The Cinderella Project (A Comedy of Love, #1) by Stan Crowe Page B

yourself?”
    “He’s nobody, Nicky.” The interruptions were getting annoying. “Let’s go inside right now. I don’t want to have to look at his nasty face for another second.” With that, she seized my arm and nearly sprinted for her door. She dragged me into her townhouse and slammed the door. She had it bolted before I could take a breath, then hurried around the house, pulling curtains and locking anything that might lead to the outside. Jake was calling her name, demanding to talk to her. When Ella’s bustling was done she hauled me upstairs where Jake’s noises were muffled by distance. She pulled me into her bedroom and slammed the door.
    She squinted. “I can’t listen to that moron anymore. If he doesn’t stop soon, I’m going to call the cops.”
    “You don’t think he’ll just leave if you ask him nicely?”
    Her eyes widened. “Seriously, Nick? I don’t want to even see that lunatic, let alone talk to him. If you’re not going to man up and knock him cold, I’ll just have to do things my way.” She let go of me and grabbed her phone.
    Okay, so the guy didn’t look like someone I’d immediately trust my future children with, but he hadn’t actually seemed all that psychotic when I met him on the porch. No reason for me to just “knock him cold.” It was also obvious Ella wasn’t telling me the whole story; that bothered me.
    “Ella, just… wait. Tell me what makes this guy so bad and I’ll deal with him.”
    She stared at me as if I were crazy. “What more do you need, Nicholas? Crazy guy in army clothes who’s probably drunk?” The last part wasn’t true. “And you have the gall to ask me to explain what’s wrong with him? Open your eyes, Nicholas!”
    “Has he hurt you? Just tell me, please.”
    “I have told you! If that’s not good enough, I don’t know what is. I’m calling the police!”
    Since she was determined to have her way, I just dropped my arms and went back downstairs to sit on the couch while she brought down the S.W.A.T. team on her house. Jake was saying something about his time in the war and about how thinking of her kept him alive and sane. I have to admit, I felt for the guy. It’s hard enough going to war, but to come home and find your girl is gone? I got off the couch to talk to him, but then realized that I’d only stir up an even bigger hornet’s nest if I did. I sat down to try to figure a good way out of this. Nothing came to mind.
    The flashing lights of a squad car lit the living room fifteen minutes later. I was a little surprised that Jake had stayed out on the porch that entire time; maybe he was as crazy as Ella had said. Crazy or not, his voice stopped as soon as the cops pulled up. Thankfully, he was wise enough to not run. Curious, I rose to go outside, but Ella flew down the stairs before I was even off the couch and was out the door shouting at the cops in a heartbeat. Jake yelled back. The cops were trying to calm Jake and Ella and some evening joggers had stopped to watch. Realizing there was nothing I could reasonably add to the… discussion… I got myself a cold glass of water and laid down on the couch. The time with Moiré earlier had been so much simpler than this. Ella owed me an explanation I knew I wouldn’t get. I suddenly needed a nap.
    My watch said 7:36 when the cops finally rolled away with Jake in the back of their squad car. I could have sworn they were out there for at least an hour. Ella’s mood was like curdled milk when it was over and her eyes were fiery until she looked at me; then they were a blizzard. She said something about needing a shower to wash off the filth and told me it was probably best if I just went home. I tried to give her a goodnight kiss, but she just pushed me away and stalked up to her suite.
    Knowing things weren’t going to get any better, I collected myself and began the walk home. The fresh July air was a welcome relief and I lost myself in the repetitious beat of my footfalls and