I tightened my arms around her, lifting her off of her feet, spinning in a little circle, making her squeal and grip me tighter as she pressed her lips to mine again. When I set her down, I took her hand, nodding towards the hallway. “Let’s go fix your dad’s car,” I suggested grinning happily.

I spent the afternoon at her place, working on her dad’s car. Her dad was helping, leaning over the engine, watching intently, asking questions as I worked. Ellie just sat on the wall on the edge of her driveway, watching me, making cold drinks every now and again. I felt totally at ease here with both of them. Michael was a great person; he was definitely where ninety-nine percent of Ellie’s personality came from. Even Kelsey, Ellie’s little sister, was playing on the grass, singing along to the radio and passing us tools from the box. I’d never felt so included in anything, I loved it. Ruth didn’t show her face for the whole afternoon and I couldn’t help but be glad about it. That woman didn’t deserve a great family like this one, it was wasted on her.

When it was in full working order, Ellie and I went to buy a new phone for me, then went for dinner after. Once she’d filled her stomach with as much cheesecake as she could eat without being sick, we headed to my place so I could get changed and go to my new ‘job’. She settled herself on my sofa, flicking through the stuff I had recorded for her during the week, the girly crap that she liked to watch at the weekend. When I was ready to go, I leant against the doorframe and just looked at her, laying on the sofa in my apartment, looking completely at home. Silently I wished this was her home, that she lived with me and that I got to wake up with her every morning. I smiled as she laughed at the movie she was watching, ‘Legally Blonde’, she’d seen it probably five times in the last month, yet she still watched it over and over. It was an adorable sight.

I knew I needed to go so I pushed myself off of the doorframe and headed over to her, crouching down next to her head. “So, I’ll see you in a couple of hours. I’ll be home by eleven,” I promised. I wasn’t staying there late tonight, I was just going to show my face and get them organised, then leave. I planned on doing the same thing to all of the clubs over the next few weeks, just show up occasionally and be at the end of the phone.

She smiled and sat up, gripping her hand on the back of my head, guiding my mouth to hers. I moaned as her tongue touched mine, making the hair on my arms prickle. I really didn’t want to walk out the door now! She sighed and pulled back, leaving her eyes closed for a second before they fluttered open and she licked her lip as if she was savouring my taste or something.

“See you later then,” she whispered. “Good luck at your new job.”

I smiled and kissed her forehead. I love you, was right on the tip of my tongue but I swallowed the words, I didn’t think she was ready to hear that yet. “Thanks.”

I left before I wouldn’t be able to, then drove to the club, stopping to talk to Eric that was working the door, telling him not to let anyone that was already drunk in, giving him instructions on what to do if there was trouble. When I walked into the club I immediately wanted to leave. The music was loud and made the floor vibrate, the air was smoky, the place was packed with pervert men who were eyeing the half-naked girls like they were their next meal. I already hated it here.

There wasn’t much trouble at all. A couple of drunken people that thought they could touch the girls - they were removed quickly. Someone couldn’t pay their tab so the cops were called. Nothing exciting happened really. I just sat at the bar, drinking a bottle of water because the smoke machine was killing my throat, talking to anyone that wanted to talk to me, showing my face like I was supposed to. The girls that were wandering around didn’t interest me in the slightest. When one of them, Candice she said her name was, offered me a free session out the back, I declined and told her I was in love with a foxy little redhead that was waiting at home for me. She called me adorable and walked off gushing to one of the other girls about how some guys were too good to be true.

Knowing that Ellie was at my place waiting for me, that I was going to get to hold her in my arms tonight, made the night go quicker and kept the smile on my face all night long. When eleven came I left, leaving Nick in charge, and sped home eager to see her.

As I stepped into my apartment, the first thing I notice was the title screen for Legally Blonde was playing over and over. I frowned, wondering why she hadn’t turned it off. I saw why as soon as I got to the lounge - she was asleep. She was curled up on the sofa, snuggled in my hoodie looking beautiful and innocent. I felt the moronic grin stretch across my face as I locked the doors, turned off the TV and then slipped my arms under her body, lifting her up carefully.

Her face snuggled into the side of my neck. “So which do you like better, Jamie, Tom or Jerry?” she asked.

I grinned knowing she was still sleeping. “Gotta be the mouse, he always outsmarts the cat in the end,” I answered.

Her arms looped around my neck. “Mice are cute, but I wouldn’t want one living in my place, they poop on stuff,” she replied.

I laughed and carried her into my room, settling her on the bed, smiling as she immediately snuggled into the sheets. Kicking off my shoes I climbed in the bed with her, wrapping her tightly in my arms, listening to her ramble some more about mouse poo and why it couldn’t possibly be confused with raisins. My girl was seriously crazy at times, but I loved her more than anything.

Chapter 18