AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You look absolutely breathtaking. You always do.” He smiles and I blush. He points his phone at me and snaps a picture.
“Don’t post that anywhere without me seeing it!” I insist as I throw a couple more things in my bag. But I know he won’t post it because he doesn’t have a single post on his Instagram. He doesn’t even have a profile picture. I like to tease him about that.
He chuckles before pushing off the bed and over to me. He grabs my bag from my arm and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes,” I sigh, and he leans in to press a soft kiss to my lips. I grab my pillow to take with me before I take his hand and pull him out of my room. Ana is on the couch working on school work but she gets up to hug me goodbye.
“Let me know when you get there. Have a good time! Tell Mom and Dad Hart I said hello and that I miss them!” Ana says as she squeezes me.
“I will, I promise,” I say as she pulls away. She play-punches Elliot on his arm.
“Take care of my girl,” She says seriously but tenderly.
“Always,” He replies.
“Okay, you lovebirds. Have a good weekend!” She says, shooing us away from her. I laugh as Elliot guides me out of the front door with his hand on my lower back.
“Are you sure you’re okay taking your car?” He asks as he opens the backdoor to put our bags inside.
“Yeah, my car gets better gas mileage. Your truck is a gas-guzzler.”
He rolls his eyes before opening the passenger door for me. I get in after kissing his cheek quickly. Once he is in, he gives me the aux cord so that I can play music. Before he pulls out of the parking lot, he asks, “Did you mean it?”
I put my phone down and look at him. “That I love you?” I ask, and he nods.
“I mean it with my whole heart,” I say, and reach over to hold his hand in mine. He nods slowly, opens his mouth but closes it again. I wait patiently for him to find his words.
“No one…has ever said that to me before,” He admits and keeps his eyes forward. I feel my heart crumble for that broken little boy. I quickly unbuckle and climb over the center console to sit on his lap. It is very awkward and uncomfortable due to the steering wheel. He slides his seat back to accommodate me. I hold his face in my hands and look at him fiercely.
“I love you,” I say earnestly. His eyes water at the words, and I feel my heart break some more. A few tears of my own slip out. “I love you. I love you. I love you. I promise that I will tell you how much I love you every day, and I’ll show you how much I love you every day.”
“God, I love you, Mads,” He says and kisses me so passionately, it takes me a minute to remember where I am. I pull away eventually, rest my forehead against his and try to control my breathing. He rubs his hands up and down my back slowly.
“We should…get going,” He breathes. I nod in agreement before clumsily returning to my seat and buckling back in. He leans his head on the back of his head-rest for a moment before sliding his seat closer. He takes a deep breath before turning to look at me. I smile a little shyly and he grabs my hand, kissing the back of it.
“I love you,” He says again with a smile. I close my eyes and sigh.
“Please don’t ever stop saying that.”
“Never.” He answers before starting the car and driving away.
TWENTY-FOUR
ELLIOT, NOW
I haven’t been this nervous since freshman year of college when I was trying to navigate the newness of my relationship with Mads. I was a nervous wreck in those initial days trying not to mess anything up and second guessing every word that came out of my mouth. I talked more to Mads in our first weekend together than I had in years.
It’s Saturday morning; I wake up earlier than normal to make coffee. I wait anxiously for Mads to wake up and come downstairs. It feels like ages before I finally hear activity upstairs and her eventual footsteps coming down the steps. She walks into the kitchen and looks surprised to see me, maybe even a little nervous.
“Oh, hey. Good morning,” She says politely. She sees the two mugs on the table in front of me and awkwardly approaches me.
“I made you a coffee,” I say and push hers towards her.
“Thank you,” She responds, accepting the mug as she sits down across from me.
“I’d like to take you out on a date today,” I say firmly and confidently. She looks at me with wide eyes, her mouth slightly parted.
“Oh,” She answers nervously.
