Page 80 of When You Were Mine

Chapter Twelve

Trevor answeredDarby’s FaceTime call on his way back to his room.

“You won’t believe this.” She had her eye mask hitched up her forehead and her face clean of makeup.

“What?” He shouldn’t have answered. He was still reeling from the way Elzy looked at him on the pier, and he couldn’t give his friend the attention she deserved.

The way the moonlight made Elzy’s skin glow, the affection in her eyes… She’d looked so very beautiful. He’d walked her to the elevator bay, willing her to invite him to her room, but the doors parted, she’d walked inside, and that was that. She left.

“Emil and I were texting. And then, out of nowhere, he just stopped. So, I get ready for bed…I getinbed…and then, he texts me, ‘Let me in.’”

He pulled out his key card and pushed the door open. “He came to the hotel?”

“Yep. We just spent an hour talking.”

“Was it good?”

“Honestly, he came in hot.” She chuckled. “He was pissed that, even after he explained his situation, I never tried to get back with him. I just moved on. I told him why. That neither of us could compromise. That long distance to Iceland would never have worked, but that just got him even more pissed off.”

“Because you didn’t care enough to try. In his mind, if you’d stayed together, you might’ve found a way to be together.”

“That’s exactly what he said.”

That was how he’d felt about Elzy. She’d cut him off and never let him back in. He’d been pissed, hurt, and missing her for thirty damn years. “So, how’d it end?”

“We kissed.”

“Oh.” Propping his phone up against a pillow, he sat in a chair to untie his boots. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“I know. Neither was I. But he’s such a quiet, strong man, so when he blows up, it’s just really…explosive.”

“He hides his feelings, leaving you questioning whether he has them. And then, when he proves them, your ego gets the hit it needs.”

“Wait. Are you saying I only want him because I never know where I stand with him?” she asked.

“I don’t know. You tell me. Do you still like him? Do you liketalkingto him? Or is it just attraction?”

“I like being with him. I think he’s a really good man.” She paused. “And I can’t keep my hands off him.”

“So, why did he leave?”

“I don’t know. He said, ‘I’m taking you to breakfast. Be ready at seven.’ And then, he left. God, he’s so hot.”

“Sounds like there’s hope for you guys.”

He couldn’t get Elzy’s expression out of his mind. The longing mixed with confusion. Resistance. She clearly wanted to be with him, but she didn’t trust him.

And as much as he understood it, he wanted a second chance to prove himself.

“Maybe. I’ll see him at breakfast.” Darby fell onto her back, flopping her arms dramatically. “And maybe this time, I’ll be open to compromise.”

“Sounds good.” He stood up and unbuckled his pants. While his body was on this call with Darby, his spirit was on the pier, watching the aurora borealis beside Elzy. She hadn’t grabbed a coat before coming downstairs, so she was freezing. She’d tipped her head, that long, thick hair spilling down her back, and took in the light show.

He’d wrapped an arm around her, and when she’d huddled up against him, he’d taken it as a green light to step behind her and encircle her in his arms. He could’ve stood like that forever.

Anything was better than going back to his room. Without her.

Now that he’d found her, he couldn’t stand being apart.

---