(Complete) Joe Walch was in love with the girl of his dreams. Everything was perfect until it all changed...
Ella Burke had a wonderful family, a job she loved and a man she was completely in love with until her dreams were shattered.
Can Ella lear...
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Joe put his finger over his lips as Caleb entered the apartment. Caleb glanced at the sofa and whispered, "Is she sleeping over?"
"I'm not waking her."
He stood and followed Caleb right into his room. Looking around, he observed the mess with papers strewn across the floor and video games piled on his desk which should be used for homework. The worst were the clothes littering the floor.
"I hope you know what's clean, because I'm not lugging clean clothes to the laundromat to wash again."
"Yeah, what do you want?" His voice was full of attitude.
"I wanted to know what you did tonight."
"Nothing."
"Nothing for four hours sounds pretty boring."
"I hung out with Gaby."
"Where?"
"Um... her basement."
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"I don't know. There's another guy she hangs out with..."
"Is she screwing both of you?"
"Um, privacy! You want me to ask if you're doing my teacher."
"No, but you better wear a condom, if you're going to fool around."
"Can you just shut up?"
"Shush!" Joe reminded him.
"You're the one invading my space."
Joe held up his hands and left Caleb's room. Ella was still asleep and he wished he could fit next to her. He really didn't want to go to bed with her on his sofa.
She had been out late the night before having drinks with Christa, Tony and his friend, who went to meet Christa. He heard the evening went well and Christa was smiling when Joe saw her at school.
Joe had almost given up waiting up for Ella's call. By the time she had driven home, it was well past her work night bedtime. She was dragging all day while Christa drove Ella crazy, because she was full of energy. Apparently, she was going out with Dylan again.
Meanwhile, Ella came over and dozed off around nine. Joe sat correcting paper and glancing at her every few minutes. She looked beautiful, and Joe was still pinching himself because she was really there. Every so often after he glanced at her peaceful face, he would check his phone to see Caleb's whereabouts. He had been in one place all night not far from their apartment.
Joe debated and decided to move Ella. The biggest risk was not waking her, but her deciding to go home after she woke. She was so light he could easily lift her. He knew she had lost weight because of him. Her slight figure caused him guilt and so much regret.
When he lifted her, she stirred enough to nuzzle into his neck. He put her down on his bed and climbed in next to her. More nights than he could count, he had longed to be sharing his bed with her. He gathered her in his arms and she nuzzled into him. He instantly regretted his decision for fear he would be too distracted to sleep, but her calming vanilla scent enveloped him and he drifted off.
