Page 145 of New Growth
I met his gaze then, searching it for something—anything—that wasn’t pity. But that’s all I found.
I yanked my arm free. “Whatever.”
Humiliation burned through me, I needed to get out.
“Elliot.”
“I’m going home.”
I reached the front door, grabbed my coat, and wrapped my fingers around the doorknob.
But before I could pull it open, El’s hand slammed it shut.
I spun around. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You’re not going out there at two in the morning.”
“I want to go home!”
He sighed, voice low. “Peanut… you don’t even have on underwear. You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m leaving, Elliot. You can’t stop me.”I could barely stand straight.
His jaw clenched. He studied me, shoulders tight, eyes burning.
Then, before I could react, his hands were on my waist, and my feet left the ground.
“El, what the—put me down!” I kicked against him as he threw me over his shoulder, carrying me up the stairs like I weighed nothing.
“You need to sleep this off,” he said, calm as ever. “You’ll feel better in the morning.”
I shoved at his back, rage bubbling up. “I wanna get away from you! Put me down!”
He exhaled sharply. “I’ll put you down. And I’ll give you your space, okay?”
He pushed open a door and stepped inside. Then, carefully, he set me down.
“The guest room?” I scoffed.
“You can stay here tonight,” he said, voice steady. “Then tomorrow, you can leave.”
“Fine!” I snapped, turning away. “Just get out! I don’t wantto see you.”
His voice was softer now. “Goodnight, Peanut.”
The door shut behind him.
And the second it did, I climbed into bed, pulling the covers over my head—and sobbed.
Consequence.
Ashrillalarmclockjolted me from the depths of sleep, dragging me back to reality.
The only thing keeping me from groaning in frustration was the warmth beneath me—the stubborn fool who had his arm wrapped snugly around my waist, my frame draped over his chest. I mumbled incoherently, still half-asleep, my head pounding in protest.
I really needed to take a break from drinking.
“Elliot,” I muttered, my voice raspy from sleep. “What part of ‘I want to be alone’ did you not understand?”
