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I averted my eyes, but Elijah grabbed my chin and forced my gaze back up. Without warning, the words rushed from my mouth. “That’s not what upset me. I can talk to whomever I want. It’s none of Scott’s concern, but when I didn’t give the reaction he wanted, he started in on Lucy. Scott told her that he’d be upset with her if she associated with you. Like what the fudge, Elijah? She’s four, and he’s hounding her to get to me.”
Thankfully, Elijah said nothing, so I continued, “Then, Lucy cried. She was confused about why her dad was so angry. I was speechless when Scott stormed off without telling her bye. I simply held her while we both cried. There was no way I would have let him take her after that fit, but all of this will backfire. Lucy is already so reluctant to spend time with Scott. She doesn’t even care when he backs out on coming to get her, but it’s me that gets the blame for that. His parents say I make Lucy not want to go.” Blinking rapidly, I wiped my eyes and tried to laugh but it caught in my throat. “Sorry, this is probably a lot more than you expected when you wanted to befriend us.”
“Don’t apologize. Never apologize to me. I want to be that shoulder you need to cry on.” He tapped it. “Go on, use me all you want.”
The way he watched me with those intense brown eyes combined with my blossoming desire made me aware that I was almost on Elijah’s lap. All the heat in my belly dipped between my thighs.
I quickly stood and smiled. Raking a hand over my face, I stretched nervously. “Ugh. I can’t believe I cried.”
“Are you okay now?”
I nodded.
Elijah asked, “What about Lucy?”
I frowned. “I think she’s too young to fully understand what happened, and it scares her. One day when she’s older, I hope she understands why I couldn’t let her dad stay with us.”
Elijah stood, towering over me. He moved closer, gently touching my shoulder. “I don’t think she wants that. I think you have a four-year-old that pays attention more than you think. She only wants her mom. And to be happy. I notice Lucy.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s rotten, but she has a heart of gold, especially when it comes to her love for you. You haven’t noticed that Lucy’s not happy unless you are? I think she might have been more upset that you were unhappy than over the things her father said. And… Me. She cried because she thought she’d really not be allowed to see me again.” He chuckled. “Like I’d let you guys go.”
That was true. Lucy had been extremely upset when Scott said he wouldn’t let me bring someone like Elijah around our kids. He went on about his tattoos and things until Lucy cried. Scott honestly believed I was still his or something. It was absurd that he thought he could tell me who I could be friends with. I didn’t tell Elijah that part.
Elijah’s deep voice was low as he continued, “Lucy told me about her dad wanting you guys to stay away from me. She cried as she said it. That’s how I knew that somehow, some fucking way, I became special to someone so precious that I didn’t see how anyone could make her cry.”
Oh, fudge.
He was making me feel things. So many different things. Why did he have to be so kind? Couldn’t he have stayed the jerk we’d first encountered?
It made me yearn for a bigger part of him—those parts friends didn’t share with one another.
But I couldn’t stop picturing it, especially after that night and everything Elijah said and done for us. Why did he treat us so good? My heart wasn’t safe in that situation.
“Do you work today?” he murmured, his fingers idly rubbing my shoulder.
Thinking about work, I groaned. “You just reminded me that I do. What time is it?”
“You have four more hours that you can sleep. I’ll be here around six-thirty.”
“Thanks, Elijah.”
“Don’t thank me. It’s no problem.” His hand dropped leaving behind a phantom warmth.
“But it is.” I reached and grabbed his hand. “Despite our first encounter, I’m glad that we have a friend in you.”
He turned away hurriedly but not before I caught his tight expression. His jaw was set, and his eyes downcast. Did I say something wrong? I wanted to ask but was suddenly unsure. That expression confused me.
He paused and glimpsed over his shoulder. There was something hidden in that gaze. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said as he headed out the door.
