The questions emerged before she could stop them, but she’d have to be blind not to notice the way he’d stiffened after hearing them.
Was his mother a sore subject? His parents? She knew all about how they’d died in a car accident, leaving the nine Blackwell siblings orphaned. And last night Elias himself had told her how the eldest of them took over to raise them along with an aunt who’d come to live with them.
But his parents had died years ago. Surely he’d processed the worst of that loss by now?
“I taught myself.”
“Picky eater, huh?” She supposed in a houseful of kids where they probably got what they got in the name of getting everyone fed, being picky wasn’t an option.
“Something like that.”
She took another bite of the bacon and then set it aside. Now that she’d taken a few bites, her stomach had unknotted and felt like it wanted more.
She’d try this gluten-free waffle of his. She just hoped it was good and didn’t taste like sawdust.
She remembered her manners and snagged the knife to slice off a chunk after adding a bit of organic butter and syrup. Bite taken, she chewed, stilling when the wonderful taste hit her and her stomach sent up the green flag to take another.
She looked up, only then realizing Elias watched her, unblinking. Had he always been so serious? “It’s good.”
“You don’t have to sound so surprised,” he said wryly.
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Rhys couldn’t boil water.” The moment the words emerged, she tensed, and her stomach rolled and threatened an uprising. “Why do I keep doing that? It’s weird.”
“What is?”
“Calling himRhys. I only ever called him Lachlan before. Ana teased me about it and gave me a hard time. ‘Rhys’ didn’t seem to fit then, but now…he’sRhys. And I’m not sure why.”
Obviously she saw her ex differently now than she had before. But first names are more intimate and meant for loved ones and friends. Did that mean she hadn’t felt that way before? By only ever using his last name, had she subconsciously kept a wall up between them?
“Eat, Quinley. You’ll feel better with some food in your stomach, and you can process the name thing while you chew.”
Having finished making his own waffles, Elias grabbed the plate he’d piled high and added an equally large stack of bacon before carrying it to sit beside her at the island.
They ate in silence, and she begrudgingly admitted he was right in that once she’d taken a few more bites, the food became easier to get down, and she did feel better. She left one waffle behind but finished the other and the bacon, eyeing his rapidly emptying plate. “Want this one? It’ll go to waste otherwise.”
He frowned at her, and she knew he wanted to order her to eat it, but after seeing she’d eaten some of the food he’d prepped, he stabbed the waffle with a fork and carried it to his plate.
And…then it was the moment of truth. She was only postponing the inevitable. The sooner she made the call to Ana, the better. And then maybe she’d have a plan on what to do next.
“Rip the Band-Aid off,” Elias murmured. “Fast and quick.”
Her gaze shot to his, and she wondered if he could read her mind, given the expression he wore.
“Delaying only makes it worse.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Then just listen.”
She could do that. Shewoulddo that. God knew she owed Ana that.
Without further comment, she got up and carried her plate to the sink and the soapy water inside. She washed her plate and utensils and set them to dry before avoiding Elias’s gaze as she made her way to the bedroom she’d taken for herself.
She shut the door and leaned against it for a long moment, gathering her emotions and her courage before moving to get the phone.
Ana answered on the first ring.
“Hello?” Her tone was cautious, and she hesitated, undoubtedly waiting for the person—a reporter—to identify themselves.
