Page 83 of Tell Me Everything
“What are we?”
“We're Elena and Alex. What else is there?”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“Look, what I'm trying to say is—”
Elena cut him off. “I know what you're trying to say. But I don't know what you want me to tell you.”
She abandoned the idea of unpacking and sat down on her sofa, finally giving him her full attention. Her face exuded serenity. So why was he so anxious?
“Are we dating?”
“Officially? Not yet. Unofficially, most certainly.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“Let's say we make things official once my life is less of a mess, but already try to make things work? Can you live with that?”
“You're making it hard on yourself. I'm already crazy about you, no matter what you do.”
“Can you live with that?” Elena repeated, pleading with her eyes.
Alex wanted more. Of course, he wanted more. The last few days had been incredible. Alex hadn't been this happy since his life before... And being happy was addictive. As long as nothing was official, he'd always have this feeling that Elena was going to slip through his fingers. But Alex didn’t have much of a choice, not if he wanted to be with her. And there was nothing he wanted more than her, even if it meant waiting a little longer. Alex was completely at her mercy, and he never wanted Elena to let him go. The torture was too sweet.
“If I accept, can I kiss you without permission?”
Elena positioned herself between his legs, her palms on his cheeks. She brought her mouth close to his without touching it. Her breath caressed his face.
“You never needed permission.”
Elena closed the distance. The more they kissed, the moreintoxicated he became with her. As she sat on his lap, Alex let his fingers slide down her thighs without breaking the kiss.
“Elena, can you... Oh, you're busy.”
Alex froze at the sound of his future mother-in-law's voice. Elena placed a kiss on his nose.
“Hi, Mom.”
Elena faced her mother, laughing, while Alex disintegrated on the spot. His head and neck heated with embarrassment. Holding on for dear life and what little dignity he had left, he pulled his hands away from Elena. Maura gave him an icy look. Usually, he didn't care what others thought. This time, it was different.
“Hi, Maura.”
“Alex. Shouldn't you be getting home? I'm sure your mom wants to see you.”
“I won't be long.”
Elena let her arms rest around his neck. She smiled at her mother, showing no sign of embarrassment or regret. The two women stared at each other, and Alex felt a pang of pride rise in him. Elena was standing up to someone without looking down.
“Mom, stop tormenting him.”
Maura gave them a tight smile. The mother-daughter relationship hadn’t improved.
“Stay as long as you like.”
Once Maura had left, Alex got up.
