Ever growing 2

Chapter 51

My mouth waters when I see the tacos my friends prepared for me, everything looks delicious. I sit down with Ryan and them. He places his hand on my thigh under the table. Everyone is very quiet, afraid to speak. Maddy brings me a glass of water, Trevor asks if I need more cheese before he moves it out of my reach. I know they were all scared for me but them acting as if having a normal dinner will break me is making my blood boil. Emma asks if I need anything else, Ryan's hand squeezes my thigh knowing I'm getting angry but I can't help myself.

"Enough! I'm really sorry you had to go through this nightmare but I don't need your pity!"

"We don't pity you, Ella! We got fucking scared, we realized we could lose you in a second. I've been hating myself for letting go outside alone. I could have lost one of my best friends!" Emma says and I have a hard time swallowing because I realize they probably felt a fraction of what I felt when I thought Ryan was dead.

"I'm sorry Em, to all of you. All I'm asking right now is for normalcy even if it's just until we finish dinner." A tear falls down my cheek as I stand up to hug her. Maddy joins us, we hold each other before sitting back to eat.

Sam cracks a joke and the tension between all of us fades away. Ryan's hand rubs my thigh tenderly as we manage to laugh with our friends.

"Ella, we went to the bakery and got you cheesecake for dessert," Maddy says as she places a slice of cake in front of me. I thank everyone before devouring it.

Everything goes well until I remind them that we have the premiere tomorrow, sets of eyes stare at me in disbelief. Ryan runs a hand in his hair sighing. I look at him silently begging him to help me.

"Guys, Ella wants to do normal things. She doesn't want to allow Jake to ruin our plans, he's already caused enough damage," His words express my feelings exactly. "I know it's hard for all of us, we still have to explain everything that happened today but for now we'd like to spend quality time with all of you."

"We get it! Should we go swimming so we can all relax?" Trevor says.

Swimming involves exposing more skin than I want to since I didn't bring any one-piece suits. I'm also feeling really tired, but I still want them to have fun.

"Trevor, I think you guys should go swimming. I'm exhausted, I'm going to sleep so Maria won't have to use two layers of concealer tomorrow." I manage to smile at him.

I hug all of them, one by one before turning to walk to the bedroom. Ryan follows me although I remind him he's allowed to relax as well. He strips down to his boxers before hopping in bed next to me. He pulls me to his chest as he lays on his back before kissing me tenderly. My eyelids are very heavy, soon I fall asleep listening to the steady thrumming of his heart.