Page 109 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

We hugged and laughed.

“When I FaceTimed this morning, you seemed as if you were in another state of mind.”

“I was trying to get dressed while answering questions from you and my mother.”

“We wanted to make sure you didn’t leave the doctor sitting at home alone.”

Elijah placed the desserts on the table. “I was never in danger of being alone.”

His hand settled against my lower back as he said it. I looked at him, blushing. He had spent most of the morning at the hospital before coming to my house to help get Malik ready. His gray sweater fit across his toned chest, and the sleeves were pushed to his forearms. There was no white coat, no pager clipped to his waist, and no rush in his movements. For the next few hours, he belonged to us.

I leaned toward him and whispered. “Who’s the guy next to Xander?”

Elijah glanced over then returned his attention to me. “My brother, Jeremiah.”

My eyes widened. “Ooh, that’s the one you guys were talking about last time when your father mentioned Family Feud?”

“Yes, and there’s another brother. His name is Titan. He’s not here, however.”

I nodded. “How do you feel about that?”

He sighed. “Titan is a closed door right now. Our father was something like a rolling stone when he was younger, and he created a couple of broken homes.”

“Ah… I see.”

He put his arms around me and hugged me tight. “That’s in the past and he’s trying to make up for it but it’s hard to get everyone on board.”

“I understand. Hopefully one day. Jeremiah being here is a start.”

“Definitely.”

He kissed my lips and I melted into his embrace.

“Okay. Now you can assemble!” Aunt Bernice said, finding her place at the table.

Plates passed from hand to hand. Elijah prepared Malik’s food while I cut the turkey into smaller pieces. Ron talked about the restaurant’s first Thanksgiving and the year he nearly burned two dozen pies because he had fallen asleep in his office.

“He’s not allowed near dessert anymore,” Christian said.

“I’m part owner of the restaurant.”

“And you still aren’t allowed near the dessert anymore,” Aunt Bernice told him, pointing a fork at him.

Ron accepted the plate she handed to him. “I’m just saying.”

“Saying nothing,” Aunt Cherry chided.

The room filled with easy conversations. Elijah sat beside me with one hand resting on my thigh beneath the table. Whenever Malik needed something, we moved around each other without discussing who would do what.

The arrangement had become natural.

After dinner, we cleared enough space for cards. Ron insisted on spades. So, everyone chose players and split into teams.

Elijah and I were seated across from Christian and Naomi when the back door opened. Cold air moved into the room. Elijah’s hand stilled around his cards. His gaze went past my shoulder.

“Titan?”

Every head turned. A man stood inside the doorway wearing a black coat over dark clothes. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a dark, blank expression as he surveyed the room. No one spoke for several seconds. Christian rose first.