Page 43 of A DIY Christmas Miracle
“It’s not our place to—” Cassy started but got interrupted immediately.
“You’re right. This whole thing is none of our business. It has nothing to do with us, yet we all got dragged into it when we should’ve stayed the fuck out of it,” Marc remarked dryly. Flexing his jaw, he looked up at me, meeting my eyes, a defiant expression on his face. “Eli’s into you.”
It took me a moment to process the words. Their meaning was so clear and yet so difficult to grasp. Four small words that held such a big meaning.
Eli… was into me. It should’ve been as simple as that, and yet it only raised more questions. Was he really into me? In what way? Was it purely attraction on a physical level? Was he falling in love with me? Was this a new development or had he been harboring these feelings for a while now? If so, why hadn’t he said anything?
“Are you trying to catch flies? Close your mouth. I can’t believe it, either.” Marc gave a dirty laugh. “But it’s true. Eli has the hots for you. And I really don’t know what’s wrong with him, but he came up with this crazy plan to organize this vacation in order for you and him to get snowed in together. The weather forecast even predicted the fucking snowstorm he needed for his plan to work. Unfortunately for him, the predictions didn’t come true, and Eli’s been pissed ever since because his plan failed.”
I nodded slowly at his words, moving my head up and down, though I didn’t actually understand what was being said. Eli and I were… supposed to be snowed in together? How? Why?
“What exactly was the snowstorm supposed to do?” I finally asked quietly. My voice sounded strange to my ears. Way calmer and more collected than I felt. Everyone looked at me as if they’d expected me to have this big reaction. I didn’t know if they’d been waiting for me to freak out or scream or cry tears of joy or whatever. No matter what was happening, I didn’t work like that. Never had. Emotions weren’t something I could let out in a big way. Even if I did, I was too full of them at the moment, anyway, filled to the brim with astonishment, disbelief, joy, and confusion. It was all so confusing. I no longer knew which way was up and which way was down. Where reality began and where it ended.
“Well, he wanted the two of you to get snowed in together.” Marc’s words sounded confident, so self-assured, I wondered if I was the only one who didn’t see the point in this.
“Why?”
“So you’d realize you’re ‘meant to be’ or some cheesy shit like that.”
Cassy let out an audible sigh.
“Look, you were never supposed to find out about this.”
“Actually, we’re all not supposed to know about this,” Josh specified, wrapping an arm around Cassy. “But Cassy spilled the beans when she was trying to get us to give you and Eli a little time alone here in the first place. Not that his plan or anything else worked. You’re still sneaking around each other.”
“Why didn’t he just say something?”
Now Jack was the one laughing. “I could ask you the same thing. Why didn’t you ever say something to Eli?”
Because it was Eli. Of course, I didn’t say that even though the words were burning on my tongue. Because Eli was Eli and I was… me. Eli was funny and lively and looked like a damn model. How was I supposed to know he wanted someone like me? Someone who wasn’t comfortable being the center of attention. Someone who wore clothes his grandpa might wear.
“Let’s not waste time talking about why neither of you said anything. I guess it’s fair to say you both had your reasons. The more important question is: what do you make of your newfound knowledge?”
That was a really good question.
One thing was obvious: it had to be something special. This was for Eli, after all. Eli deserved something special.
“I think I need your help,” I said, gaining everyone’s attention. There was only this vague idea in my head that was slowly drowning out the sea of other ideas and possibilities.
Eli wanted his very own miracle? I’d give him a one — albeit not a snowstorm.
Part 3: Eli
Chapter 15
Eli
Avoiding Will for the remaining two days of our vacation was hard. Since we were sharing a room, I ended up right beside him every night, even if I’d managed to avoid him all day. We’d lay there in bed, right next to each other, the closeness enticing me, drawing me in. Ever since I’d woken up in his arms, I wanted to feel him again, wanted his arm to be firmly wrapped around me, his body to envelop me, for his erection to nudge against my ass.
During the day, I kept as much distance between us as possible, his rejection still fresh in mind. After a truly wonderful day spent together, after he’d made such an effort to provide a spectacular experience, I’d gone and fucked everything up. What I’d believed to be a romantic gesture had been Will being Will. Being thoughtful and kind. The horse-drawn sleigh ride hadn’t been a date, not a sign he harbored any romantic feelings. He’d just wanted to be nice.
And my stupid brain, clouded with love and wishful thinking, had blown the friendly gesture out of proportion.
How could I have believed he was into me just because he’d been holding me at night? Yes, he’d had a boner while cuddling, but morning wood was a completely normal biological reaction, not a sign he’d been thinking about me while sleeping. But I’d let myself get carried away with the idea that him being hard had been for me.
With a sigh, I threw my sweater into my suitcase.
In a couple of minutes, the week — and our stay here — would be over. I’d have to spend the drive back home cramped up in Will’s pickup, and then I’d finally be alone.
