Page 80 of The Heart Shot
“I know.”
“Don’t let her get away, you fool.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
We quickly said goodbye and I forced my mind to focus, returning to the duty at hand—getting the supplies for tonight.
Tonight was everything. Knowing about her past changed nothing and everything.
Maybe it would scare some people away, but learning how hurt Elsie had been in her past didn’t scare me. It only made me want to love her more. To show her that she deserved the world, deserved to be treated like the queen she was.
What happened with her parents was awful, yes, but that didn’t mean we would end up the same way. Elsie had to know how crazy I was about her. I couldn’t imagine a world where she wasn’t in my life.
I wanted her. All of her.
And no amount of fear, insecurity, or past trauma would change that.
Jameson
The clock on the dashboard of my truck read 5:59 as I pulled into Elsie’s driveway. My limbs tingled, my heart racing like a kid on a sugar high as I climbed out and headed for her door. I jogged up the short walkway, leaped up the two steps to her front porch and gave three quick knocks. The night was cold, the air clouding as I fought to catch my breath, not from exertion, but simply because I was excited to see her. It had only been two days, but it felt like weeks.
When the door opened, all the air in my lungs whooshed out. Elsie’s dark blonde hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, her curves on display in a pair of leggings and a cropped sweatshirt with a graphic that said “donut worry about a thing” over a box of donuts. A hesitant smile spread over her beautiful face before narrowed her eyes at my heaving chest.
“Did you run here?” she deadpanned.
With a huff, I pulled her into a hug. “I’m just happy to see you.” I wanted her to melt into me, for her to press her nose into my neck, but instead she froze in my arms, turning into a rock.
“Everything all right?”
Elsie’s eyes stayed on my chest as she pulled out of my embrace, avoiding my gaze. “Yes. Let me grab my purse. Be right back.”
Unease settled in my gut. Elsie hadn’t been that cold toward me since we met at the photoshoot a little over a month ago. As if her house would tell me her secrets, I scanned the cottage themed living room, neutrals and light pastel colors littering the space, eyeing the couch where we had fallen asleep. I smiled at the memory. I wanted more of that, more of her and I together.
Elsie rounded the corner, a baggy denim jacket now thrown over her sweatshirt. “Ready,” she said, still avoiding eye contact.
Maya’s phone call replayed in my head. She had been worried Elsie would make a hasty decision and end things between us because of her past. I had hoped that my cousin was wrong, that love would win, silencing Elsie’s fears so we could move forward together. But seeing her now, the way she was acting, her tense shoulders, how she avoided my gaze…Had she already decided?
If she had, why go through the motions of another date?
I wanted to dig my heels in and ask what was bothering her. I wasn’t afraid of confrontation, but after Maya told me about Elsie’s parents, I wondered if confronting her would do more harm than good. I needed to get her back to my house and remind her how good things were between us. I hoped tonight would show her, once and for all, that we belonged together. I cared about her—more than I thought possible after such a short time.
I didn’t want this to end.
So, I laced my fingers between hers, kissing the back of her hand before leading her to my truck. True fall weather had finally descended upon Meridel, the brisk air hinting at the winter to come.She burrowed into her seat, pulling her jacket tight as I backed out of the driveway.
“Where are we going?” Elsie asked.
“My place.”
She relaxed back into her seat. “What are we doing there?”
I gave her a quick smirk before looking at the road again. “It’s a surprise.”
Elsie squinted at me. “A good surprise?”
“Aren’t all surprises good?”
“No.”
