My Bully’s Love by Stacy Rush

CHAPTER 27: A CALL FROM DAD

been in touch with anybody from my old life. Amy and Bree have both tried calling, but I’m still not ready to go there just yet. As for Jace, maybe it’s best if I continue to have no contact with him. I don’t want to hurt him, but I can’t give him the answer that he wants to hear, not yet anyway.

I miss him every single day, but he’s kept his word and has not contacted me at all. Although, he has asked my mom about me, wanting to make sure that I’m still doing good. According to Elise, Jace has gotten into two separate fights with other guys at school who have been trying to get with my sister. She told me that she doesn’t even talk to Jace, so she doesn’t know how he is finding out about these guys.

I get an ache in my chest whenever they bring his name up, but I want to know what he’s been up to as well. Maybe I’m doing it the coward’s way, but at least I’m not being hot and cold with him. It wasn’t until this morning that I really started to think about the Ella and Jace topic, and it is only because my dad had called me to let me know that the court date has been moved up to two weeks from today. I had originally been told that it would be the end of April, but now I only have two weeks to prepare myself to not only see my four classmates and attackers, but I’m going to have to face Jace.

“Ella, you have a customer.” My co-worker, Becky, calls out to me while she has her hands elbow-deep in soapy sink water. I’m just standing here with a wet rag in my hand, spacing off, so I quickly toss the rag on the counter and hurry over to the customer.

“Hey Ella! I was hoping you were working.” Gabe greets me with a smile.

I return his smile, “Hey, Gabe. What brings you to this side of town?”

“Ella, it’s like three blocks from our apartment,” he chuckles, “and I’m craving a frozen mocha with whipped cream and drizzle on top.” He gives me the cheesiest smile ever.

Shaking my head, I grin, “Let me guess, you want it large, and with a shot of energy?”

“Look at that, you already know what I like!” He places his hand on his chest as if he’s endeared to the knowledge of me knowing how he likes his coffee.

“Knock it off Gabe, you come in and order every time I work,” I giggle, “If I didn’t know any better, i’d think you were stalking me!” || muse.

He shrugs, “You call it stalking, and I call it knowing when my friend works so I can come in and harass her.” He winks.

“That you do! Don’t you have anything better to do?” I laugh as I start his drink order.

“Not really, Reece is on a cleaning spree and driving me crazy. I have a paper that is due by the end of the week and I can’t concentrate on it when she blares her music while cleaning.” He holds his laptop bag up to show me that he’s here to work.

Both Reece and Gabe go to the State University here in New Haven, and they are always trying to get me to change colleges. I find nothing wrong with the State College, but when you have a full ride to Yale, why would you switch? Yale will look much better on my resume than a State College, but I would never say this to my friends. I don’t want to hurt any feelings, but this is my life, and I’ m going to do what it takes to have a bright future.

Thand Gabe his drink as he hands me his debit card to swipe, “So, what’s the paper about?”

He rolls his eyes, “it’s for my Human Growth and Development class. I’m doing a paper on the individual development of emotions and desires, and what the effects are.”

“Wow, okay then. I would love to read it before you turn it in, if you don’t mind.” As soon as he said desires, it piqued my interest. I would like to see his findings on the human desires to see if it helps me to understand my own better.

“That would be great, Ella. Thank you for offering to proof read my work before turning it in.” He grins.

“Well, I wouldn’t have called it proof reading, exactly. It just seems like an interesting topic, is all.” I hand him his receipt.

Gabe glances around before leaning in, placing his elbows on top of the counter, “Are you wanting to know the emotional part, or are you wanting to know more about the desire part?”

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A Call from Dad

His gaze is intense as he stares at me, waiting for an answer to his question.

I like Gabe, I really do, and he is a very good-looking guy; most girls drool over him, but I’m not interested in dating anyone. He hasn’t asked me yet, but his flirtatious attitude toward me has become worse and I know it will be any day now. Gabe is a great friend, and I’m not wanting to hurt him by having to turn him down, so I have to figure out a way to get him to not ask me the dreaded question. I can’t start anything with anyone until I know what is going to happen with me and Jace, anyway. Jace would be my number one choice no matter what.

I chuckle nervously, “I have absolutely no desire to learn about desires! My only desire is to concentrate on the next four years of schooling.”

A shadow passes his face, but he hides it right away, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all know that Ella is a nerd, disguised as a hot chick.” He jokes, but there is some truth to his tone, maybe a little hurt.

it off, though, “I didn’t know that a hot chick wasn’t allowed to

able to defy that rule,” He laughs and then holds his cup in the air as he waves, “I better

for this Friday?”

your place this

wanted to make sure nothing has

whites, “Things won’t change unless we change them ourselves.” He

different? He made it seem that there was a deeper meaning in his words. I stand at the register for a moment, contemplating

are you not doing the dirty with him again?” Becky is practically drooling as she

I’m not interested in dating

cuts me off, but then I cut her

second reason already?”

your V card. If you want my opinion, though, I would definitely be willing to give that stud, right there, my V card, if I had one to give.” She give grins and wiggles her brows at

looks, “He would definitely be my second choice.” I don’t

and bounces up and

and even though I trust her, I don’t know if I can let the whole Jace issue out of the bag; Reece doesn’t even know about him yet, “It’s just a guy that I grew up with. We used to be best friends when we were younger.” I walk over and pick up the

a bomb like this and

just don’t talk about him

If that’s the case, then move on, babe.”

exact opposite. He wants a relationship, but

keep to myself, and it all has to do with

about the attack. I figured that

A Call from Dad

some point, and I didn’t want to lie to my new friends about why. The rest is for me to figure out on my own, and I know Jace deserves to have an answer, instead of just waiting

left me alone, so I could make the decision on my own, and even though I still thought about him, I haven’t really, actually, thought about us for a while, at least not as much as I should have been. I didn’t want to be hot and cold with him, and yet, I’ve left him hanging and waiting! I wouldn’t blame

kneel in front of him, or demanding that I bend over to receive my well-deserved punishment. The feel of his hand coming down on my bare butt, leaving a much-desired burn in it’s wake, has me heading straight for the restroom to clean myself. I haven’t felt this way in a while, and now that I’m once again thinking of the guy that was once my bully, everything comes flooding

like he’s always said, he’s the only one that can give me what I want, and what I need. What I want is Jace Palmer. He

myself. I’m just wrapping my hair in the towel when my phone begins to ring. Looking at the time, I see it’s almost nine at night. Wondering who would be calling me at this time, I hurry

everything okay?”

sorry to be calling you this late,

to you this morning and I thought maybe there was an accident or something.” My heartbeat finally starts to feel

didn’t mean to scare you,” he chuckles, “I just needed to call you back because I received word that the Defense is requesting probation

serve any

will do my best to get them prosecuted. I won’t let anybody hurt my baby

in their favor what then?” I don’t want to believe that any judge would be fine with just slapping their hands and sending them on their merry way, but judges can be corrupt

that happens, we will make sure they have a restraining order slapped on top of that. They will not be able to come near

broke the law by assaulting me,

thoughts, okay. Soon this will be all over and you can get back to living your life again,” He pauses briefly, “At least we will be together

help but smile, “You’re right, dad. I’m sorry for being a Debbie Downer. I’ve missed all

pretty little head about this. All

Justice is served.”

“Have you

smile in his voice, “Of course, I

that he asked about me, “So, what day do I

A Call from Dad

before we have to be in court. I thought it would be best if I go over everything with you and Jace beforehand, and

get it. I will let my bosses know tomorrow, so they know not to put me on that two-week schedule.” i bite

little preoccupied when

“What do you mean?”

a lot of rustling in the background, along with some mumbling. I think he was trying to muffle his voice as he talked to his

me a heads up,