“Not for that.” She shakes her head. “Thank you for tonight.”
“When you need to keep your mind from racing while you’re waiting for your score, call me and we can pause the distance fora couple of hours instead of going out with someone like that.”
“You said until you drop me off.”
Nodding my head.
“But you haven’t officially dropped me off until I get up to my apartment, right?”
“You set the rules, baby.”
Slowly, she nods her head.
She meets me halfway as we both lean in, our lips pressing together, my hand coming up and cupping the side of her face as her mouth opens with mine, letting me in. Pushing her until her back’s presses against the door, her hands coming up to my shirt, gripping on, neither one of us wanting to let this moment pass.
I’m falling forward as the doors opened, causing Drew to fall backwards. “Oh my, I’m sorry!” Drew’s neighbor, Mrs. Beverly, gasps as she looks at me. “Elias, it’s good to see you again.” She grins widely before we straighten up, stepping back out the door to wait outside the building.
We stand awkwardly as Mrs. Beverly walks to her car.
“Elias?” Drew asks, smirking.
“Shut it.”
“When did you meet her?”
“There were a few times in the morning we’d end up leaving at the same time. One time, when I got here, I helped her carry her groceries up.”
My eyes are drawn to where her teeth are biting onto her lip to keep from smiling. “Well, you seemed to have made an impact on her.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I lean in, kissing her cheek once and lingering long enough to say, “Get some rest. I’d wish you luck, but I already know you’re gonna crush it.”
Pulling away, I look down; her oceanic eyes drowning me.
Fuck it.
Cupping her chin between my index and thumb, tilting her head, forcing her to look at me, and whispering. “I love you.”
I don’t wait for her reaction. I can’t. I can’t take the possibility that I’m wrong. Turning around quickly, I start to strut back to my bike.
“Eli!”she calls after me.
I stop, turning to give her my full attention. I can tell she wants to say something. She needs me to know something, and somehow, without her saying anything, I know.
“I’ll be right here when you’re ready, Sketch. I’m not going anywhere.”
33
Walking into Sirens, I smile at Low as I walk into the back room, setting down my bag. It’s still slow, but it’s only starting to get dark outside.
“How’d it go?”
“Which part?” I lower my voice, glaring at her.
“Oh, so he showed.”
“He did.”
“How’d he get Brandon to leave?”
