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

was frustrated because I have been waiting pa tiently ever since I met you, for you to be ready to date. Suddenly you come back,

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

what I want.”

your friendship. You’re cool as shit, and I’d be an idiot if I let

he’s being honest with me, and when I finally believe he is, I

I?” 

to ear, he

when he gets back here. I told him not to egg you on and now I’m

his eyes but smiles, “Fine, I guess I can do that for you, but you

U

cock a brow at

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

it.” I hug him back and then step

you come back upstairs.” He nods towards the

bed. It’s been a long day and I need to

help? I’m free until

you. I don’t have a whole lot, but I’m not looking forward to walking up and down those stairs that many times. I have a few boxes that I was

even drag Reece out of bed to

mean to

We have a good laugh to gether and then

guy, and a great friend. Locking the door once more, I head to the bathroom and hop into the shower. Once I’m done, and 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

if I grabbed it when I left Reece and Gabe’s apartment, and I’ m sure

I think out loud. Going to my laptop, I open it up to see if I can find my phone’s location, but it doesn’t turn on. It must be dead, and now, I’m really getting frustrated. I

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

opens the door and chuckles at the

Un

I’m in, “I didn’t realize we

find it in my

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

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

into the other room

1. it.

ter. Offering me one, I shake my head, “I always leave my laptop on the

it, I usually do too.” I furrow

God I know Jace’s number by heart. When he answers, he sounds confused as to who it is

call you from Reece’s

just got home myself. Why don’t you use your laptop to find it?” He