“I’ve just had the most frustrating night of my life.” She paced in front of my bar and then stopped and reached for the vodka. She looked around like she didn’t know what to do next and then opened the small beverage refrigerator and grabbed a ginger ale, opening it and the vodka and pouring both into a glass at the same time.
“Okay, so we’re doing this. I could’ve made you something…fancier.”
She took a long gulp and shook her head. “Nope, this will do.”
“Talk to me, Elle. What happened?”
I pulled down the bottle of Jameson and poured a double. It had been a hard stretch, worrying about Henley’s injury. He was getting better, but it didn’t seem like he’d be back and that hurt. Losing hurt. After being on the top for so long, it fucking sucked to see it all go down the toilet.
But missing Elle had become a constant ache. Seeing her out on the field looking like perfection was torture, teasing me with how close and yet how far she really was. Watching her talk and laugh with our friends was even more so. I didn’t want to share her when I couldn’t have anytime with her myself. I needed her in front of me, being withme, and not just on the phone.
“My day started off with a grueling practice. Lisa was on a tear today. She hated the way Tracy looked on one of her Instagram posts and went on a long tangent about our public persona. I swear, I wish we could just dance and leave out everything else because I really don't like theeverything else. And then I get to my parents' house and guess who’s there? Yep, Bernard.”
“What the fuck? When will they stop doing that to you?” It made me fume, the way her parents kept trying to force the issue about Bernard.
“I don't know. I thought I had made it clear to all that I was never going back to Bernard, but he was there and professing his love. Get this.” She held up her hand adamantly. “He asked me to marry him in front of my parents. I said no, of course.” She lifted her eyebrows and did a mocking bow.
“Hell yes, you said no. What the fuck is his problem?” I said, livid now. “I didn't think the man had balls until now. And now he needs to shove them up his ass and get the fuck out of here.”
She laughed. We clinked glasses.
“I will cheers to that,” she said.
We both took a hearty drink.
“How are you otherwise?” I asked.
“Good. Everything's good. Life is busy. I just...I really needed this,” she said.
“I did too. I miss you so much, Elle.”
“I miss you too,” she groaned. “I have to stop myself from calling you all the time because now that I'm not seeing you on a regular basis, I think of a million things I’ve got to tell you and there's no outlet for it. I hate it.”
“I hate it too.”
We both took another sip and I moved around to the other side of the island so I could lean against it next to her. I bumped her arm with mine.
“It sure is good to see you tonight. I can't even tell you how happy I am that you’re here.”
She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Thanks for always being there for me. I love you.”
“I love you too, Elle baby.”
She sighed and I turned so I was facing her. I set my glass down and put my hand on her cheek, looking into her eyes.
“Are you gonna be okay? Is this all too much? Do you want me to have a little talk with Bernard and set him straight?”
“No, I can handle him. It just made me so angry. I wasn't up for it today. But you don't need to do anything about it. Just be you, and be here for me to talk it out, like you always are.”
“And I always will be,” I said.
She swallowed hard and our gaze held for several long seconds, until it became a weighty, heavy feeling in the air. I glanced down at her mouth and when my eyes flicked up to hers, she was staring at mine. I didn't think about it. I leaned in and kissed her, and it was like heaven touched earth. My heart soared. My brain exploded in fireworks, and when she put her hands in my hair and kissed me back, I thought I could die right then and be a happy man.
But then she pulled back.
“Rhodes. We can't. Wh-what are we doing?” she stammered.
“Doesn't this feel right to you?” I asked.
