Page 14 of Chasing Elliott
Benjamin sighed, resting back against the headrest. “I didn’t, actually. I almost did and then she stopped it. I respect her decision, obviously, but man did she get me worked up.”
“I get it,” I told him truthfully, laughing as I shook my head. “You like her though?”
“I really do,” Benjamin replied with no hesitation. “I know what I said before but she’s breathtaking and she’s so funny. I don’t care how early it is, I definitely feel like I hit the jackpot with this woman.”
I smiled widely at my friend, glad that he finally found someone he felt happy about. Benjamin pulled the lever on the side of the chair and leaned back, mimicking my posture as hecontinued talking.
“How’d your night go?”
“Great,” I said softly as a smile unknowingly made itself to my face. “She’s more than Ithought. Elliott has a depth to her that I can’t quite explain, a complexity that I never expected, and it’s incredible knowing that I’ve barely even scratched the surface. The look she gave me though when I started asking questions, wanting to get to know her, it seemed as if no one has ever cared enough to do so before.”
Benjamin smiled sadly and nodded. “Well, from what Kara mentioned, Elliott’s had atough go of things and started sleeping around in high school since that seemed to be the only thing that made her feel wanted. Recently though, it’s obvious that she’s gotten fed up with how men treat her.”
“I don’t blame her,” I said instantly. “From what I saw at the party, they treat her like apiece of meat and it’s honestly disgusting. Just because she likes sex doesn’t mean she’s not aperson who wants decent human interaction.”
We sat in silence for a few moments, and I turned to find Benjamin smiling at me. Iraised an eyebrow inquisitively and he just laughed, shaking his head. “Sounds to me like she’s been waiting for someone like you. Are you sure you’re ready for that, though? I know you’recurious about the girl, infatuated, but I don’t want you chasing after something that may never happen and getting hurt in the process.”
“I think she deserves to know how it feels to be genuinely wanted,” I answered, an unexplainable emotion running through me. “And I want to be the one to show her that.”
“What do you mean you agreed to go on a date with him?” Kara asked, gob smacked as she watched me make a bagel from her seat on the couch while I stood in the kitchen. “You don’t date, El.”
“I know that, Kay,” I grumbled, setting the knife covered in cream cheese down on thepaper plate before I released a loud huff. “I felt backed into a corner and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Besides, it’s not like it means anything.”
Kara suddenly stood up and made her way over to me. Refusing to look her in the eye, knowing what I would find there, I went back to loading up my bagel. “Does he know that? Leading him on will only hurt him, El.”
“Who said I would be leading him on?” I fired back, almost slightly offended by the accusation even though I knew she was right. “If you and Benjamin are going to be an item, that means Cooper and I will be spending lots of time together. What’s the harm in getting to know him better?”
“A date and getting to know each other better because you have friends who are dating are not the same thing, and you know that. That’s why you can’t even look me in the eye.”
I slowly lifted my gaze to hers, a pang finding its way to my gut as I took in her expression. “Friends who are dating, huh?”
I bit back a smile as a blush rose to Kara’s cheeks before she started to fidget with her hair, her eyes diverting to the ground for a moment. As if sensing what I was trying to do, her gaze finally shot back up to mine, but her cheeks were still tinted pink.
“Nuh-uh,” she tisked, resting her hands on her hips. “You don’t get to try and change the conversation onto me. If you’re not going to be able to be with him the way he’s looking for, you need to tell him that, El.”
“You’re starting to sound like my Aunt,” I mumbled softly under my breath as I shook my head. “Besides, why are you being so protective over him, anyway? I’d expect this from Benji, not you.”
Kara sighed, turning around and heading back into the living room, falling into the couchas I trailed after her and sat on the armrest. “I’m not protecting him, El, I’m protecting you. Benjamin told me some things. Cooper doesn’t want to sleep around anymore; he wants something genuine. I don’t want a strain to be put between any of us if something were to go south with you two just because of some miscommunication.”
“I appreciate you looking out for me, Kay, but as much as I love you, this is between Cooper and I.” I rested a hand on her shoulder, trying to show some sort of gentleness to try and make my words seem less harsh. “I’ll talk to him like I originally planned on. I already have this all under control.”
“And if he doesn’t give up easily?” She pondered, looking up at me with an inquisitive brow.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Then I’ll have to let him down more than once. I know what I can and can’t handle and a relationship falls under the can’t handle category. I’m way too damaged and come with way too much baggage that even I struggle to handle. No way in hell I can expect someone else to try, I’d probably end up destroying him.”
“Maybe he’d be into that,” Kara suddenly said with a twinkle in her eye that caused me to give her a distressed look.
“Weren’t you just trying to talk me out of leading him on? Whose side are you on?”
Before she could respond, a knock on the door caused both of our heads to turn towards the sound. Just as I started walking in that direction, the red door was suddenly flung open and Ismiled as one of my brothers, well, cousins, walked in with three cups of coffee in a brown carrier.
“There’s my Little Red,” Nicholas said as he approached, and I threw my arms aroundhis large frame. He hugged me back with his free arm as he looked over my head, presumably sending Kara a warm smile. “And there’s my sugar snap.”
“I still don’t understand how I received that nickname,” Kara grumbled from her spot as Ipulled away from Nicholas, my arm staying wrapped around his waist.
Nicholas laughed before he extended the carrier out towards me, and I grabbed the cup that I already knew to be mine. “Cause you’re sweet as sugarcane, baby.”
“Quit hitting on my best friend,” I scolded as I slapped him lightly on the arm. “You’retoo late, Nico. Someone else has grabbed her attention.”
