***
It's been half an hour since I saw Elliott. The guilt has been building up inside of me, how I talked to her…or more like yelled…screamed? Either way I know it wasn’t right. I was heated, she was heated. We were scared of what could be happening to Kameron. It still didn’t give me a right to talk to her like that.
I’m packing my backpack with all the shit I need to distract her for the next hour until Hunter gets here and we can get the fuck back to helping Kameron.
I shrug the backpack on and start looking into every room of the house until I get to my room. I swing the door open to see Elliott looking out of the large wall to wall windows that lead out to the woods of the property. It reminds me of the woods at the other house, and it aches knowing we weren’t there right now.
“Hey.” I say, walking up next to her, keeping my eyes on the trees just like she is.
“Hey,” is all she replies.
“I didn’t mean to be a dick, El. I just–” I inhale deeply, “I’m just as worried as you, just as worried as Hunter. I can’t let my mind wonder about what ifs. I have to think clearly to help.”
I see her turn from the corner of my eye, “I get it. I wasn’t trying to freak you out…I’mjust freaked out.” Her voice is soft.
I look at her, “I know, I’m sorry.” I watch as her eyes water. She crosses her arms, rubbing her hands against the fabric of her blazer, as if she’s trying to warm herself up.
“I’m sorry too.” She tells me.
“We have like an hour before Hunter arrives, so let’s just try to distract ourselves, yeah?”
“I don’t think–”
“Come on, I have a place I like to go.” I grab her hand and kiss the top of it. “You’ll love it.” She lets me guide her out of the house and into the trees.
“We’re going into the woods? You aren’t going to try to hunt me down again, are you?” She tilts her head at me playfully.
I smile back, “Not unless you want me to, princess.” I give her a wink and she swats my chest. I grab where she just hit, pretending to be injured. A laugh escapes her lips making my mind go blank. My chest erupts with warmth and I crave to make her do it again.
“Take me to this place I’lllove.” She loops her arm with mine.
She’s making it really hard not to fall for her.
69
Elliott
I don’t know where I thought Marcus would take me but I didn’t expect him to have his backpack filled with a full on picnic. Blanket, food, drinks and all. We didn’t have to walk long to find the spot. A clearing came into view, taking my breath away and there were mountains on the horizon topped with white powder, like they were dusted with powdered sugar.
When I turned to Marcus to show my complete awe, he was already unpacking the backpack. If my jaw wasn’t already on the floor, it would have been right then and there. I’m watching as he lays everything out to his liking. I can’t sit as I wait for him to finish, offering me his hand once he finally approves.
I take a spot across from him, “You didn’t have to do all of this, you know?” I say with a slight warmth in my cheeks. Looking at him and what he planned for me to make me feel at ease does something to me.
“I know, I wanted to.” He says calmly as he grabs my legs and pulls me in closer, setting them over his lap.
He leans in to make a plate of meat, cheese, crackers, and berries before placing it on my lap. He doesn’t make his own plate like I expect him to. Instead, he takes a berry off my plate and lifts it to my lips. I open my mouth enough to take the sweet fruit from him, making sure I let my tongue sweep his fingertips as I do. I hear his breath hitch at the feel of my tongue on his skin and I grin to myself, not looking at him even though I want to see the look on his face.
These past few weeks have been…different for us. He’s been attentive and affectionate. Still an ass at times but that’s just Marcus. His eyes look softer now than they did before. I can’t help but hope that it’s his version of showing that he cares. That he likes me even just a fraction. I would take every small piece of affection from him, any crumb he’d offer me so that I could keep him in my life.
“Is this helping you stay distracted?” He asks softly before feeding himself a piece of salami.
“It’s easing it a little bit, yeah. Who knew Marcus Flores could be so cute?”
He chuckles in a way that has the smile reaching his eyes. My stomach somersaults as I take him in and the way his face lights up, his eyes looking at me with more happiness than ever before.
“Here I am wooing you and you still have a look of worry on your face. What’s on your mind? Is it Kameron? ‘Cause he will get in touch. He always does.”
I shift in my spot, “I mean, yes I can’t stop from worrying, but that's not all my mind is swirling with.”
