Page 185 of New Growth
But she didn’t hear me. Or maybe she just didn’t want to.
“Just go, Elliot. And take that man with you.”
“You ain’t gotta tell me twice.” El reached for my hand, lacing our fingers tightly. “Come on, Peanut. We’ve had enough of this fucking circus.”
“Ma,” I tried again, stepping forward with my heart in my throat.
“Go!” she shouted, her voice shrill now. “Get out of my sight. Both of you!”
Before anything else could be said, Elliot ushered me away. His firm, possessive hand on my back guided me toward the parking lot with a scary calm demeanor.
“I’m sorry,” he said, voice low.
I shook my head, swallowing hard. “Don’t be.”
He reached up, brushing his thumb beneath my eye, and only then did I realize I was crying. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Restore.
Wearrivedbackatthe house in silence.
My heels dangled from my fingers, and my dress clung to me in places I didn’t want to feel. I felt like a zombie.
El pulled me out of my daze with his gentle voice.
“Is it too crazy to say your family might be some of the worst people God ever put on the planet? ‘Cause I’m still gonna say it. I just wanna know how mad you’ll be after.”
I glanced down at the shoes in my hand—and suddenly, I was back at my engagement party. Ryan and Johnathan were still together and my mother still cared more about her reputation than her children. Nothing’s changed.
My throat tightened, and before I could stop it, the tears came fast and hot.
El was at my side in an instant, wrapping his arms around me like he’d been expecting it all along.
“I knew that would happen sooner or later,” he murmured.
“Why do I do this to myself?” I choked out, burying my face into his chest.
“Shhh. It’s okay.”
“It’s not,” I said, my voice breaking. “I feel like a fucking idiot.”
“Let’s go upstairs,” he whispered. “Get you out of this dress so you feel more comfortable, yeah?”
“Carry me?” Iasked through sobs.
He shook his head but smiled softly, and in one smooth motion, scooped me into his arms.
“Big baby,” he teased.
I clung to him, wrapping my legs around his waist and burying my face into his chest as he carried me up the stairs. When we got to the room, he unzipped the back of my dress and tried to set me down.
“You gotta stand up to get this off, Ellie.”
“No,” I whispered, still clutching him.
“El—”
“No,” I said again, shaking my head.
