Love and Sacrifice by Chelsea Ballinger Page B

head right now to keep me from tripping over her.
    “This is kind of awkward, but sweet at the same time,” she laughs.
    “Yeah, I know.” I laugh with her. “I’m trying here.”
    “Why do I get the feeling you will regret it?”
    “Why do you think that?”
    “Because of the way your eyes squint. They squint like you’re dwelling on a good thing.”
    “Who says this is a good thing?”
    “I do. Let’s make a deal. You don’t hurt my feelings, and I won’t hurt yours.”
    “People can’t make those promises, Ella.”
    “Well, they have to at least try, right?”
    I stop the dance and I lean into her, touching her face with my wet hands. I just want her to stop talking… and I want to kiss her. I brush her hair back and stroke her bottom lip with my thumb. I’m going to regret this later, but right now I don’t care. I press my lips into hers and take her all in. She wraps her arms around me and we deepen the kiss. And I mean we go in very deep. It’s slow, deep, and passionate. It’s better than all the other kisses we have shared. I take my hands and touch her lower back and press her against me. She makes this whimpering sound that causes me to kiss her harder, allowing my tongue to lick her bottom lip as she leans back to look at me.
    Before I know it, she smiles and hops up, pushing me down below the water. She comes down with me and presses her lips against mine. In this moment, I wish everything was different. I wish I was another person. A person who deserved to be with Ella like this.

Chapter 11
    “Who Is He?”
    Ella
                   “That’s so sweet,” Claudia says to me, over the phone.
                  I told her everything that happened between me and Tommy two nights ago. “It was sweet.”
                  “Sounds like you really like him.”
                  “I do,” I sigh, still thinking about the kisses we shared in the pool. “So, what’s been going on with you? Still think my brother walks on water?”
                  She laughs at my comment. “Shut up. I’ve just been taking this summer writing class, volunteering at this center for kids, and yes I am still madly in love with Donovan.”
                  “So, when are you guys coming back here?”
                  “Well, your mom called and told us that she is throwing something for your brother’s birthday.”
                  “Christian?”
                  “Yeah, I think that’s pretty cool.”
                  “Yeah, it is.”
                  “You should invite your new boyfriend.”
                  “He’s not my boyfriend.”
                  “Well, you want him to be. That’s obvious.”
                  “We’ll see. He’s not a label type of guy. To tell you the truth I never thought I was a label type of girl.”
                  “Obviously.”
                  “Shut up.”
                  Claudia laughs. “Listen, I got to go meet Jade at the gym.”
                  “Since when do you go to the gym?”
                  “Since the freshmen fifteen arrived to wreak havoc on my body.”
                  “Oh, please. Alright, I’ll talk to you later.”
                  “Bye.” I push the end button on my phone and lay back on my bed.
                  “So, you have a new friend, huh?” I jerk up at the sound of my dad’s voice, coming out of nowhere.
                  “Jesus, Dad! You’re spying on me?”
                  “I was walking in the hallway of the house I am paying for and I heard my daughter speaking about a boy she is becoming serious with.”
                  “And your point is?”
                  “Daughter and boy. That’s all you need to justify it when