Two Worlds Collided (Ace Merrill)

I Need to See Him

The words replay in my head, bouncing off my skull and repeating over and over.

Eleanor, he told me he loves you.

I stand up, my knee hitting the edge of the table. I ignore the throbbing in my leg.

"I need to see him," I state.

Eyeball looks surprised, then he stands up again.

"Okay. Come on, I'll take you there."

"One moment." I walk over to my sister. "Elizabeth, I'm going somewhere real quick. I'll see you soon."

She frowns at me. "Where are you going?"

I bite my bottom lip, then decide there's no harm in telling her.

"Everything with Ace was apparently a misunderstanding. I need to go talk to him."

She nods, grinning. "Go, then!"

I follow Eyeball out to his car. Quickly, I get in.

Luckily, the drive won't take long. As Eyeball starts to drive, I look at him.

"Why, again, did you say they made that second bet?" I question.

He smiles. "Because you didn't sleep with him. They gave him an extra twenty for getting Lisa."

I look outside, confused. We definitely slept together.

"Oh."

He looks at me. "Something wrong?"

I shake my head, lost in thought. Why wouldn't he have told them about it, after accepting the bet?

I'm still considering his motives when we pull up to Ace's house.

I turn and look at him.

"Thank you so much," I say.

He nods. "No problem."

I get out and watch him drive away before going to the door. The only car in the driveway is Ace's, so I'm not surprised when he opens the door.

He looks awful. Not as in he isn't still gorgeous, because he is, but he looks like he feels awful. His eyes are puffy and his hair is sticking out everywhere.

"Ace," I breathe.

I half expect him to slam the door in my face, and he would have every right to do so. But he doesn't. He just looks at me for a moment.

"Eleanor?"

"Can we talk?" I ask.

He opens the door wider and I step inside. I follow him to his bedroom. After turning the light on, he shuts the door.

"What's wrong?" He wonders.

I thought it would be hard to say, but the words come quicker than I can really comprehend.

"Ace, I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you, and let you explain. I shouldn't have just believed what Lisa told me. I'm sorry."

He thinks over my words, then nods.

"El, I never would have slept with her. It's a long story, but I'll tell you every single detail if you want. All honesty, I swear."

I shake my head. "Eyeball already told me. About the bet, and the other bet, everything. He told me you said you couldn't go through with it."

He smiles a little.

"I couldn't. I didn't even want to. So, Lisa and I agreed to split the money and just pretend it happened."

I step closer to him.

"Can I ask you something?"

He nods. "Anything."

"Why didn't you tell them that you won the first bet?"

He hesitates, smiling.

"Didn't Eyeball tell you everything I said?"

I shrug. "He said you told him you love me."

He nods.

"Yeah. I wasn't going to exploit the details of our relationship for some cash. It wasn't worth it. I tried calling off the bet, but they wouldn't let me. So I just pretended I lost."

I wrap my arms around him, and kiss his shoulder.

"I love you, Ace. So much. Forgive me?"

He kisses my forehead, lingering for a moment.

"Of course I forgive you, darling. I would have reacted the same way."

I smile and pull away. He's beaming at me.

"By the way, I love you, too," he smirks.

Then he kisses me.