MELROSE

CHAPTER 23

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No."

"Will it make any fucking difference if I kiss you?"

He chuckled. "Nah. It'll just make me want to take you with me."

I backed up. "I can't go, Ethan."

He smirked. "And I can't stay Bella."

I crossed my arms and turned away from him. "I fucking hate you."

He chuckled again. "I love you more."

I ignored his use of the word, knowing he didn't mean it. He couldn't. Instead, I glared at him.

"You're fucking crazy. You left the hospital from a car accident barely a week ago and now you want to travel?"

"Now, you just sound like them." He grumbled, gesturing to Helen and Enoch who were standing near the airplane that would take them away, conversing softly while Sasha and BB played games on their parents phones.

I grabbed his ear and dragged him, stopping in front of his parents.

"How can you let him travel? He just left the hospital."

Enoch shrugged while his wife laughed. "When this boy wants something, there's no stopping him. Besides, the kids don't really know Enoch's side of the family so," she touched her stomach "travelling to tell them the news was a pretty good excuse."

I blinked. "I - I didn't know."

"Because you weren't told."

I smacked him for his remark, smiling sweetly at Helen who watched us, eyes twinkling in amusement.

"Besides, we're going to have a stop at Denver. I could check up on Chris for you. Has she answered your calls yet?"

I nodded negative. He sighed heavily, mouth opening to say something when he was cut off when the air hostess came out and said "Mr and Mrs Chandler, you and your family can come in now. Other passengers are waiting."

"That's my cue Bella." He gave me a soft kiss. He pulled away, resting his forehead on mine, our eyes closed. "I think I'm in love with you."

My eyes fluttered open, my mouth agape in shock. I took a step back.
"W - what?"

If he was hurt by my reaction, he masked it up. Instead he reached for my paralysed figure, drawing me into his arms. "Dear dear. No need to get frightened my dear Bella. You don't have to feel the same. I said I think, not I am. There is a significant difference between the two some people fail to recognise."

I didn't know what to say. As much as I'd like to, I wasn't in love with him and I didn't think I was either. I felt like something was holding me the fuck back from doing that and I had no fucking clue what it was so I settled for a simple "I'm sorry."

He brought a finger to my lips. "Nonsense. Don't ever feel sorry about your feelings. You can't control it."

His eyes widened in disbelief and pleasant surprise when I licked his finger and winked as response. "My my, someone's dirty."

Enoch yelled for him. He gave me one last goodbye kiss and ran towards the airplane.

As I walked home, I tried Chris's number and once again, her phone was fucking switched off. I tried not to think about it, letting my thoughts wonder to the recent happenings of my life.