“It hurt that you left again, Elliott. And I don’t know that I can trust you not to do it again.” She turned the rose around in her fingers. “It’s very nice of you to take it upon yourself to make my yard look pretty, but when it comes down to it… You left me, Eli.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she cursed herself as she swallowed, once, twice, a third time to try to get control of herself. “I’m so tired of everyone leaving me.”
She’d barely finished her sentence before his arms were around her and she was squished against his sticky chest. He smelled of sweat and summer, but his arms held her together with such force it left her breathless.
“I know. I’m sorry. I really am. I know that nothing I say right now, or even do, will make it up to you. Nor will it do anything to make you believe I’m here to stay. But I am, CeeCee. I’m never letting you go again.”
His grip around her tightened, and she softened against him. “I’ve been such a fucking idiot and I’m sorry. I let fear and my own inner monologue get in the way of what I wanted, and I hurt you in the process. I’m so sorry.”
They stood wrapped in each other’s arms for a couple more minutes. And while it wasn’t a magic solution to their problem, it was a start. When he stepped back from her, his eyes still glistened.
“Three strikes and you’re out.” She clenched her jaw. “For good.”
He nodded. “I don’t deserve another shot, I know that. But if I ever leave again feel free to have the team beat me to death with their sticks.”
She might just do that.
“Sorry. I’m a bit stinky.” He offered her a cautious smile.
“You’re not that bad. You look all rugged and shit though.”
“Is it working for you?”
She took a step back and pinched her chin with her thumb and forefinger, assessing him with her gaze. “I mean…” She shrugged. “I guess so?”
“Well, if it’s only working for you a little, I suppose I could put my shirt on. Y’know, stop offending those beautiful eyes of yours.” He reached for his back pocket and she swatted his hand away.
“Don’t. You. Fucking. Dare. You have a lot of making up to me to do for the past few weeks, and I think if you continued to parade around half naked it’d go some way to repairing things.”
“That so?” His lips twitched.
She nodded.
“I really am so sorry, Clare. Hurting you is my least favorite thing to do.” He brushed the curve of her cheek with his knuckles. “I can’t promise it’ll be the last time I hurt you. But I swear, it’ll be the last time I ever leave.”
Her heart clenched at his words as he closed the space between them and kissed her like they were the only people around. Her lips parted on a sigh while the team and presumably her kids, stood behind them clapping, hooting, and whistling at their PDA.
Okay, so everything wasn’t instantly made better by a fresh coat of paint and some new decking, and only time would tell if Elliott truly meant what he’d said about never leaving her again. But the ache in her chest and the sourness in her gut that had lingered for the past few weeks had already started to dissipate. And the future certainly looked brighter than her recent past.
Chapter 21
Elliott
“I think this is the last of it.” Elliott pushed through Clare’s back door with his butt. When he made his way into the house, he spun to place the boxes of leftover pizza on the kitchen counter. “Theo grabbed the empties and dumped them in the trash.”
Clare nodded. “Thanks. And Linc just brought a trash bag outside to collect all the paper plates and cups.”
Ordering pizza for the team had been Mason’s idea, no doubt in a not-so-subtle bid to keep his new best friends around just a little longer. They’d all taken a minute to sign his cast and snap selfies with him, and those who hadn’t left in a hurry right after the pizza and beers were done, even played a little street hockey with him out in the street in front of Clare’s house.
Clare hadn’t loved the idea, what with his busted arm and all, but the boys went easy on him and Mason was still buzzing from the whole thing.
His face was flushed and his hair stuck out in all directions. “That was so freakin’ cool.”
“Come on, squirt. Let’s go.” Cat ruffled his hair and tossed a wink at Clare before grabbing the keys on her way through the kitchen.
“Catriona?”
Cat blew a kiss at her mom but didn’t stop. “We’ll be back later. Enjoy the peace and quiet.” Her words were charged with knowing, and Clare’s face turned the color of ripe strawberries.
