“Hey Matty, what’s up?” she says into the phone.
“Hey El, I was just wondering if you could do me a huge favour tonight,” comes the response.
“You don’t waste time do you?” she laughs. “Okay, what’s this favour.”
There is silence on the other end of the phone for a while. Eventually Matt speaks.
“Remember my friend Sam? My best friend from primary school?” He asks cautiously.
“Oh the kid with the dark hair and green eyes?” she asks.
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“What about him? Didn’t he move away or something?” Ellie changes the phone to her other ear and picks up the TV remote to turn the volume down.
“Yeah, he did, but now he’s back, and he doesn’t really have somewhere to stay at the moment.”
Matt’s voice sounds uncertain through the phone.
“So why doesn’t he stay with you?” she asks.
“Well, mum and dad are away in Venice remember? And I have my camp coming up. I’d tell him to come to that but the deadlines already been and he doesn’t have the money anyway. His parents are moving overseas but he doesn’t want to go with them and they told him he had to make his own way if that was going to be his decision.”
“Oh,” Ellie hesitates. “So what are you wanting me to do?”
“Could you look after him … Just till I get back from camp.”
Ellie sighs and swaps the phone back to her right hand as she thinks.
“Matt, you know I’m married now, I can’t really have strange guys around the house, certainly not while Phil’s away on one of his business trips.”
“Please Ellie? He really needs some help and he has nowhere else to go.”
Ellie sighs again and runs a hand through her hair.
“Okay fine, just till you get back, and you better give me money for food to feed the kid,” she says reluctantly.
“Thanks Ellie!” comes the excited response. “I’ll bring him over in the morning before my bus!”
Matt hangs up and Ellie sits staring at the phone with a worried expression. She leans back into the couch and runs her hands over her face.
“What have I just gotten myself into?” she moans as memories of a young boy with dark hair and green eyes flirting with her, and later on, a young teen touching her on her hips and boobs when no one else is around. She groans louder and covers her face with a cushion as she remembers never pushing him away or telling him not to.
“This is going to be an interesting week…” she murmurs to herself as she gets up and heads to the shower.
***
The next day, Ellie gets up early, dresses respectfully and starts making sure the guest room is in order. As she sets the bed and folds a towel neatly to place on the bottom right corner, she thinks about if she should tell Phil about this teenager coming into the house and staying while he is away.
She eventually decides against it, knowing it would end up in an argument where he’d be saying “No he can’t come” and her saying “But I already said okay.”
She’s just finishing up when a knock comes at the door. Bracing herself she goes to answer it. Ellie opens the door to Matt and Sam, welcoming them in. Matt giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek on his way past.
“Hey El, you remember Sam?” Matt gestures for Sam to follow him in.
“Err yeah, hey Sam, good to see you again, you sure have grown hey?” Ellie says with an awkward smile.
“Ah yeah… I guess so,” Sam says feeling equally awkward.
Sam’s eyes take in Ellie’s lean but curvy figure and likes the way her boobs have grown just a little more, pushing against the soft material of her top. He remembers back to a time he was younger and had touched them a few times.
Ellie notices Sam’s gaze and coughs.
“Uh, I'm sorry my husband’s not here,” she says putting emphasis on ‘husband’. “I reckon you would really get on with Phil.”
“Uh yeah…” Sam says, drawing his eyes back to Ellie’s face. “Matt said you got married.”
“Okay great!” Matt exclaims happily. “Looks like we’re all settled in then. Well I better be off, my bus will be at the school soon.”
Without further thought he walks back out through the door. Just before closing it he turns back to Ellie.
“Oh and I transferred you some money before we left, should be in your account soon.”
“Uh thanks,” Ellie says with a small wave.
Once Matt’s gone, Ellie and Sam stand awkwardly in the hallway a few seconds.
“So … uh, how have you been?” Ellie asks nervously.
“Good I guess, apart from my parents moving to Asia… I’m 19 now by the way.” Sam says.
“Hmmm so it would seem, so is Matty.”
There is another awkward pause and Ellie sighs.
“Alright, I’ll show you to your room then.”
Sam nods and follows Ellie as she turns into the house.
***
Ellie and Sam are sitting at the table eating a meal of pasta that Ellie had cooked. They sit in awkward silence for a while, each of them focusing on their meals. Wanting to charm Ellie, Sam decides to start a conversation.
“Remember when we were younger and you asked to play with my hair because you got bored with your dolls?” he asks hesitantly.
A small but uncertain smile creeps across Ellie’s lips and she nods.
“Yeah, I remember that. Matty was so mad when he came home to find his best friend in the grips of his sister.”
They both chuckle at the memory.
“I also remember doing other stuff with you…” Sam hints.
“I’m married now,” Ellie says firmly.
“You have to admit you enjoyed it though,” Sam says playfully.
“I may have back then, but I can’t now.”
“Why not, no one has to know.”
“Sam,” Ellie says in a warning voice.
“Does your husband even know I'm here? Did you tell him?” he asks.
“No …” she admits softly.