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HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 67
Chandler hooted with laughter. "Nothing to do with you? Pray tell, enlighten me, Future Dr. Kendrick.""I'm no shrink, but Elena is the first woman to make you want something more. And you'd have to put every part of you on the line in order to make something real with her. It's scary, and you've never done it, and you grabbed the most convenient excuse to make life easier on yourself. That excuse is bullshit, but you'll hold on to it like it's a life raft."Chandler glared mightily at him because clearly someone had used their time driving up here to prepare exactly how to knee him in the proverbial balls. Paul murmured like he was hearing a good sermon. He got a glare too.Elijah leaned forward. "What if she had been the one to show at your door?"The second he said it, his heart reacted without a single thought on his end.Racing, pounding, thumping erratically at the mere mention of her on the other side of that door. He wanted it so badly.Wanted her."What if you had the chance,
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 68
The only thing that could've tugged Elena's attention away from Chandler was her sister hustling to her side with a devious grin on her face. Her eyes were bright with tears, and Elena felt her happiness for her like a sweet wave. "I know you might not want to, but talk to him," Emily told her. Elena shook her head. Yes, she missed him terribly, but she'd gone through this phase with him before. She had given him another chance, and here she was… Hurt again. Maybe they cared about each other. Maybe they even loved each other, but did it really mean that they should be together? Not everyone in love could be in a relationship, and maybe she and Chandler were like that. Maybe they'd only keep hurting each other if they remained together. Maybe their relationship was meant to be a short one. Chandler's gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on her. His chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he'd shaved. Th
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 69
"It's okay, Chandler. You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me." Elena told him. "Don't let me off the hook, love." He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on her lips. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you, and I plan on apologizing to Emily and Daniel for walking out of their house. I have no excuse.""Okay." He smiled. "Just okay?"Elena's hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and she relished the heat of his skin coming through the material of his shirt. She only stopped when her palm was over his thudding heart. "Yeah. I don't think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ... I just need you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for not telling you when I had the chance. I need you to know that I'm in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too, but we'll always find our way back to each other. That's all I want."Chandler plucked her hand off his che
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 1
"Here you go," the landlord said as he stretched his hands towards Elena, "The keys to your new apartment. Welcome to the building," Elena Davis smiled as she reached out to take the keys, "Thank you," she said and watched as the elderly man walked out, closing the front door behind him. She looked around her new apartment and smiled happily. This is a start of something new. The beginning of a new phase in her life. It filled her with happiness, anxiety and fear all at the same time that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but what she did know was that she was going to do everything in her power to make things work out for good… She had to. After failing the first time, she didn't really have a choice, did she?Elena Davis had graduated from the university three years ago and had begun the journey of starting her own catering business. Unfortunately, she had failed and had to close down. Elena had been distraught, but a few months ago, her twin sister Emily had suggested that
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 2
After the waiter left to get their order, Emily glanced at Lexi, "Where is Elijah?" she asked her, "He texted me on the way and said he was here already. Was he messing with me?" "Now why the hell would I do that?" a voice said behind them. Elena didn't need to look behind her to know who owned that voice….Elijah. —-------Elijah Kendrick was a handsome young man. It was one of the reasons why Elena had had such a huge crush on him in their university days.Elena and Emily were identical, and sometimes students and teachers would confuse them for each other if they didn't know them well. Elena and Emily met Elijah at the same time. But there was something about Emily, some energy buzzing at an undetectable level, that drew Elijah's attention and made him feel comfortable.Elijah and Emily had been best friends ever since, and Elena hated that she looked like Emily—exactly like her—and was still different enough that the sweet, shy guy, the one with a cute smile and long legs, didn
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 3
Elena blinked at him, unsure of what to say and surprised about how direct he was. Her mouth opened, but she didn't have a chance to say anything before Emily chipped in. "Yes, she would really like to dance. Wouldn't you, Elena?" Emily asked, with an evil, mischievous smile on her face. Elena narrowed her eyes in her sister's direction, and watched as Emily laughed out loudly before returning her attention to Daniel. "Sure," she told Chandler, "But just so you know, I'm a terrible dancer," He smiled at her then. "For some reason, I find that very hard to believe," "I'm serious," Elena insisted, "Then I guess you don't have anything to worry about because you see, Elena," he leaned closer to her ear, so close that every hair on her body became erect, "I'm a terrible dancer too so I guess we'll figure it out there," Thankfully, he moved away so she could stop holding her breath and she smiled at him. Chandler stood, then held out his hand to her. Elena took it, and together, they
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 4
"See? I'm full of surprises, too," he told her."Apparently." She replied. "So …" he watched her face. "Do you like Vacaville so far?"She shrugged lightly, "Well, I can't say for sure right now. I've been here for only two weeks. In Fact, I just got my apartment today, so…. I think I'll hold on to my review for now," "Too bad," he said, "I was hoping you'd say you felt much better about Vacaville since you've just met this really cool dude—," he paused and gave her a look, "—That's me by the way…" Elena couldn't stop the smile this time. Chandler continued, "...But I guess I was wrong. You're not a fun person."Elena set her jaw stubbornly, and the smile quickly disappeared. "That doesn't sound very fair. You can't make a conclusion just like that because of one thing.""No?" he turned her again, pulling her back into his chest. "Agree to disagree.""So you'd want me to dissect you right now?" Elena asked, face flushed from the way he'd just tilted her back. "Because I have made
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 5
Chandler caught her arm, stopping her movement. She stared at his place where he made contact and he dropped his hand to his side. The thing was that he did understand. He understood how it felt to have a sibling who seemed to be the apple of everyone's eye. The child the parents were always proud of. The one who had everything figured out. "I'm not complaining," he said, "I kinda did the same thing and you listened…. And it's okay to start over. As long as you don't give up. You can try as many times as you need to," Elena smiled at him. It was weird and funny at the same time. How she'd come here, anxious to see her crush from years ago… Who happened to be his brother, and now she couldn't even remember if Elijah existed. She stared at the clover tattoo on the side of his hand and wondered why he had so many of them. Chandler noticed her staring. The wavy length of her deep brown hair caught the lights in the room and he tilted his head and watched her for a moment. It had been a
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HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 69
"It's okay, Chandler. You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me." Elena told him. "Don't let me off the hook, love." He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on her lips. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you, and I plan on apologizing to Emily and Daniel for walking out of their house. I have no excuse.""Okay." He smiled. "Just okay?"Elena's hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and she relished the heat of his skin coming through the material of his shirt. She only stopped when her palm was over his thudding heart. "Yeah. I don't think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ... I just need you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for not telling you when I had the chance. I need you to know that I'm in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too, but we'll always find our way back to each other. That's all I want."Chandler plucked her hand off his che
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 68
The only thing that could've tugged Elena's attention away from Chandler was her sister hustling to her side with a devious grin on her face. Her eyes were bright with tears, and Elena felt her happiness for her like a sweet wave. "I know you might not want to, but talk to him," Emily told her. Elena shook her head. Yes, she missed him terribly, but she'd gone through this phase with him before. She had given him another chance, and here she was… Hurt again. Maybe they cared about each other. Maybe they even loved each other, but did it really mean that they should be together? Not everyone in love could be in a relationship, and maybe she and Chandler were like that. Maybe they'd only keep hurting each other if they remained together. Maybe their relationship was meant to be a short one. Chandler's gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on her. His chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he'd shaved. Th
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 67
Chandler hooted with laughter. "Nothing to do with you? Pray tell, enlighten me, Future Dr. Kendrick.""I'm no shrink, but Elena is the first woman to make you want something more. And you'd have to put every part of you on the line in order to make something real with her. It's scary, and you've never done it, and you grabbed the most convenient excuse to make life easier on yourself. That excuse is bullshit, but you'll hold on to it like it's a life raft."Chandler glared mightily at him because clearly someone had used their time driving up here to prepare exactly how to knee him in the proverbial balls. Paul murmured like he was hearing a good sermon. He got a glare too.Elijah leaned forward. "What if she had been the one to show at your door?"The second he said it, his heart reacted without a single thought on his end.Racing, pounding, thumping erratically at the mere mention of her on the other side of that door. He wanted it so badly.Wanted her."What if you had the chance,
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 66
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chandler willed his mind to stop cycling around those thoughts because it didn't matter. It was like two months of his life, and that was it.He'd get over it. He'd get over her.His phone lit up again, and he sighed. "I don't know what he could possibly want to say to me."The recliner squeaked as Paul leaned forward. "I'm curious too. Hello?""What are you doing?" he yelled. "Give me that phone."When he tried to swipe for it, Paul flipped him off. "Elijah? Yeah, this is Paul. I am with the grumpy asshole."Even though his leg screamed in protest, Chandler stood from the couch and towered over Paul, holding out his hand and giving him his most forbidding glare.Paul ignored him. "Hmm. Sure, yeah. Makes sense." He continued. "Give me the phone, Paul.""Great idea, Elijah. Yeah. I like it."When he handed Chandler the phone, he exhaled heavily. Then he saw the call was already disconnected. Chandler blinked. "He hung up?""Guess so."His eyebrows lift
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 65
"Emily," Elena warned. "You paused. Why did you pause?"She scrunched up her face. "Did I?"Elena sat forward. "Oh my gosh, what is it? Are you moving out of town? Are you leaving? Are you sick?""Slow your roll, crazy," Emily said on a laugh. "I'm not sick, good grief."Her heart settled back into a normal rhythm. "Well, it's something.""I didn't want to say anything with all the feelings and everything that's been going on." Emily gestured to Elena. "But…. I'm pregnant," "What?" Elena shrieked excitedly, and hugged her sister tightly. "Congratulations. You should have told me since," "Well, I was going to… But then I screwed up so I had to fix things first," Elena beamed at her, "You and Daniel are going to be so happy, and I'm going to be the best Aunt ever," "So you're coming right?" "Do you really have to ask? Of course I am coming." She hesitated for a while, then added, "Will Chandler be there?" she asked carefully. "It's not that I'd ... I don't know, avoid going if he w
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 64
Emily braced her arms on her thighs and leaned toward her. "Okay, talk to me. Tell me everything. I mean, maybe not like, sex details. But ... what happened while you were gone?"Then she patted the bed. Elena's entire being settled back into place as she and Emily braced their backs against the wall. She curled her hand around hers with their legs stretched out straight onto the bed, and Elena unloaded for the next thirty minutes.After a bit, Emily leaned her head on her shoulder, and Elena set her head on hers, and they fell quiet before she got to the scene in the driveway. She didn't even attempt to wipe the tears coming down her face during that part."I'm so mad at him for leaving," Elena said, voice hoarse from talking. "But I get it. I don't want to, but I do.""I don't."Elena nudged her. "I don't need you to vilify him."Emily laughed under her breath. After the driveway showdown, dinner was a shitshow. Elena cried in the balcony while Elijah, Daniel Emily and Lexi yelled
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 63
Elena froze, and she had to clench her teeth tightly to keep from screaming at her that there was no conceivable way she could have known that when they'd never freaking talked about it.Emily, like a rabid dog, saw the pause in her motion and pounced on it. "I thought you guys talked about it, okay? And I just ... I was trying to make conversation because seriously, I was trying to be nice to him. I wanted to get closer to him because I thought it'd make you happy, and honestly, I was starting to like him. I just wanted to have a conversation."By telling him I had a crush on his brother! Elena wanted to scream. Her eyes pinched shut. This was killing her.Because no matter how pissed she was, she could feel it seeping through her skin, how miserable Emily was.She was sad. She was frustrated. She was scared.Between the two of them, Elena was always the one who caved first. Who tried to keep the peace. Who let things slide. And she didn't want to let this slide because she was mi
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 62
Chandler dropped his chin and breathed deeply. "Could you?""I don't hold your past against you. Because it's irrational and unfair, and you know it." She said, "That's not what I mean." He lifted his head, held her gaze, and the resolve Elena saw there chilled her to her core. "Could you overlook it if I told you that I showed up that night to take a shot with Emily?" Words were gone. Her mouth was sand-dry at what that did to her.He kept talking, quiet, dangerous words that did horrible things to her heart."If I told you that I thought about being with her, touching her, kissing her, and for even one moment, I was disappointed that I got you instead."She sucked in a startled breath."Yeah," he said slowly, softly. "You couldn't overlook it either. Because that look in your pretty brown eyes, baby. It feels like I just punched you in the gut, doesn't it?"Her eyes filled with tears, and she hated them. She hated that he was right. And for just a moment, one fleeting, fast one, s
HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 61
"What did Emily say to you?" Elena asked quietly. It was taking everything in her not to march up to him and shake the answer out of him."I can see it." Chandler said, Elena's head tilted at his strange answer. She felt like a fish that had been plopped unceremoniously out of its bowl. It was hard to breathe because she had no concept of how to navigate this. "See what?"He exhaled slowly, finally turning to face her. "You and Elijah."Her stomach was now the thing giving her all the ominous feels because it turned dangerously. What the hell did her sister say to him? "Elijah and I," she repeated quietly. "Chandler... I—" Denial trapped in her throat. Nothing else came up. Because she couldn't lie.And he saw that on her face.He nodded. "You'd look great together. And it's probably really fucking stupid on my end that I never even considered that you were into him.""I don't want Elijah," she argued. Carefully, she approached him with her hands held up. Don't spook him, Elena, beca
