He totally did know that. She absolutely, positively, definitely would have said no.
“I do too know that. I know you. I figured I needed reinforcements.”
“And Greek food.” She gestured at her gyro and couldn’t help but laugh as she shook her head. “I can’t believe you went to see Mom and Dad.”
“Neither could they. You might be surprised to learn that having a heartbroken daughter is something that’s engrained in their memories. I’m amazed your dad didn’t club me to death with his baseball bat. I wasn’t expecting to make it out alive.”
She laughed again at the image. Daddy could have done it, and they both knew it, too.
“I told her I wanted to take you out, and she shook her head. Surprisingly not because it wasmewanting to take you out, but she said you don’t go out much. She said that between work and the kids, any free time you have… Well, you…uh…just want to spend it…”
“Say it.” She tipped her glass at him, giving him permission to repeat what Clare had heard Mom say almost weekly since she had gotten divorced.
“She said you were a hermit.” He winced. “That if I wanted to see you I’d need to go to you, and bring food. The last part I already knew, though. She told me to make sure I at least pretended to bring vegetables. Hence the gyro and hummus.”
“I’m so predictable.” She’d always been easy to win over with the promise of a good meal. “So what are you really doing here, Elliott?” As fun as the back and forth about her parents was, this wasn’t the reason he’d come.
He pointed at his shawarma as she popped another bite of pita into her mouth. Damn. It really was delicious. “Food first.”
There was nowhere better he could have brought food from. Starting strong out of the gate. Obviously he wanted to butter her up for something, and she was only too open to being buttered—especially if it was with a delicious gyro.
She hadn’t had one in so long she’d almost forgotten how much she loved it. Between delicious, orgasm-noise-making bites, they chatted about Mason’s hockey, Cat’s college options, a bit about his divorce and how they’d both been cheated on.
They’d both become walking stereotypes.
Cramming the trash back into the paper bag he’d brought dinner in, his face turned serious. “I saw some supplies out in the yard. And your mom said you have some stuff to do around the house, stuff that you—and I’m quoting now—can’t or won’t do by yourself.” He shrugged. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Her stomach hardened. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Eli.”
He held his hands up. “I never said you couldn’t, Ceecee. But if you wanted a little help.” He lifted his arms and flexed his biceps. “I have a full hockey team of strong, young men who could probably help.”
She burst out laughing. “So you’re volunteering your kids, not yourself.”
“The offer’s there if you want it. I’m pretty good with a hammer.” His brow twitched at the innuendo.
I bet you are.“Is that why you came over? Greek food and DIY?”
Reaching into his back pocket, he shook his head. “Actually, I wanted to bring you this.” He smoothed out a worn and yellowing piece of paper and her heart stopped. Surely not.
“No.” The word fell from her lips on a gasp. “You’ve kept that all this time?”
He nodded, his expression unreadable.
Realization crawled over her skin like ants. “You can’t hold me to anything from back then, Elliott. That’s not fair.”
Another nod. “That’s true, I can’t. But I’m still gonna.” He turned the page to face her and the wordsClare and Elliott’s BHAG Listwere written across the top in purple marker.
“Big hairy audacious goals.” Her voice was barely a whisper as she reached out but didn’t touch the paper in case it might somehow bite her.
“When was the last time you did something new or exciting, or something for yourself?”
When she opened her mouth to speak, he quirked a brow. “And sitting at the bar with a book and a basket of fried cheese doesn’t count.”
“It does, too!” Her mouth moved against his palm as she spoke, but he still didn’t move, so she licked it.
“Ew. Still as gross as ever.” He wiped his hand on his thigh.
“Still as annoying as ever.”
