My Bully’s Love by Stacy Rush

“Pony Express!” | shout out, winning charades for me and Reece. Game night has resumed for me, giving me a much-needed fun night. We didn’t have it last Friday be cause both Reece and Gabe were down with the flu, but tonight we were able to finally pick it up again.

Thad forgotten how much fun it was before my life did a three-sixty. I now feel like two totally different people, though, and I’m not sure if I like it. As much fun as I’m hav ing with my friends, I don’t feel whole, and it almost seems as though I’m lying to both me and my friends. Reece, and now Gabe, know of the type of relationship that me and Jace have, but they don’t know to what extent it goes to. Not that it’s their business, but with Jace not here with me, could really use someone to talk to about it. I just don’t trust anybody enough to tell my secrets yet.

“Ella, do you need another drink?” Reece asks as she gets up to get a refill of her own.

“Yeah, sure. Thank you.” I watch as Gabe starts putting the charades game away while Collin pulls out the Cards Against Humanity game, “I love this game.” I clap excitedly.

“That’s only because you win at this game.” Gabe chuckles.

I shrug, “Don’t I win at every game?”

“Pretty much,” Deke says dryly, “I don’t think she’s al lowed to win more than one game a night.” He jokes.

“I second that!” Collin raises his hand.

“Hey, no fair! I can’t help if I’m good at games.” | pout but I’m really doing a happy dance on the inside. I like knowing that I’m good at something in a social setting.

“I hear you’re good at other things as well,” Deke smirks.

I smile at him, a bit confused, “Oh yeah, what is that?”

Keeping my attention on Collin’s dealing as well, it isn’t until Deke speaks again that I forget all about the other male and focus on the one that is talking about something he should know nothing about. I freeze as he goes on about how I like to be controlled during sex and that he would be more than happy to tell me what to do.

My eyes go straight to Gabe, but he can’t look at me. He pretends to be interested in the cards that Collin dealt him. There is a little bit of a tick to his jaw, indicating that he isn’t happy with his friend for mentioning it. I wasn’t meant to know that he had told his other friends. He had no right, and he knows this.

“So, tell me, Ella. What would it take for you to let us tie you up and give you what you need?” Deke wiggles his brows

“DEKE, ENOUGH!” Gabe yells at his friend.

I get up, gather my things and head for the door. I can’t stay here anymore. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or any thing, but I feel outnumbered by people who don’t under stand my relationship with Jace.

“What?” I hear Deke reply to Gabe, “I’m just messing with her!”

“Ella, please,” Reece begs, “Don’t go. Deke can be a jerk, but he’s harmless.”

I try to give her a smile, but I fail, “Sorry, I gotta go.” || flee their apartment and go back to mine, locking the door behind me. Tossing my stuff on the nearby counter, I go straight to my room and throw myself face down on my bed.

| want Jace here with me. There are still two more weeks that I have to get through before I can see him again, and they are going to be the longest two weeks ever! I’m in need of a release so bad, and I’m not talking about a simple vibrator release. I need to feel pain, that’s the re lease I need, but not just any. No, only one person can give me what I need. So, feeling a little defeated, I head toward

my bathroom to take a long hot shower.

A knock on the front door draws my attention and I re direct where I’m going. Looking through the eyehole, I hesi tate before unlocking and opening the door. Gabe stands on the other side, looking a little sheepish. I cross my arms in front of my chest and wait for him to say something first.

Un

frustrated because I have been waiting pa tiently

“First of all, Gabe, I have been crushing on Jace since I was sixteen. We have known each other our entire lives and were best friends until we had a fallen out. I never would have been ready to date anyone until I was completely over him.” | run my fingers through my hair, “Look, you have been a good friend to me and I don’t want to lose that, but if it comes down to it, I will choose Jace each and every time because even though I want to have you in my life, I NEED Jace in my life, and I don’t expect anybody to understand it, but I do expect you to respect it.” | stare at him for a moment, “As for him hurting me… he doesn’t do anything

what I want.”

of this, but I do know that I still want your friendship. You’re cool as shit, and I’d be an idiot if I let my lack of knowledge fuck up a

hoping that he’s being honest with me, and when I finally believe he is, I smirk, “I am pretty

I?” 

ear to ear,

guess you’re pretty cool yourself, but you need to promise me one thing,” I wait for him to nod, “You need to promise not to be a dick when he gets back here. I told him not to egg you on and now I’m telling you not to be a dick. I want my friends to like the man I love and know that I’m happy

do that for you, but you need

U

a brow at

his arms and grins. I let him give me a friendly hug, “I truly am sorry about saying anything,

I hug him back and then

drops his arms right away, “Why don’t you come back upstairs.” He

I think I’m just going to take a shower and then head to bed. It’s been a long day and I

right, are you wanting any help? I’m free until about four

not looking forward to walking up and down those stairs that many times. I have a few boxes that I was going to wait and have my dad take up next week when they get here, but I prefer to have it all done by then.” I give him a grateful smile, “Lunch will be on me, of

problem. I’ll even drag Reece out

mean to

right” We have a good laugh to gether and then he heads

in my cami and sleep shorts, I go in search of my phone. I need to make sure I call Jace before I fall asleep. I find it adorable that he likes to be connected when we sleep. We have been able to tell each other goodnight and wake up to the other in the mornings this

at. I try to remember if I grabbed it when I left Reece and Gabe’s apartment, and I’ m sure I did. Walking over to the counter where I set every thing down at when I came in the door, everything that I had with my is

it up to see if I can find my phone’s location, but it doesn’t turn on. It

I grab my house keys and lock my door before taking the stairs two at a time to Reece and Gabe’s. I can’t believe this is happening to me right now. It’s just my luck that not only do I lose my phone

the door and chuckles at the

Un

we were having a

wish. I’m looking for my phone; I can’t seem to find it in my apartment or my laptop charger. I’m sure glad my head

you left earlier,” Gabe says as he comes over after hearing

find it anywhere.” | begin to bite my nail. I need to call Jace and at least let him know that I’m not

into the other room to go

1. it.

grab a wa ter. Offering me one, I shake my head, “I always leave my laptop on

I usually do too.” I furrow

God I know Jace’s number by

I thought I’d call you from Reece’s phone, to let you

don’t you use your laptop to find