Page 86 of Tainted Love
“No. I’m staying until he wakes up.” Her delicate hand squeezes mine, and I fight the drug induced haze to let her know that I’m here and awake, only infuriatingly, I can’t get my body to comply with my brain.
“Is something going on with you two?”
“Granddad, I know you’re probably mad at me, but right now my only focus is Eli. You can be disappointed in me for this all you want, but I’m not leaving until I know he’s okay.”
“Does he care about you?”
Bea sniffs. “W-what?”
“Does Elias care about you?”
I hate the way she hesitates. I want to open my mouth and scream from the rooftop Bea is the reason I breathe. She’s my entire reason for living. If it weren’t for her, I’d be stuck in a dark hole, reliving the nightmare from six years ago, over and over again. But I need to hear what she has to say. I need her to admit to him what we are.
“I … I don’t know, but I care abouthim. He sees me for me. He challenges me to go after what I want, rather than letting my fear hold me back.”
“Hmm …” Jonathon’s sound is contemplative, not dismissive or angry. “Tell me, Honeybee, what are your fears holding you back from?”
Bea hesitates again, and I can imagine the way she is bitingdown on her lower lip. “I don’t want to disappoint you and Dad.”
“You could never disappoint us.” Surprise coats his tone.
“Even if I said I didn’t want to study law?”
“Even then. What is it you want to do?”
“I want to study fashion. I want to design my own clothing line.”
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“Because you and Dad always made such a big deal of the fact I was to follow in your footsteps and take over the firm. You were both so happy when I got accepted into law school.”
Jonathon chuckles. “Because we thought you were happy.” There’s a rustling sound, and I force my eyelids open enough to see Jonathon wrapping his arms around his granddaughter’s shoulders. “All we’ve ever wanted for you was your happiness, Honeybee.”
“Really?” Bea sniffles, wiping a tear from her cheek.
“Really.”
“And Eli?” she asks, glancing back at me. My eyes are barely slits, and she can’t tell I’m awake and taking in every beautiful part of her.
Jonathon sighs. “Well, I can’t pretend that it’s not a little … unorthodox, and you’re going to have to talk to your father and Elena about it when they get home, but if Elias is who makes you happy?—”
“He is,” Bea interrupts, letting go of my hand to throw her arms around her grandfather. “He really is.”
“Then, who are we to stand in the way of your happiness,” he finishes.
“Thank you, Granddad.”
“You’re welcome, Honeybee. But it’s getting late, and hospital visiting hours are over. We’ll have to come back in the?—”
I let out a groan, as if I’m only just waking up.
“Eli?” Bea leans over me, one hand squeezing my hand while the other cups my cheek.
“Hey, Duchess,” I rasp out. I figure there’s no use hiding my feelings from her grandfather now that he knows about us.
“You’re okay.” Tears roll down her cheeks and she buries her head in my neck.
“It will take more than that to keep me down.” I swallow the lump in my throat as my eyes find Jonathon’s over her shoulder. “Thank you for being here.”
