As soon as Shay departed, Eli was in front of me and searching my eyes in a panic.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Please don’t hate me because of him. I swear you never have to see him again if you don’t want to.”
His concern made the lackluster conversation that had just taken place not so bad. We had each other’s back. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had someone in my corner whom I could trust, someone that wasn’t my mom or Piper.
“I’m fine. I’m more worried about you. I hope you know all that stuff he said about you isn’t true.”
Eli shrugged it off. “I’m used to him. I can handle my father.”
Judging by how triggered and defensive Eli had appeared throughout the whole conversation, I wasn’t quite sure that was true.
“At least it’s over. I would have had to meet him eventually.”
Eli stroked my arm. “Actually, I was planning on never subjecting you to him.”
“Really? Never?” I asked, playing along.
He patted my knees. “Well, maybe after a few years when it’s too late for you to change your mind about me.”
I leaned in and kissed him. “It’s already too late.”
His lips lingered for a moment before he groaned against my mouth. “I really can’t wait to get the hell out of here.”
I pretended to check an imaginary watch. “Only about twenty-four hours to go.”
“And it’s going to feel like a century,” he insisted.
“Sure you still want to come home with me?” I teased. But if he listened closely enough, he could easily detect a hint of nerves. Meeting Eli’s dad had reminded me of what his real life was like—and how little sense I might make as part of it.
Eli’s face fell. “Of course I do. Did something he said get to you? I swear, he’s always like that. Actually, no. He’s usually worse. But you can’t take anything he says seriously. I sure as hell don’t.”
I sucked in a deep breath, reminding myself that this was still my Eli. The one I had stayed up all night talking to. The one I had cried with. The one I had shared the darkest parts of my grief with. The one who gave me hope. I tried to pick my words carefully.
“It’s just, seeing him and my sister made it all real, you know?”
His jaw clenched. “No, Idon’tknow, Calla. This has been very real for me for a while now.”
“Me too,” I said hurriedly. "I just...just seeing your dad was a reminder of our real lives, I guess. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous about fitting into yours.” Looking down at our intertwined hands for a moment, I let the vulnerable parts of me show. Had our short time together really changed everything for him like it had for me?
“Come here,” he said, tugging my hands and pulling me onto his lap. He pinched my chin between his index finger and thumb. “I need you to listen to me very closely, Calla. You are a big part of my life now. I’m sorry if that’s too overwhelming, or I’m not playing it cool enough. There’s probably a more eloquent way to say all this stuff, but I need you to understand. Before I met you, I was just stumbling through my life in a haze. Honestly, it felt like I was living someone else’s life. Like I was just a spectator, watching it all from a distance. But now, with you, it’s like I’m finally experiencing everything for thefirst time. I don’t even know exactly what’s going to happen next, but whatever it is, the only thing I’m sure about is that you’ll be there.”
His face blurred in my vision. I couldn’t speak. Because everything he’d just described was how I felt about him.
Eli’s eyes searched mine, a question written in them. “Unless you’re not sure how I’d fit intoyourlife...”
If he didn’t look so serious, I might have laughed at the ridiculous notion. I bridged the few inches that separated us and placed a gentle kiss on his mouth.
“For the first time in a really long time, I’m happy. And I can’t wait for what’s coming next. That’s because of you.”
Eli’s gaze turned piercing before his lips came crashing onto mine. There was nothing gentle about this kiss. I could feel his raw need as he kissed me even deeper.
“Break it up, lovebirds!” Shay shouted, walking outside and clapping her hands. “We need you inside.”
Eli sighed, breaking away from my lips and pressing his forehead against mine.
“Have I mentioned that I can’t wait to get the hell out of here?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
