Page 57 of Holding Ground

Elliott notices me coming and pulls his gloves off as I make my way down the short stairway of the deck. He runs his hand through his hair, damp with sweat, and of course, it falls perfectly back into place.

“Thought you might need this. You’ve been at it for a while.” I hold the water out to him.

“Thanks.” He takes it from me, twists the cap off, and guzzles down half the bottle. When he’s done, he replaces the cap and gestures to what I’m wearing. “Aren’t you cold?”

I have on a pair of leggings and a T-shirt, and yeah, the truth is, I’m a little chilly. “You’re basically wearing the same thing.”

“But I’ve been out here working up a sweat.”

You’re telling me.

He doesn’t mean his words to come off like an innuendo. I know that. Still, a small frisson of heat courses through my body.

“I wanted to come out here before I lost my nerve,” I say, and he tilts his head. “Thought maybe we should talk about what happened last night…”

His brows draw down. “What happened last night?”

“When I was upset and you comforted me.”

Elliott’s lips press together, and he lets the water bottle fall to the grass, setting his hands on his hips. “What about it?”

I sigh. Clearly, he’s not in the same headspace as I am, ready to put it all out in the open. “It felt…meaningful, I guess.”

My voice is unsure because I don’t know how to phrase my thoughts. I’m not sure how to say it out loud—it feels like something is brewing between us. Maybe I’m alone in it, and I’ve misread everything. Maybe his comforting me last night was him being a decent person.

“It was just a conversation.” He looks away from me.

Be brave.

“If it was just a conversation, then why do I feel like it made you uncomfortable or something? You’ve been quiet with me today. We seem to have this pattern where we get closer and then pull back. Maybe we should talk about what’s going on here.”

He studies me for a beat. His gaze is intense, but I force myself not to look away. “What is there to talk about?”

“Elliott, I’m used to always feeling like I don’t quite fit wherever I go. I just…I really need to know where I fit here.”

His eyes find mine. “You’re only here for a couple more months.”

I nod. “I know. Is that what’s on your mind?”

He steps forward. “You want to know what I’ve been thinking about all day?”

I nod.

“I’ve been thinking that the fact that my daughter is so taken with you is a problem.”

“Okay.” We can work with this.

Again, another step forward. “The fact that I’m also so taken with you is the bigger problem.”

My breath catches, and he moves until only a few inches separate us. His hand pushes through the hair at the side of my head, and my eyes drift closed.

After a few moments, I still haven’t felt his lips on mine, and I open my eyes. He’s gazing down at me with a question in his expression.

“Elliott, if you’re going to kiss me, you should do it now. Otherwise, I’m going to go back into the house, and I’ll probably talk myself out of ever letting you have the chance again.”

The words have barely left my mouth before his lips crash to mine.

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