by Abbi Glines
I’d stayed this morning because of all that and unlike our sexual explosiveness from the day before, we had taken it slow in the early hours of dawn. Savored being there together. I’d kissed her and for a moment it was just us. Nothing else in the world. As life-altering as the previous sex with her had been, this morning had been spiritual. To describe it as making love wasn’t adequate.
The door opened to the loft and every nerve in my body reacted to knowing she was back. Close again. Here with me. I was completely screwed, and I knew it. The idea of leaving her seemed impossible. Atlanta and all it harbored felt like a different lifetime.
I couldn’t label this insanity she’d created inside me as love. I’d been in love. More than once and I knew how love felt. This was a different power altogether. One I had no name for. I wasn’t sure anyone had a name for the reaction that just the thought of her released within me.
“I’m starving,” she announced as she lit up the place with her smile. “Want to go with me to find food? Because cooking something doesn’t sound appealing at all.”
I closed my laptop and stood up. “Where do you want to go?” I asked. She had only enough time to grab a banana and a protein bar on her way out the door this morning.
Her expression was one of deep thought before she held up a finger and said with obvious excitement, “I know!”
I didn’t care where it was or what kind of food they had. I was with her and it made the world a brighter place. “Let’s go then,” I said, grabbing my keys from the table.
“Do you like Thai food?” she asked, studying me as if she was expecting me to lie and she needed to decipher the truth.
“It’s not my favorite, but I’m willing to try it,” I replied honestly enough.
Then she broke out into a massive grin before laughing. “I hate Thai food,” she said while still laughing. “You’re in luck. Masters is a barbecue place.”
I cocked an eyebrow and kept the amusement off my face. “Damn, I hate barbecue,” I lied.
She laughed harder before responding, “Nice try. I’ve seen you eat a plate full of barbecue chicken at Nate and Bliss’s engagement party. And you went back to get seconds on the fixings.”
That made me pause and take it in. She had paid that close of attention to me that night she remembered what I ate? How did I process that? Was it simply because she was sizing me up back then being her brother’s fiancée’s best friend and a male? Or was it because she wanted to look at me?
“Don’t go thinking into that so much,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I people watch.”
I smirked then. If she felt the need to cover for the fact she remembered a small detail like that about me, then she’d been studying me for more than just people watching.
“Then tell me what someone else ate that night,” I challenged. “If you were people watching, I couldn’t have been the only one you watched.”
The pink that instantly colored her cheeks said more than anything else she could say at this point. Was it possible the Eli I was before the shit I’d lived through changed me had been attractive to Ophelia? Could it be something about me other than my appearance and hardening that drew her to me?
Motherfucker. It was pulling me. That invisible string that was slowly thickening into a more solid structure. Making her more important. More required. More wanted by me than was safe. For either of us.
“Fine,” she said, regaining her air of confidence she held so well. “I was watching only you. I was intrigued.”
I felt like she was going to say more but didn’t. I wanted to push, but I refrained. She’d admitted enough. Her flushed cheeks told me she felt vulnerable about me knowing it. I didn’t want her to regret opening up to me that way.
I walked toward her and only stopped when we were an inch apart. “You were impossible not to watch. Every single man in the room was looking at you. The ribs you ate not giving one shit that your dress was white or that the sauce was on your face while you enjoyed them was fucking sexy.” I had many memories of her. Admitting them all would be a mistake. But this I would give her so that she felt as if we were on equal footing.
The wide-eyed reaction I got from my admitting my memory as she stared up at me with surprise was so damn adorable, I lowered my head and kissed her. The more I gave her of myself, the more I knew I’d regret. Where Ophelia was sunlight and positivity, I was darkness and pain. This feeling she gave me couldn’t last forever. My demons would eventually be stronger as I grew accustomed to her. Time would expose how unsuitable I was for someone like her.
If only the man I’d been before I left had known she was looking. Would it have made me stay? I had never regretted leaving until now. Her hands ran up my arms as she kissed me back just as passionately. If I didn’t step back, she’d end up hungry still and back at work. My desire to be inside her couldn’t be the only thing I focused on.
I ended the kiss, stepped back from her and nodded toward the door behind her. “We need to feed you.”
She gave a soft laugh then. “Probably should get out of this loft before I forget I’m hungry.”
“Lead the way,” I replied in agreement, staying alone with her one more second was going to be too much. If we were going to eat, we needed to escape before the passion beating hot just under the surface broke free again.
“I have more fruit and I think some peanut butter. I could eat here,” she said without moving.
That was fucking tempting. “Go, now, before I change my mind. You need more than that to eat.”
I saw the indecision in her eyes.
“Sweet Jesus you’re gonna kill me, GO,” I said the last as a demand.
The saucy grin she flashed me before turning and walking back out the door eased the sexual tension enough to make me chuckle.
JUNE 15 / 5:37 PM
Ophelia Finlay
I HAD EXPECTED the Saturday afternoon traffic to be worse than it was along the coast. My drive from Rosemary Beach to Sea Breeze had only taken two hours exactly. Once the dance camp ended today, I’d already had my bags in the car to come this way.
Eli had left to come back here Thursday after we had gone to lunch. While eating, he got a call from his dad about his grandmother not doing well after her chemo treatment that morning. Eli had felt like he should go back and check on her.
Watching him drive away had been hard, but the reason why made me love him more. He hadn’t even gotten back to Sea Breeze when he texted me that he’d be back this weekend if all was well. I’d immediately told him that after work today I’d come to him.
Finding a parking spot was easy enough. Most people were probably out on a Saturday night. I reached over and took my overnight bag from the passenger seat then stepped out of the car. The sound of the beach being so close made it feel like home, even though it was a very different place. Glancing up toward Eli’s apartment, the light was on and his bike was parked in his designated parking spot. He was expecting me.
I was hungry and hoped we ate soon. All I’d had at work today was microwaveable mac and cheese. Then on the other hand, if Eli wanted to strip me naked and give me a few orgasms first, I wouldn’t be opposed to that either. I’d thought of little else since he’d left my place. As much as I loved the slow lovemaking we’d had last, I was in the mood for being taken roughly tonight. I liked his dirty mouth. Thinking about it excited me.
By the time I reached the stairs that led up to his apartment, I was grinning. Anticipating wild sex possibly on his kitchen table or maybe his sofa. However, the closer I got to his door the louder the voices were. When I knocked on it, I knew there was several people in there. Eli hadn’t said anything about others being here when I called him earlier.
The door swung open and Eli’s sister, Crimson, answered. She was striking with red hair and pale skin like her mother’s. The smile that spread across her face at the sight of me was a relief. I’d never gotten to talk to Crimson much and I knew very little about her. I wanted Eli�
��s family to like me.
“I now understand why Eli was so annoyed by our arrival,” Crimson said, stepping back and opening the door wider for me to enter. “Micah brought the beer, I brought brownies and red wine, and Jude brought his momma’s homemade lasagna with garlic bread. Looks like our housewarming meal was not in his plans tonight,” she was explaining all this to me I realized.
I stepped into the apartment as Eli walked toward me scowling. When he reached me, he took the bag from my hand. “They just walked in,” he told me and from the look on his face, I was wondering if he intended to kick them out. I hoped not. I didn’t want to be the reason he kicked his family out. I knew Micah was married to Eli’s Aunt Larissa. So that made him and his younger brother, Jude, family. I glanced over and saw no one else. Just these three.
“I’m starving,” I said, looking at Crimson. “I’d love some of the lasagna, garlic bread, and a brownie or three.”
Crimson’s smile brightened and she then shot her brother a smirk. “See, she’s hungry. Now go put her bag up and stop glaring at us all like we are intruders. Because we obviously are, but we did come with food and beverages.”
Eli’s scowl didn’t fade as he walked off with my bag back toward the bedroom.
“You’re Nate’s sister,” Micah Falco said then as if he’d been trying to place me and it just hit him.
I gave him a nod. “Guilty.”
“I won’t lie, we had no idea you and my brother were uh . . . close. I mean I remember you and him walking down to the beach the night he arrived at Bliss’s, but I didn’t know you were seeing each other . . .” Her last few words faded off as if they were more of a question. I couldn’t blame Eli for not telling anyone. I hadn’t told my family either. It was all kind of new. I was planning on talking to my mother about things, but I hadn’t done so yet. I was almost afraid to bust the happy bubble I was currently in with Eli.
“It’s the tattoos, isn’t it?” Micah said, shaking his head with a chuckle. “Damn kid gets all inked and goes from nerd to player overnight.”
Micah Falco had been at enough of the same events as me that I knew he was the one with all the comments and often funny yet inappropriate one-liners. He was good for diffusing awkward moments too. I had witnessed it a few times. However, I didn’t like him referring to Eli as a nerd.
“The ink is hot, but Eli has been on my radar well before he disappeared. I just hadn’t worked up the nerve to make a move yet.” Okay so maybe that wasn’t the exact truth, but it made Micah’s mocking grin morph into an impressed wide-eyed expression.
“Well, damn, dude,” he said as Eli walked back into the room. “I didn’t realize you had such fucking game before you ran off.”
“Ignore Micah, we all do,” Crimson said just before there was another knock on the door.
“Motherfucker,” Eli muttered, and Crimson ignored him to open it up.
“Please tell me that’s spinach artichoke dip.” Crimson’s voice was one of longing as she moved out of the way and Bliss walked in carrying a bag of chips followed by my brother carrying a bowl I assumed was the dip Crimson was hoping for.
“Of course it is,” Bliss said, grinning at her. “I couldn’t show up without bringing your favorite—” She stopped mid-sentence as her gaze met mine. It went from confused to surprised.
“You invited that brat?” My brother’s tone was teasing, so I shot him the annoyed snarl I always did when he called me a brat.
“I feel better about being in the dark now,” Crimson said with a small laugh. It seemed Crimson had set up this surprise house warming party. My brother had been speaking to her when he’d mentioned me being invited. Crimson was realizing Nate had no idea about me and Eli either.
“The dark?” Nate asked, setting the bowl down on the bar before turning toward the rest of the room.
Eli’s hand rested on my lower back at that moment and the warmth of his body felt comforting as he stepped up to my left side. Close enough that it made things very clear.
Nate’s eyebrows shot up then as he took in the obvious nonverbal statement. “Really?” he asked, sounding amazed. “With her smartass mouth and attitude? You’ve seen that side of her, right?”
“I am not above kicking your ass in front of all these nice people,” I warned Nate. Who then laughed and shook his head.
“Not even on a good day, little sister. Damn, I thought after the movie premier whatever was going on with the two of you was done.” I could see in his eyes as they locked with mine that he was good with this. Amused but pleased. With Eli and Bliss’s history, I hadn’t been sure how he would feel. I hadn’t cared, to be honest, but it was nice to see he was cool with it. Happy even.
I swung my gaze to Bliss then realizing she may not be as pleased. I knew she loved my brother fiercely and I wasn’t worried about her feeling as if she had some claim on Eli. But she was my sister-in-law. Eli was her best friend. Neither of us had told her and she was walking into it blindsided. Like everyone else.
She went from studying Eli then her thoughtful gaze shifted to me. Slowly a smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. “I wondered after the movie premier . . . and leaving Eli there but then neither of you said anything,” she said as if it was all falling into place. “Good.” Was all she said then and gave me a warm smile that matched the expression in her eyes. “I won’t hold it against y’all for not telling me since not even your siblings knew,” she added with a shrug then walked over to hand Nate the chips she was carrying.
“You’re not going to warn him about her?” my brother asked Bliss.
“Hell, Finlay, she can’t be worse than you and we all had to let you have our sweet innocent Bliss,” Micah said as he walked over to take the cover from the dip. “Eli’s all brooding and sexy now. Sure she’s gorgeous, possibly out of his league but they’re dating. Let’s eat before anymore damn family shows up and we got to go through this all over again.”
The silent Jude finally stood up from the place on the sofa he’d been sitting quietly. “Thank God, I’m starving to death while this fucking live action soap opera unravels.”
I turned my head to look up at Eli. He wasn’t scowling as bad, but he still didn’t appear thrilled about this. “They did bring food,” I whispered.
He met my gaze then. “Crimson should have asked me first,” he said.
“Saved us from having to tell them,” I added another pro to the situation.
“True.” He narrowed his eyes slightly as if trying to read my mind. “Are you good with that?”
“Yes. Are you?” I countered. Because he wasn’t looking pleased about anything.
He sighed then a small tug lifted the right side of his mouth. “Yeah. I just wanted you to myself tonight.”
That made me tingly and giddy he wanted me to himself. That meant he had been thinking about me too. Missing me.
“They aren’t staying the night,” I pointed out, although I understood what he was saying.
“Could the two of you stop eye-fucking each other so we can eat in peace,” Micah called out from the end of the table he was now sitting at with a plate of food.
Eli’s expression went dark again as he swung his gaze toward Micah, and I grabbed his arm to squeeze it. “Let’s eat,” I said, trying not to laugh.
“She looks like an angel, but the claws that come out of that one and the mouth will shock you,” my brother said to Micah. “You are good at giving it, but if she unleashes, you have met your match.” Then Nate pointed his fork at Eli. “That one just hasn’t seen it yet. Because if he had, he wouldn’t be giving us all that pissed off scowl, but he’d be worried for us.”
My brother was pushing it. I shot him a warning glare. I didn’t want Eli’s family thinking I was a psycho. He laughed and then put a chip with dip in his mouth before winking at me.
JUNE 15 / 8:57 PM
Eli Hardy
THE DOOR CLOSED on Crimson as she left my apartment. She’d been the last one to go. The
others had started heading out twenty minutes ago starting with Micah and Jude. They had been headed to Live Bay since Larissa was working tonight. Micah had taken her some brownies with him when he left.
Watching Ophelia blend in with my family and how seamlessly her brother being here with Bliss had been, eased my annoyance as the night wore on. The awkwardness I’d been worried about hadn’t happened at all. Ophelia had proved she could hold her own with Micah and he had enjoyed the banter too.
When I’d left all of them behind and went to find life outside of this place I’d forgotten things like this. Somehow through it all, I’d grown to think I didn’t want this and being done with it all was what I had needed. Tonight, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
“That was fun,” Ophelia said as she walked over to me from the door, she had opened for my sister because her hands had been full with leftovers and wine.
Fun wasn’t exactly the word I would have used to describe it, but I’d enjoyed it okay. Being alone with Ophelia would have been preferable. Having a warning of some sort that they were all going to show up and barge in unannounced would have been better. My youngest sister hadn’t been here, and I didn’t ask but if Crimson had left her out, then there would be that drama to come from it too.
“This is much better,” I replied when she sat down beside me on the sofa.
“I can’t argue with that,” she said, cuddling up against me. Her hand slid across my stomach and she laid her head on my chest. Any tension I’d been holding onto from tonight was gone that easily. How I’d survived without the effects of Ophelia’s presence so long I didn’t know. How I’d survive when this ended . . . I couldn’t think about.
“Your sister makes really good brownies. I ate two,” she said.
“My mom made those. I could tell when I saw them. And you ate three,” I replied.
She tilted her head back to look up at me. The amused gleam in her eyes made me want to laugh. “How do you know how many I ate?” she challenged.
