“Are you sure?” His face inches closer to the screen.
“Yeah. I want to watch horror movies with you and not sleep.”
His face shows his elation. “Okay, but I have to warn ya. I like to jump and cling to pillows during scary scenes. That means you run the risk of me mistaking you for a pillow.”
“I don’t mind being your pillow or having you jump against me . . . or on me.” My voice deepens.
“Good night, Elijah. I’ll see you Saturday.”
“Night, baby. Don’t pack any pajamas in that bag of yours. You won’t need them.”
We hang up, and after I tidy around me I snuggle up on the couch, waiting for the idea of him laying here with me to feel wrong. It never comes.
Twenty-six
Silas
Days pass full of many flirty text messages, ending in late-night sexy phone calls. I’ve never talked so much on the phone before and I’m surprised we never run out of things to say. Friday is finally here and I’m excited for tomorrow. As I’m locking up the shop for the day, I see Elijah leaning against his car in the reflection of the glass.
With my heart going crazy, I turn around and shoot him a grin. “Get your days mixed up?”
He steps away from the car and shakes his head. “No. I was hungry and didn’t feel in the mood to cook, so thought I’d see if you wanted to join me at a restaurant.”
“Sure. I haven’t eaten since lunch and I’m starving.”
“I better get you fed then.”
As I’m walking around to the passenger side, I get a little woozy and fall against the car.
Elijah’s eyes fill with panic and he rushes over to me, guiding me into the passenger seat. “You okay? I can take you home if you’re not feeling well.”
I grab at my chest when there’s a weird tug in the center. “I’m fine. I might have been working too much, too soon.”
“You’re off the whole weekend, right?”
“Yeah, and Monday. I’ll feel better once I have some food in me.”
“Okay. Let me know if at any point you change your mind.”
I never do, but suffer a few more dizzy spells in silence, excusing myself to splash some water on my face. My skin is a little pale when I eye my reflection in the mirror, pins and needles sensations shooting up my left side. I haven’t checked my pulse or blood pressure in a while. My breathing has been fine and I haven’t needed to slow down until now.
I return to the table once I feel I can walk in a straight line again, and thankfully eating does help me feel a little better. Laughing with Elijah and sharing dessert with him does too. Cold water trickles down my throat as I down the rest of the glass, and Elijah pays for the tab, shoving my hand away when I try to pay the tip in cash.
“I’m the one who asked you here so I’d already planned to do it anyway.”
“Fine,” I groan. “I’ll pay for whatever we do tomorrow then.”
“Deal.” He agrees with his words but his eyes tell me a different story. I’ve noticed he likes taking care of me the way I crave having him do it, not in the controlling way Stacey always did. With him I’m valued and secure.
We both stand up and blood rushes to my head from moving too fast. I hold on to the chair until the room stops spinning and then follow Elijah out into the warm night. When we reach his car, we both slip inside, and he holds my hand on the short driveto my mom’s. The brief kiss goodbye in the car isn’t enough, so I ask him if he wants to walk me to the door.
“What if your mom comes out again?”
“Then I guess you can meet her,” I chirp. “Unless you think it’s too weird.”
“No. I’d love to walk you to the door.”
As we’re walking toward the house, I stop midway when the porch light automatically turns on.
