Page 130 of New Growth
Then he said, “I wish I’d met him.”
I looked at him and smiled faintly. “Me too. He would’ve liked you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. But he also would’ve given you hell.”
El chuckled. “Sounds about right.”
I let out a small laugh, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “You got your shit together. He respected men like that.” I exhaled, staring at theceiling. “He always wanted me to have my shit together, too. I think I’m falling short in that regard.”
El shifted beside me. “You’re figuring stuff out. Give yourself grace.”
I huffed. “Easier said than done.”
He didn’t let me wallow. “When I was your age, I was still coloring backgrounds for other people’s work, barely scraping by.” He took my jaw in his hand, gently turning my face to look at him. “You’ve travelled the world. You help women in need. You own a successful business, Elliot. You’ve accomplished a lot by yourself.”
I bit my lip, turning that over in my mind. I didn’t always feel accomplished. Some days, I felt like I was just keeping my head above water, constantly reaching for the next thing so I didn’t have to sit still and think too hard. But hearing him say it soothed me.
I pulled my chin from his grasp. “You sound like Esther.”
His laughter rumbled beside me.
I turned my head to the ceiling again. “You think they’re proud of us?”
“Who? Our parents?”
“Yeah...”
He sighed, closing his eyes again as he thought. “I think. We are everything our parents wanted for us. Everything they dreamed we would be.”
I exhaled slowly. “Then, I know they’re up there bragging.”
El chuckled softly beside me, his breath warm against my skin. Then he squeezed my hand again. “Come here.”
I hesitated, just for a second, before moving closer, resting my head against his chest. His arm curled around me, offering a sense of comfort I hadn’t realized I needed until now.
“Can we talk about the kiss?” he asked. It had been on his mind for a while.
I shifted uncomfortably, knowing this was coming, but not ready for it. “I knew you’d bring that up sooner or later.”
“How could I not?”
“Simple,” I replied, shifting slightly in his embrace. “Pretend it didn’t happen.”
He paused, and then I felt his chest dip as he exhaled. “I can’t do that.”
“I know.”
“I want another one.”
I tensed, a knot forming in my stomach. “Now?”
“Right now.”
“Elliot…” I trailed off, unsure how to even begin.
“Please?” His lips brushed the top of my head as he spoke. “I’ll be thinking about it all night.”
