"It's your favorite person in the world." She recognized the voice immediately. "Okay, probably not first on your list. Maybe second to Jason. No, third to Elijah. Oh, what about Michaela? Do you like my sister more than me?"
"Just shut up and get yourself up here," Maggie said as she buzzed him in. She heard the shower starting and suddenly regretted that someone else was here. She wanted to join Elijah.
Just letting herself think like that made her head spin. Last night had changed everything, and there was no going back. But then, she realized she didn't want to. She wasn't scared anymore. At least, not of Elijah. She loved the way he made her feel. It had been a while for her since she felt anything for anyone.
She was snapped out of her thoughts by a knock on the door. When she opened it, she found two men standing in her doorway. Chris broke into a grin and pulled her in for a hug.
"Miss me?" he asked.
"Not at all," she laughed.
He pulled back and stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. "Maggie, it isn't nice to lie."
She pulled him into the apartment. Chris had been right, he was one of Maggie's favorite people. There was something so genuine about him. He had been good friends with Maggie, Elijah, and Jason for years now. They were like their own little city family. Last year, Michaela had joined the family when she moved in with Chris.
Chris hadn't lived in the city in months, though, and she couldn't wait until he moved back. She couldn't see him living in Connecticut much longer - especially with everything she’d heard about his parents.
"Hey, Josh!" Maggie said to the shockingly tall man beside Chris.
"What's up, Maggie?" Josh asked. "Chris and I were bored, so we wanted to see what Elijah had going on at the house today."
"You don't have training?" she asked.
It was Chris that answered her. "Josh, here, had a bit of a problem during his on-ice workout yesterday." He slung his arm over Josh's shoulders protectively.
Josh was like a little brother to Michaela and Chris. His real brother was Michaela's ex, but from what Maggie had heard, that guy was a piece of work.
"I just got real light-headed and felt my heart speed up a bit. It's no big deal." He shrugged. "I've just been training too hard and decided to take a couple of days off."
"Mags!" Elijah called from the bathroom, seemingly unaware of their guests. "Want to join me?" He came striding out with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. He stopped when he saw the three of them in the kitchen, a small O forming on his lips.
Chris's eyes widened and he grinned. "Are you two ...?”
"Elijah," Maggie said. "Go shower. I'll have the coffee ready when you're done."
Elijah nodded wordlessly before turning and walking into the bathroom.
"That's-" Chris started.
"Not a word," Maggie cut him off. She pulled down the coffee filters and set her mind to the task.
"But, Maggie-"
"What?" she snapped.
"I knew it! Well, really we all did, but I said it first."
"You guys have been talking about us?"
"Only all the time. This was so obvious." He rested an arm across her shoulders as the three of them went into the living room.
"Yeah, to everyone except me."
Chris danced away from her and went and started pounding on the bathroom door. "Hurry up, lover boy. We've got some chatting to do."
"Christopher Matthews," Maggie said harshly. "Stop that right now!"
"Might as well give up," Josh said. "There's no telling him what to do." He laughed, but Maggie cut it off with a harsh glare.
“Why would I stop when it’s sooo much fun?” Chris asked. “Just admit it, Mags. You looooove him. It woulda been great to see his face when you finally realized it. It’ll stop his mooning over you at least.”
“He was not mooning!” Maggie said indignantly.
Chris laughed. “Oh, yes. Yes he was.”
Chris came back to the living room and sat down with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
"You're an ass," Maggie said.
"Yes, but you love me,” he paused, glancing at the bathroom door. “Just not as much as you loooove Elijah.”
"You may have just slipped below your sister."
Chris didn't miss a beat. "My sister is a lot cooler than me. Nicer too."
"And better looking. Don't forget that." Maggie laughed at her own joke. Chris and Michaela looked so similar it was like they were the boy and girl version of the same person.
It was impossible to stay mad at Chris, even when he was being a dumbass. He was too ... Chris.
Elijah came out fully dressed in a pair of torn jeans and a ratty t-shirt. It was basically his uniform for working on the house. He said hi to the boys and then turned a smile on Maggie that would make most girls melt. She didn't melt so easily, but it did stir a feeling in her gut. He laughed when he realized what he was doing to her.
Elijah poured coffee for everyone and added sugar before balancing the cups and carrying them into the living room.
"If you want anything else in it, you have to get it yourself," he said, passing out the cups.
Chris jumped up to get some milk, but he didn't sit when he returned.
"I have an announcement to make," he said. "As much as we love that you two are totally doing it now,” he smirked at them, “there’s bigger news afoot. The day you’ve all been anxiously awaiting for months has arrived. I’m moving back to the city!"
Maggie just stared at him without cracking a smile. She tilted her head to the side and stayed silent. Chris looked around the somber room, his smile faltering.
"Uh ..." he started. He didn't know what to say to their lack of reaction.
Maggie started laughing suddenly, and Elijah and Josh followed suit.
"You should’ve seen your face," she said. "Of course we're happy. This is awesome. We've missed you around here." She got up and walked over to him for a hug.
"I'll call Jason to have him and Michaela come to the house tonight," Elijah said, slapping Chris on the back. "We'll get the grill set up and celebrate on my new deck."
"Sounds great, man." Chris said, still grinning.
It would be good to have everyone back together again.
Thirteen
The sun was sinking between the houses as Elijah and Jason got the grill going. Maggie was showing Chris around the house and Michaela, Kimberly, and Josh were lounging on the brand new deck furniture.
By the time Maggie and Chris stepped back outside, the sweet smell of steaks permeated the air. There was chatter in front of the grill as the boys discussed various grilling techniques.
Boys will be boys, Maggie thought.
"Well," Chris started, slapping Elijah on the back. "The rest of the house looks like shit. But I can see why you started with the deck. This is summer." He gestured around to the group and grinned.
"Gotta enjoy it while you can," Elijah replied.
The yard looked amazing and the deck was perfect for them to just hang out together. Maggie had been skeptical at first. She had thought there were more important things that needed to be done to the house first. Chris wasn't wrong. They had a long way to go. The wood flooring was finished in the downstairs, and all of the bathrooms were in working order. The electrical problems had also been fixed, although those hadn't been too bad to begin with. Thank God.
But other than that, not much else had gotten done up to this point. Elijah was working hard, and Maggie was actually surprised how quickly he was doing things, but there was just so much to be done. A place for him to sleep would be a start. He was lucky she didn't mind having him as a roommate, but he was more than just a roommate now, wasn't he?
Heat rushed to Maggie's face and she was suddenly thankful for the disappearing light as it would hide the sudden color in her cheeks. She was not a blusher. She usually had more control than that. Until recently, it had been a while since she had anything to blush about. But last night...
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Chris knew, so Maggie was positive that meant they all did. Jason and Michaela just had more tact than to mention it outright in front of everyone, but if Maggie knew her cousin, there would be a talk.
"I'm going inside to get the rest of the food set up," Maggie announced suddenly, glancing at Elijah quickly before turning away.
"I'll help you," he said.
“I’m sure you will,” Chris’s voice followed behind them. “Just an FYI, you don’t want to surprise Maggie and Elijah in the morning - unless you want an eyeful of Elijah in a towel, that is.” There was laughter all around, but it muffled as Elijah slid the door closed.
They knew full well the smirks they left behind.
Neither of them said anything as they set out the food they’d bought at the store. The awkwardness had been there ever since Elijah got out of the shower that morning. This was new territory for them, and they almost didn't know how to be around each other. They’d crossed the line. They were no longer just a pair of lifelong friends. It was more than that now. And with that came added pressure and expectations, but also questions.
For most people, it would be too early for the 'what are we?' conversation. But Maggie and Elijah weren't most people. Maggie was starting to realize these feelings for Elijah that she thought were new may have been there the entire time.
Elijah walked up behind Maggie and put his arms around her. She stiffened as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
"It's okay," he whispered. "It's still just me, Mags."
Hearing him say her name sent a warmth through her, loosening her muscles. She relaxed into him and he tightened his hold on her.
"I know," she sighed. "I just feel like there's suddenly this gulf between us that was never there before."
"You mean I make you nervous now." He chuckled softly, and she felt the vibrations of his chest on her back.
"That's not what I said."
"But it's what you meant." He paused. "You forget that I know you better than you know yourself."
"You do not." Maggie pulled away and spun to face him.
He moved closer, smirk firmly in place. "Are you nervous now?"
"Screw you, Elijah." There was no venom in her words as they shook coming out of her mouth.
Elijah positioned his face in front of hers, eye to eye. "Nervous?" His voice grew huskier the closer to her he got.
Maggie swallowed hard, her breathing rapid. She shook her head, but just as she tried to speak, Elijah muffled her words with his lips. She felt the kiss all the way down to her toes. Through no will of her own, her arms snaked themselves up around Elijah's neck. He pulled her to him with one arm as his other hand latched itself onto the back of her head, tangled in her hair.
All the worries and fears flew out of Maggie's head when her lips were touching Elijah's. This part, they did well.
Her heart pounded against his chest as he finally relinquished her lips in a desperate search for air.
Still holding onto her, Elijah's cheek was scratchy against hers, sending tingles down her spine.
"Still nervous?" he whispered, his breath hot on her ear.
"Not at all." This time, she meant it.
###
The food was good, the company was better.
Everything had been cleaned up and they were just hanging out under the stars. It was a clear night, and the air had cooled considerably.
Elijah loved summer nights because you got a reprieve from the hot stickiness of the sun. Even in that crowded part of town, everything seemed still.
In the glow of the porch light, he could see the faces of all his friends. Looking around, he couldn't remember a time when he was happier, and he knew the reason for that sat nearby with a sleeping Kimberly in her lap. She looked up and caught him staring at her. She smiled in question.
Elijah got to his feet and walked the few feet to join her on the bench. She shifted the child slightly to make room for him.
A high-pitched ringing broke the comfortable silence that had fallen over the group.
"Shit," Josh said, almost jumping out of his skin. The screen on his phone glowed as he slid it from his pocket. "I've got to take this." He stood up and answered with a quick 'hello' before disappearing into the house.
Silence stretched between them once again, and Elijah reached out to take Maggie's hand in his. She turned her head to look at him. Without giving her a moment to think, he leaned forward and gave her soft lips a quick but deep kiss. When he leaned back, her eyes were shifting between their friends, who were trying their hardest not to watch them.
"I've waited a long time to be able to kiss you, Maggie Marks." Elijah's voice was low, only to be heard by her. "I'm going to do it every chance I get." He leaned back and smiled.
"Well, okay then." She turned her attention away from Elijah with one more glance back at him.
"Chris," she said. "It's time for the story. Why are you back and for how long?"
Chris sat up, his shadow dancing across the deck. "It's kind of a long story, but I'll give you the gist. Our dearest father is on the mend. He now only has a few small problems left from the car accident, and can handle a lot more at the office."
"That's great," Jason said enthusiastically, although Maggie knew he was no fan of Chris and Michaela's dad.
"Don't get too excited." Chris leaned forward in his chair. "He was more likely to approve of you when he was brain damaged."
Michaela reached over and slugged her brother in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" He rubbed his arm and glared at her.
"For being an ass," she answered.
"You ladies keep calling me an ass today when all I am is honest." He threw up his arms in mock indignation. "Seriously, Mom and I have tried to get him to come around. I suggest you guys just stop looking for his acceptance. But I digress. I'm here because we're finally opening the New York office of Matthews and Matthews. So many of our clients are here anyway, and I was dying to get back to the city."
"Tell them everything," Michaela urged.
"A guy can't have his secrets?"
"Not you," she responded.
"Well, I don't want to shock any of you, but I'm gay." Chris waved his arms out in front of him, as if this was some big reveal.
Michaela punched him again.
"Okay, that's not the surprise. I'm seeing someone."
"Wow," Maggie said. "That is a shocker."
Chris flipped her the bird, and she smirked it response.
"His name is Tony," Michaela said, her impatience winning out.
"The guy who outed you to your parents?" Maggie asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Water under the bridge," Chris said, waving off any issue. "He only did it to get to my father and I can't fault him for hating the guy."
"Yeah, I guess he has bigger problems if he actually likes you." Maggie smiled sweetly at him.
"He moved here with him," Michaela said excitedly.
"He obviously can't work for my dad's firm, but I got him in with Howarth, Bryan, and Hodges, my old firm."
No one had a chance to ask any more questions because Josh returned, his hand still clamped around his phone. With the glow of the light behind him, they could see that his face had gone pale and there were tears in his eyes.
Seeing a massively tall, built, professional athlete cry is like nothing you've ever seen before. It breaks your heart a little bit.
Michaela rushed to him and threw her arms around him. "What happened?" she asked.
Josh didn't answer as his tears dripped onto Michaela's shoulder. Chris walked over and put a hand on Josh's back.
After a few long moments, Josh pulled back and wiped his face.
"I just got off the phone with a girl from the family I billeted with when I played for the Portland Winterhawks in juniors."
"Billeted?" Maggie asked.
"I lived with them during the season. Sarah was four years younger, but we were still pretty close." He paused to
wipe the back of his hand across his eyes as fresh tears appeared. "The kid they were housing for the past two years died yesterday. Right on the ice during his training. He just went into cardiac arrest during skating drills."
"Oh, Josh," Michaela said, guiding him to a vacant chair.
He didn't seem to hear her, though. He sat down with a vacant look in his eyes, as if forgetting anyone else was there. He didn't make another move to staunch the flow of tears. He kept talking, though. He looked like he just had to get it all out.
"I met him," Josh went on. "Last year, I visited Portland and he was there when I went to see Sarah. His name was Danny. He was just drafted last month. Second round. One day he's just preparing for the upcoming season, and the next, he's not. I can't believe it."
"Joshy," Michaela said softly.
He finally looked at her. "He has a girlfriend that Sarah said won’t even leave her room. How is she going to live with this? I'm sorry, I have to go. I'm going to head to Portland tomorrow so I'll probably be gone in the morning if I can catch an early flight."
Without another word, Josh was gone.
"Is he going to be okay?" Elijah asked. The guy had looked pretty wrecked.
"Eventually," Michaela said, leaning back in her seat.
"Should someone go with him?" Maggie asked.
"No." Michaela ran a hand through her hair and then reached it out to grab Jason's. "Josh has always been emotional and soft-hearted, but he also prefers to be alone to deal with it."
Elijah pulled Maggie closer and she leaned on him for support. Things can seem so easy, he thought, until you get a reminder that nothing lasts forever. A reminder that it can all be taken away.
###
"I hope Josh is okay," Maggie said as she stepped out of her car. It was late but the street around them was illuminated by street lamps. She watched Elijah lean into the back seat to lift Kimberly.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Elijah grunted as he shifted the weight in his arms.
Everyone had dispersed soon after Josh left, but they decided it wasn't the best idea for Kimberly to go stay the night at the apartment with him and Chris as they had planned. Not tonight. So Maggie had offered.
Promises (New Beginnings Book 2) Page 9
