my shirt, pulling me from the kitchen out to the front door.

I slung my arm around her shoulder as we walked to my truck. “Right then, little girl. Now that we’ve both sat through an embarrassing family feud, how about we go get bored looking at apartments, so I can take advantage of your perfect little ass in an actual bed, more than once a week,” I suggested, winking at her as I opened her car door for her.

She giggled and blushed lightly, “Who said I would let you do that anyway?” she challenged, pursing her lips and narrowing her eyes teasingly.

“You would,” I said confidently.

She smiled and looked me over slowly, “Yeah, maybe you’re right. After all, you are incredibly sexy,” she agreed, raising one eyebrow.

“Yeah, I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist me,” I said smirking at her slightly. Ellie really was a little sex maniac when she got going. She laughed and I shut her door walking around to the drivers side.

“I’m sorry my mom was saying that in front of you. She really wants me with Mark, she’s still going on about it now. She’s all about status and money, she always has been,” Ellie said, looking at me apologetically as we made our way to the real estate office.

“It’s fine don’t worry.” I shrugged, trying to appear unconcerned, even though all I could think about was her mom saying that Mark could basically provide for her better than I ever could. I mean, damn the guy wanted to be a doctor, she’d be a perfect little doctors wife and would have everything, whereas I will always be a crappy mechanic with no prospects.

“It’s not fine, what she said was wrong. I don’t care about money and stuff like that. I think you should be with someone who makes you happy. My mom had no right to look at you like she did.”

She frowned, looking really annoyed about it.

“Ellison, it’s fine,” I teased.

She glared at me, making me laugh. “Don’t you dare start calling me that, or trust me, you’ll be having a booty call for one,” she said, raising her eyebrows looking smug.

“Ok, but that’s a damn sexy name.”

“Yeah well,
Ellison
doesn’t do booty calls, so be careful,” she warned.

I wanted to ask her if Ellison did boyfriends. What her dad said about her liking me was spinning round and round in my head and I hoped with all of my heart that he was right. Maybe I should ask her out again.

When we pulled up outside the real estate place I walked to the door, then waited for her to catch me up. We walked in together, with her hand slipped into my back pocket, squeezing my ass lightly.

Two hours and six apartments later, we finally found one that we both liked and I could afford. It was a little one bedroom with a fairly nice bathroom and kitchen, the area was pretty nice too. It was furnished, which was great considering I had nothing except clothes. I settled with the agent and followed him back to his office to sign the lease, I could move in on Monday.

Ellie grinned as we got back into my truck, “That was a nice place. So….. do I get an invite?” she teased.