I had wanted her to make up with Drew. I knew it was a source of unhappiness in her life, and really I knew the trip would be a lot more fun if there wasn’t this elephant that walked into the room every time Drew and Ella were together… But I just didn’t trust how quickly it all came together, especially after hearing what Christi said about her not being sure she was in love with Drew. Maybe Drew felt it too, realized that Ella was it for him, and was using this as a ploy to try to get her back.
I shook my head. Maybe I was just being paranoid. Seeing Kylie had thrown me for a loop, and it also made me realize how easy I had it with Ella. Hardly any fighting, and when we did fight, we were quick to talk it over. Ella had stood by me throughout all the hospital stays Chloe had, the canceled dates… She never uttered a peep about it being unfair, or how my family must have meant more to me than her. She just understood, because my family meant just as much to her as they did to me, and she saw that in this time, they needed to come first. I used to dream of having a relationship that was so easy and natural, but now I was figuring out that being in one was hard too – it seemed like I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I sighed and stood entering the house and grabbing a beer from the kitchen. I looked around, and smiled to see that everyone looked happy. Yeah, this is what I wanted. Chloe was back, and definitely flirting with Matt – and while for a second my over-protective brother instincts kicked in, I knew it was good for her. And honestly, I got a little hope from seeing that she was even interested in someone. It showed that maybe she wasn’t giving up just yet, and with that thought, another weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I took a long swig as Ella came up behind me, wrapping her arms around me.
“Thought you were starving? Why aren’t you chowing down yet?” She asked.
I turned, facing her. “Just…” I paused, searching for the word. “Decompressing.” I finally came up with.
“Well, forget about her. She already messed up such a big part of your life. Besides, it’s so very clear that you dropped the zero and got with a hero.” She said, smiling up at me.
I laughed, and it even caught me unexpected. “You’re my hero eh?”
“Yup.” She said, smiling herself.
“Why’s that?”
“Cuz I already made up a plate for your starving self – and I grabbed you the biggest steak.”
“You are my hero.” I said, kissing her forehead before she pulled away.
“Tell me something I don’t know.” She called over her shoulder, walking away.
We all gathered around the table out back. The rain had stopped and the girls had wiped off the table and chairs. I had been a little skeptical of Drew and Ella making up – especially so quickly – but I had to admit the cloud that had hung over the group seemed to have lifted. Conversation flowed, and stories were shared, and the awkward pauses that always seemed to occur after Drew or Ella spoke had stopped. This was the vacation I had been wanting, this is the vacation that I knew Chloe needed and deserved, and the same with Ella. I felt myself relax into the chair, feeling full and warm and happy. It may seem like such a small thing, but the whole “waiting for the other shoe to drop” metaphor was actually quite fitting for everything in my life. I was always waiting for Ian to snap and have to go off and save him, or my Mom to crack under Chloe’s condition, or Chloe to get sicker, or the balance of school, family and relationship to get thrown so that everything went toppling to the ground. I guess I just hadn’t realized how tightly wound I was until I was unwound. Even the situation with Kylie didn’t bother me much anymore. She made me angry, but if anything she showed me how lucky I was to be in a caring and healthy relationship.
As if on cue, Christi broke out into song – singing God bless the broken road by Rascal Flatts. She was singing it jokingly to Drew (she must have forgotten about her earlier confession about not being sure if she wanted to be with Drew, because she was perched on his lap as she was singing.) Christi often randomly broke out into song, but the song choice was so eerily fitting that a shiver ran through me. Ella felt it and shot me a look, smiling and squeezing my hand.
“Cold?” She asked.
I shook my head. “Just a fitting song, especially with the whole Kylie mess today.”
Ella nodded. “I guess. But, I mean, it’s a fitting song for anyone. People rarely find their soul mates on the first try, and I think that’s a good thing. I don’t think people realize how lucky they are until they’ve been with less than perfect, ya know?”
“True.” I agreed.
Christi had stopped singing and the conversation went on. The girls kept getting up to get more beers and food, and even though the night cooled considerably, we remained on the porch. Just when I was about to suggest bringing out the fire pit and moving the party to the yard, I heard a car pull up.
“Who’s that?” Christi asked, looking at me.
I shrugged. “Dunno. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
I untangled myself from Ella and rose, along with Matt, and walked to the front yard. But, I heard her voice before I saw her, and immeadiately the good feelings the night had given me slipped away.
“Kylie, what the hell are you doing here?” I growled more than said. I thought I had made it pretty clear earlier that she wasn’t welcome, and honestly, while I knew Kylie tended to get what she wanted, I didn’t figure she’d be ballsy enough to show up after the show down we had earlier.
“Aw Sethers,” she purred, and my stomach rolled. “I felt bad about what happened earlier. I acted like a complete and total bitch – seeing you just caught me off guard. I wanted to stop by, apologize, and introduce you to Carson. My fiancé? He’s heard so much about you and wanted to meet you.”
Carson smiled and reached a hand forward. When Kylie said she had a fiancé, I figured she was making it up to try to make me jealous. Kylie was gorgeous, and didn’t have a problem snagging guys, and even keeping them trapped in her web for awhile. But, I never figured she’d snag one dumb enough to want to be with her for life. If Kylie was the same person I knew, enough eventually became enough, and you just had to cut your losses and walk away. Still, maybe she had changed.
I reached forward and shook Carson’s hand. I still didn’t really want either one of them here, but I knew kicking them out would just start another fight. I wasn’t sure letting them stay was much better, but I was sure it was the lesser of two evils.
“So. Where’s Chloe? I’ve missed her.” Kylie said, not waiting for me to invite her back before she started walking towards the deck.
The party had carried on while we were out front, but as soon as Kylie was spotted, there was a noticeable and awkward pause.
Christi was the first to break the silence. “What are you doing here?” She asked, doing nothing to tried to hide the resentment in her voice. Christi and Kylie had been less than friendly while we were together.
“Oh Chrissy…” Kylie said, and Christi rolled her eyes. She hated that nickname, which was why Kylie always called her it. “I apologized to Sethers already, I wanted to apologize to you as well. The past is the past, right? I shouldn’t have acted like such a bitch today. I’m sorry.”
“Uh huh.” Was Christi’s response. She promptly went on ignoring Kylie and picked back up her conversation with Drew. Christi knew ignoring her would get under Kylie’s skin – and that’s why she did it whenever Kylie was around.
“Chloe!” Kylie squealed, and Chloe winced. “How ARE you? How are you feeling?” Kylie said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy.
“Fine, Kylie. I’m fine. How have you been?” Chloe, like me, wanted to avoid the drama.
Now, Kylie’s favorite subject to talk about was, well, Kylie. Chloe opened the floodgates by asking how she had been, and Kylie launched into it, going on and on about her life and what she had been doing, and then launching into Carson and how they had met. I took this opportunity to leave (with Chloe shooting me a look of hatred.) And walked over to Ella.
“So.” She said cooly. “That’s Kylie, huh?”
“Ella I’m sorry – I told her not to come here. I didn’t think she would.”
“And you couldn’t ask her to leave?” She shot back.
“I could.” I admitted. “I just didn’t want to get into it again. We were having such a great night and…”
“And this makes it better?” She said, nodding her head towards Kylie, who was still talking poor Chloe’s ear off.
“No. But, I figured it was the better of two options.” I said, shrugging.
“I just thought this was supposed to be MY vacation, Seth.” Ella was keeping her tone hushed, and light, as not to draw attention. But I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was not happy. “We had so much… Awkwardness between Drew and I, and now it finally gets fixed and she shows up? And you think it’s better to just let her stay?”
“You’re not really being fair Ella. It IS your vacation, but it’s also everyone elses. I already dragged Christi into it earlier with Kylie. You don’t know her like I know her – I just wanted to save everyone from that. And, I’m sorry – but we are here with YOUR ex. I’ve hung out with SEVERAL of your exes. And you’re telling me you can’t put up with one of mine?”
“That’s not fair, it’s different and you know it. My exes don’t have feelings for me.”
“Oh come on Ella. We both know that’s not true.” I said, and was a little uneasy when I saw her blush.
“And I deal with Christi – she’s your ex!”
“Oh Christi doesn’t count, dating her was an experiment that failed, it wasn’t serious and it didn’t matter. You were talking about living with Drew. I hung out with you and Jason – a guy you pined after for years. Seriously Ella, cut me a break.”
She nodded – I’m not sure what for, and dropped the subject. But she kept her lips pursed and pulled her hand away from mine.
I was hoping nobody saw the exchange between us, but when I glanced up I saw Kylie watching us, with a small smile playing across her face.
Breaking the Surface
11 years ago
