AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Argh. What? Elijah, what’s wrong?”
I sit up, groggy and startled by his display.
“Nothing. I have something to ask you, and I didn’t want to wait.”
I can’t help but laugh. I have a feeling I know what this is about.
“Okay.” I yawn. “Hit me.”
“I want to go to the aquarium today.” His young eyes are hopeful.
“I heard. Yes, that’s fine. I don’t have any meetings today, and you know what?” I pull him close for a hug. “Work can wait.”
“Really?” Elijah practically buzzes with glee.
“Yeah, let’s do it. But first, you definitely have to let me enjoy some coffee. Deal?”
He jumps right back off my bed and starts hopping up and down.
“Yay! Yes, deal. Also—” his impromptu dance pauses “—can Olivia come? She’s been really cool about all the fish facts I’ve told her, and I want her to see them in real life.”
I still for a moment, wondering if we can maintain appearances during a lengthy outing in public. But it’s something we’ll both have to get good at, so…
“Sure. I’ll ask her when she gets here.”
“Yes!”
Elijah is off like a shot, and I slowly make my way downstairs for that much-needed cup of coffee.
Once I hit the kitchen, I get a pot brewing and ask Elijah if he’d like some eggs.
“You know, for breakfast?”
I wave my hand in front of his face because he’s thoroughly distracted by a video on YouTube about sharks.
“Oh, sorry. Yeah, but make them like Olivia did, please.” He doesn’t look at me as he speaks.
“What does that mean? Did she do something special?”
Elijah turns to me. “Yeah, there were, like, spices or something.”
Great. I have no idea what that means.
Heading back to the kitchen to grab a pan and the eggs, I stare at the spice rack as I sip my coffee. What goes well in eggs? What doesn’t go well with eggs?
Just as I’m about to pull something off the shelf, I hear the doorbell ring.
“Oh, thank God,” I mumble to myself.
Elijah is at the door faster than I am and opens it wide for Liv to enter. I take a deep breath when I see her, pulling back all the things I want to say and do.
Even in her typical jean shorts and tee, she’s stunning, but I have to keep it together, so I just nod and smile.
“Morning.”
“Hi, Olivia! You’re coming with us to the aquarium today!”
Elijah is less than subtle, and I chuckle while shaking my head.
