Page 252 of Safe With You

I missed Elena.

It still happened like that sometimes. In moments that had nothing to do with her until suddenly they did. Mila laughing. Somebody fussing over her. Watching her get comfortable somewhere new.

For a second, I wished Elena was there to see it too.

The feeling didn’t take anything away from this, though. From Luna standing beside me or Mila laughing with her mama across the room.

I thought I was finally starting to understand that it didn’t have to.

“You’ll get used to it.”

The way she said you’ll made me smile

“Yeah,” I said. “I think I will.”

“Ellis.”

I looked toward Marcus.

“You grill?”

Luna groaned beside me.

“No.”

Her father looked at her. “Nobody asked you.”

“I know where this is going.”

Marcus looked back at me. “You grill?”

“I do.”

His face changed immediately.

“Come here.”

“Daddy.”

“What?”

“Dinner is almost ready.”

“This’ll take two minutes.”

“It will not.”

Marcus was already heading toward the back door.

Luna looked at me. “You’re really going out there, aren’t you?”

I smiled.

“Go.”

I smiled and followed him outside.

The door closed behind us.