Page 17 of Falling for Lucifer
She nodded. “Yeah, let’s get this over with.”
Lucifer grabbed her hand as they walked through the home. She couldn’t remember the last time she held hands with a man. It felt good, and she immediately felt a bit of relief from his touch.
“Your people got money.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” Ellodie shrugged. She grew up with money and never had to go without, so this big house wasn’t really special to her. In fact, she couldn’t wait to leave it when she turned eighteen. When she did, she never looked back. It would be a cold day in hell when she moved back in with her parents. Her father paid for her college tuition and then fronted the money for her wedding planning business, and since then, she had been on her own.
Lucifer didn’t respond as he took in his surroundings. He didn’t look impressed or in awe, only observant.
When they reached the back door, before she slid it open, she stopped and looked up at him. “You’re sure about this?”
A smile graced his face, and he pinched her chin. “I told you I can’t tell you no.”
She beamed up at him before opening the door. “Then let’s put on a show.”
With their hands linked, they stepped into the backyard. The smell of barbecued food hit Ellodie, reminding her that she had yet to eat for the day, and it was already three in the afternoon. She’d been doing better lately, though, thanks to Lucifer. He’d been sending her food every day since he broughther breakfast. He also made a point of FaceTiming her to make sure she actually ate it. The fact that he wouldn’t allow Etta to be an excuse that she didn’t eat warmed her heart. He had unknowingly taken the place of Yasmine while she was out of the country.
Ellodie led Lucifer straight toward her father, ready to get those introductions out of the way. She peeped her uncle Martin nudging her father and pointing toward them. Daniel turned, and a smile graced his handsome face. He was over sixty years old but didn’t look older than forty, with smooth dark skin and a freshly lined goatee.
“The man of the hour,” Daniel said, reaching his hand out to Lucifer to shake.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, sir,” Lucifer replied as he gave him a firm shake.
Ellodie squeezed his hand and pointed at her father. “Lu, this is my dad, Daniel. Daddy, this is Lu.” She pointed at her uncle. “And this is my favorite uncle, Uncle Martin.”
“Nice to finally meet the man who put a baby in my niece.”
“Uncle!” Ellodie’s eyes grew wide before she looked up at Lucifer. “Please ignore him.”
Lucifer chuckled. “Nah, it’s all good, baby. This is long overdue.”
“Damn right it is.” Ellodie rolled her eyes as her mother waltzed up to them with a scowl already etched on her face. “Lu, is it?”
“It is,” Lucifer responded coolly.
“And what’s that short for?”
Lucifer stared her down for a moment before he finally responded. “Nothing. It’s just Lu.”
Kamilah screwed her face up. “That don’t sound right?—”
“Kamilah, leave that man alone,” Daniel demanded before looking at Lucifer. “Come have a drink with us. The food is just about ready.”
Lucifer respectfully bowed his head. “If it’s okay, I’ll join you in a minute. I need to go see my baby girl first.”
Daniel grinned at Lucifer before gesturing toward the corner of the yard where Yasmine and Etta were. “Fo’sho. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
Lucifer nodded at him before he placed his hand on Ellodie’s lower back and brushed past Kamilah, completely ignoring the stern look on her face.
“Aye, what’s ya mama’s issue, anyway?” Lucifer asked as they made their way toward Etta and Yasmine.
Ellodie’s cheeks heated. Her mother always made her feel embarrassed, because she was so evil. Everyone picked up on that negative energy, and it always left Ellodie feeling miniscule. “I genuinely wish I knew.”
“She always been like that?”
Ellodie nodded. “Always.” Lucifer simply shook his head as they reached the table. Ellodie quickly grabbed the pink diaper bag that sat in one of the chairs and pulled out hand sanitizer. She squirted some on her palm before reaching it out to Lucifer and doing the same to him. “Lu, this is my cousin, best friend, and Etta’s godmother, Yasmine. Yas, this is Lu.”
Yasmine peered up at him and then looked at Ellodie, wide-eyed. “You ain’t tell me he was this fine, Ello.” She looked back at Lucifer. “You got any brothers I can play pretend with?”
