Those were Eli’s parting words, and all I could think about was that on top of everything else he has on his plate, he’s found the time to order or buy me a fucking gift—which will probably be my favorite of the night since he always nails it.
And all I could do was look away, restrain myself from touching him, discourage him from touching me.
I’m a shit friend.
Before I can think better of it, before I’m told off by the flight attendant, before we make our way to the runway, I unlock my phone and type out a message.
Lex:
Want to come spend Thanksgiving with me?
His reply comes back instantly.
Eli:
Yes.
Lex:
I’ll make sure the tickets are waiting for you and Austin at will call.
Maybe that’s as subtle as a sledgehammer, but I’m not going to be a part of a scheme that involves Eli ditching his bodyguard. It’s underhanded, maybe, but if there’s one thing I’m always going to be sure of it’s that Eli’s safety isn’t up for debate.
I set a reminder in two days to get them both a suite at whatever hotel we end up in in Buffalo. As I turn off my phone I feel even worse than I did before I got to New York.
All I’ve needed to do to be a good friend in the past is ask.
I know why I haven’t before, because it’s too risky, because I have shit self-restraint, because I’ve been hoping for this love to go the fuck away.
Obviously, it hasn’t.
Is it time to throw in the towel and accept it never will?
4
Eli
Buffalo, NY — Thanksgiving
“I don’t know who’s more excited about this,” Austin grumbles after picking up the keys to the car. “You or your dad.”
“He was smiling a bit too wide at the thought of having the house to themselves for two days, wasn’t he?” I force down my cheeks and clamp my mouth shut to suppress the need to thank Austin again for coming with me. Unlike Troy, he doesn’t have a family to spend the holidays with, but he was still supposed to have two days off. Also, I definitely don’t want to think about Dad and Lyla enjoying time alone.
Dad’s assistant, Kyle, was a godsend and planned everything for me, and even followed through on letting me pay for it instead of Dad, but having him set everything up means that the SUV is exactly what Austin prefers for keeping me safe.
He did inform me that Lex had taken care of getting us a suite with two rooms at the same hotel he’s staying at, and also getting us two pretty amazing seats for the game.
I know Austin will love being so close to the ice instead of in the private box, because although he pretends he isn’t, for “their comfort,” he’s a huge fan of everyone with the last name Jankowski, and I’m determined to be on my best behavior so he can enjoy the game fully without having to worry too much about my safety.
I wonder what kind of underground network there is from the small private airfield forty minutes away from the city to the Certon Hotel, because the manager is waiting for us out in the cold when Austin parks the car at the valet.
Or maybe Dad called Richard Cockerton?
I doubt it, the guy’s an asshole and Dad loves me, and I doubt he’d subject himself to a conversation with Richard for a simple two-day trip upstate.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Ellsworth, we’re so happy to have you. My name’s David.” I shake his hand. “Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you,” I say with the best smile I can muster. This kind of treatment is always too much.
