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Grant
I blink down at my phone and thumb through the pictures Elena sent while I wait for her to arrive.
I cleaned the bathrooms, changed the sheets on both beds, vacuumed upstairs and downstairs. I tried watching a movie but I couldn’t tell you which one it was because I was too busy staring at my phone the whole time.
I didn’t have to worry about how Noah was doing, or wonder if she was having a good time. Elena snapped picture after picture, updating me on everything Noah did. It’s more than I could’ve asked for after spending the evening away from her.
Some of the pictures were taken by Noah though. She must’ve had Elena’s phone during the ceremony, and she caught a few good shots of Elena crying while her friend exchanged her vows, and Elena entering the reception with her hands above her head. She also sent a hilarious photo of Elena dodging the bouquet, surrounded by a group of women who were fighting for it.
But my favorite is a selfie she took with Elena on the dance floor. Noah’s smile is so bright, it reminds me of the little girl she used to be. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her smile like that. Elena is the reason for that smile, and I can’t blame my daughter because Elena makes me smile too.
The picture makes me wonder if I’ve been holding Noah back from feeling joy because I’ve chosen to live a solitary life.
My eyes drift to Elena’s face. Pure and good, she radiates sunshine. She has brought so much into Noah’s life in such a short amount of time. For years, I’ve noticed her across the street. How could I not notice her beauty? But knowing her is so much more than that, so much more than what’s on the outside. Between her father and her ex-husband, it’s clear she hasn’t been treated right. She doesn’t know her worth, hasn’t been told how incredible she is. The people in her life took her for granted, and that protective part of me flares up, wanting to show her all that she deserves.
Could I? Could I be that man?
My chest aches, and I know what that feeling is.
Longing.
It yearns for someone, something, that I’m not sure I can have. But I want it like hell.
I wantherlike hell.
And the more she entwines herself into my life, the harder it’s going to be when she leaves.
And she will leave. I can’t see any other outcome.
Elena’s headlights flicker through the window, so I head outside.
She hops out of the car and gestures to the passenger side. “She’s sleeping.”
I duck my head and peer through the window. “She’s all partied out, huh?”
“She had a blast. I did too.”
“Thank you for taking her. She’ll never forget this.”
“Will you carry her inside? I feel bad waking her.” She glances at Noah and a sweet smile blooms on her face. “Thank you for letting me take her.”
The way she looks at my daughter with such affection stirs something inside of me, and I can’t stop myself from holding out my hand for her, palm facing the sky.
“Will you dance with me first?”
Her head snaps to me. “What?”
“I’d like to give you that slow dance you missed out on.”
Nerves surge through my veins while Elena’s eyes flick from my outstretched hand to my eyes.
She could very well reject me. And I’d have to be okay with that.
But then she’s climbing the stairs, and her hand is in mine. I settle my left hand on the small of her back, and we shuffle from side to side.
I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. My body is stiff and I feel awkward.
This idea worked better in my head.
