Page 92 of Fated to Them

I say nothing. For years, I’ve loved Sam, and it’s never been the right time, always stepping back as soon as I would show any real interest, and now that I am with someone else, he comes in, disturbing everything, confusing me.

“I will come back tomorrow. Stay home if you want to see me,” he says before kissing my cheek. “I love you, Ada. I always have.”

I hear the front door shut. He leaves, leaving me more confused. Is it only the bond keeping me tied to them, or am I in love with them? Everything about it is confusing. Being with Sam will be easy, but is that what I want?

Sam leaves, and I return to the room before deciding to do some housework. I spend most of the day cleaning, paranoid his scent is lingering around the house. That they will somehow know he is here even though he’s only gone into the foyer and kitchen. My cleaning then makes guilt hit me; the fact that I am cleaning, trying to get rid of any trace of him, implies that what I’ve done was wrong.

It was harmless him coming here, well on my side it was, but why did I feel like it was cheating?

When I am done, I hop in the shower. The warm water soothes my tense muscles. When I am done, I hop in my pajamas before going downstairs, rummaging in the pantry, and grabbing a baking dish. I peel and cut potatoes and prepare them for potato bake before sliding the tray into the oven. I start rummaging through the freezer, grab some steaks out, and put them on defrost in the microwave while steaming some vegetables.

Before I know it, it is 5PM. They said they would be home by three. I keep staring at the clock, dread filling me, and I wonder if they know about Sam and if that is why they are late.

They wouldn’t kill him, would they? Sam said they wouldn’t, but Eli might get angry enough if he knew about him.

I pull the steaks from the microwave and start heating up the frypan before placing them in. The steaks sizzle as they cook.

“Is there a reason you have decided to cook and clean like an obedient housewife?” Eli says, walking in and making me jump, not hearing them come.

“God, something smells nice,” Cyrus says, walking in behind him.

“So, what did you do? Kill somebody, break something? Why are you being not you?” Eli asks, reaching for me. His hand grabs my wrist as he pulls me to him.

“You okay?” Cyrus asks, and I finally remember how to speak.

“Yes, I was just bored,” I tell him, standing on my tippy toes and pecking his lips.

His brows furrow, confused, before he looks at Eli, who shrugs.

I turn back to the frypan turning the steaks, and Eli leans on the counter. I am very aware of his watchful eyes. I know I look guilty; I can feel him trying to figure out what I have or haven’t done as he stares at my back.

“No, something is up. What is going on, Addie?” he asks, and I look over my shoulder at him.

“Nothing, Eli. I am just cooking. Why is that a bad thing?”

“It’s not. I just want to know why you have suddenly shown an interest in doing anything other than sulking about being stuck here.”

“I don’t sulk, and it isn’t so bad here,” I tell him honestly.

I could think of worse things than boredom, but today isn’t that boring because I am actually busy and tormented by my thoughts.

“If that is true, why do you feel guilty?” he asks, stepping closer, his chest pressing into my back.

I look at Cyrus, who is watching us, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The oven alarm goes off, and I turn around to grab the potato bake.

Eli blocks me, his hand going on the counter beside me.

“Whatever you are hiding, we will figure it out,” he says, and my heart skips a beat, which doesn’t go unnoticed as he cocks his head to the side.

“Leave her, Eli. She is still here, isn’t she? Obviously, she can be trusted. She had all day to run,” Cyrus tells him.

Eli grips my chin, tipping my face up and making me meet his gaze. I am expecting him to say something when he brushes his lips against mine. My lips tingle and part before kissing him back. His tongue fights mine for dominance, and I let him have it as he pulls me closer, his arm snaking around my waist as he pulls me flush against him. Eli steps away, breaking the kiss, and I turn to grab the oven mitts. Turning around, I see Eli reach in and grab the potato bake out.

“Gloves!” I shriek as I watch in horror as he grabs it with his bare hand.

He places it on the top of the stove before reaching above his head and grabbing some plates while I stare dumbfounded. Still, he seems completely unfazed by it.