Bound

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

 

Eleanor's POV

It's been two weeks since I lost the job as a concierge. Things had gotten tougher on myself. The pressure grew. Especially since I could no longer pay the apartment rent and had to move out of it a week later. My boys and I were currently staying with Summer and her fiancée, Finn. They were generous enough to let us stay in their apartment, which was in much better condition than my old one.

Finn had a stable job as a nurse, and my best friend was living her dream as a teacher. I've been staying there for almost a week and already felt the guilt kicking in. The only good thing that came out losing my job was that I got to spend more time with my beloved boys.

"Luke, catch!" I threw the inflated ball at my son who missed it and ran towards it in the corner of the room. Peyton, ever the quietest one of the two, sat beside me flipping through one of his storybooks. I took him in my lap and read him the words on the page he was on. Peyton leaned back against my chest and snuggled closer to me.

"Momma!" I looked up to see an irrated look on Luke's face handing me the ball. "We playing ball!" I laughed giving him the attention he wanted from me. 

"Come here, Luke," I placed Peyton on one leg and Luke on the other. I was sitting Indian style with my two boys. I couldn't have felt anymore content ever since the happenings lately. I read to them the entire story book before we were interrupted with the doorbell ringing.

I carried my two heavy boys, who were laughing heartedly, into Summer's cozy living room and gently threw both of them on the couch which made them laugh harder in return. I turned the TV on, putting it on a kid cartoon show before opening the door. 

"Hey," Summer greeted me coming inside. I took a grocery bag from her and followed her into her huge kitchen. 

"The boys and I already had dinner," I told her. "I made chicken stew for all of us."

Summer turned to me. "Elle, you didn't have to do that. I was planning on cooking hence why I went to the grocery store."

"It's the least I could do," I shrugged it off and helped put the groceries away. "You and Finn are being so nice to me. I- I don't know how to repay your kindness." 

"You're my best friend, Elle. You're like a sister to me," Summer hugged me shortly and placed two plates for her and Finn. "Had any luck today?" She referred to my job hunting.

"No," I shook my head defeated. "I almost had luck at this restaurant as a waitress, but apparently I didn't meet their requirements, so they turned me down." 

"Why don't you just go back to your parents and end your sufferings?" Summer suggested leaning against the counter and looked at me. "Your life would be so much better and so will your kids." 

I tensed at the mention about my parents. Ever since I 'chose' Riley over my family when I was nineteen, they basically disowned me. I first met Riley when I was at college in London. He was a working student at the time and we've been together for three years when I got pregnant with Luke. That was the last straw my parents had with me. They stopped paying for my tuition at college and officially casted me out of their lives. I thankfully got to finish college before they did so however. A year and a half later when I was twenty-five, I was already working and had Riley's and I's second baby: Peyton. Now at the age of twenty-seven, I hadn't spoken to my parents ever since. Trust me, I had tried.

"They're not even an option," I muttered. "Summer, I promise. I'll find a place I can afford soon and will be out of yours and Finn's way." We were using their only other bedroom and felt I took up a lot of space. I hated asking people for help. I felt as if I'd failed my sons and myself.