Page 117 of New Growth
“Hope!” I snapped, whipping my head toward her.
“What?” She shrugged. “This is pointless and childish. If you want him to leave, just tell him.”
“For once,” Esther muttered, “I agree with her.”
Before I could even react, El appeared in the doorway. Hope’s eyes practically glazed over with lust at the sight of him, but he didn’t even spare her a glance. His eyes were locked on me.
“I’ve been calling you.”
I shrugged. “My phone’s dead. I didn’t bother charging it.”
“Why are you still in bed? It’s two in the afternoon.”
“Exactly,” Esther muttered.
I shot her a sharp look before turning back to El. “I’m not feeling well.”
He stepped inside, ignoring my excuse. “Well, get up. I want to take you out.”
Hope perked up. “Where are you gonna take her?”
“I want to go to the beach,” he said, still looking at me.
I stared back at him, expression flat. “Absolutely not.”
Esther yanked her arm free of my hold and crossed them. “Yes, you need to get out of the house.”
“I said no.”
Esther’s eye twitched with annoyance. “Elliot, I swear—”
“Why don’t you want to go?” El’s voice was softer than Esther’s, but there was no mistaking the persistence in it.
I didn’t look at him. Instead, I ran my fingers over the tag on the pillow and repeated myself. “I’m not feeling well.”
“Liar.”
I finally glanced at him, narrowing my eyes. “You’re one to talk.”
He scoffed, but there was amusement in it.
I sat up, and that’s when I caught him staring. His eyes never left my face. I knew I looked crazy—hair tangled, half of it shoved into a puff on top of my head, barely held together with a patterned silk scarf. I was still wearing the Cookie Monster pajamas I stole from Esther’s drawer because I was too lazy to go to my own room after using her shower. They clung a little too tight since she was smaller than me, but El didn’t seem to care. Even now, disheveled and sulking in bed, he looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing in the world.
“Come with me. Please.”
I sighed, already knowing he wasn’t going to let it go. He’d press and press until I gave in—wear me down with that patient persistence of his. Fighting it would only drag things out.
“Fine,” I muttered.
“Hey! Can I come?” Hope piped up, her voice a little too chipper.
El looked over, visibly holding back an eye-roll. “Actually, I just wanted to spend some time withElliot—”
“Sure! Why not?” I cut him off with a too-sweet smile, my tone passive-aggressive in all the right places.
El frowned. “Peanut…”
Esther groaned. “Girl, can’t you see they want to be alone?”
