Page 69 of New Growth
He squeezed me tightly, slightly lifting me off the ground. “Of course.”
There was something about the way he held me that just felt right. It felt safe. Like his arms could protect me from all the dangers of the outside world. Slowly and softly, he massaged my back with his fingertips. Strong hands caressed from my shoulder to my waistline as he groaned faintly. He was enjoying this more than he should.
In all honesty, so was I.
We stood like that for a moment longer, until the front door swung open. Panicked, I jerked away from El like I’d been caught doing something I shouldn’t. It didn’t matter though; Esther didn’t even notice him.
“Elliot!” She stood in the doorway, her face pale with worry. “Thank God you’re okay! You didn’t come in, so I checked at Lizzie’s, but she said you had an allergic reaction and didn’t know what hospital you were taken to. I spent the whole day calling hospitals and handling your clients!I was so worried!”
My cheeks heated, still waving off the intimacy of the previous moment. “I’m sorry I didn’t call.”
Esther gasped as she rushed over to me. “Are you kidding? I’m just glad you’re okay!”
She went on and on, her words blurring together. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught El slowly backing away—probably to avoid being dragged into the chaos.
“Goodnight, Puddin',” I called out to him.
He chuckled, his lips curling at the nickname. “Goodnight, Peanut. Sleep well.”
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with Esther yapping my head off, heart unsteady, wondering why I suddenly missed his warmth.
Stay.
Fridaynightwassupposedto be mine.
Esther was out with her football fling, so I had the house to myself. Just me, my bonnet, and the thick layer of cooling clay tightening on my face.
The thirty-dollar candle I bought earlier today filled the room with the scent of lavender and honey. Soft jazz smoothly poured out of my portable speaker set on my coffee table. I sank into the couch as my silk robe brushed against my skin, and for the first time in weeks, I relaxed. No stress. No overthinking. No—
Knock, knock, knock.
Shit.I groaned.Ignore it. If it was important, they’d call.
The knocking came again, firmer this time. Then again. And again.
Alright!
Rolling my eyes, I dragged myself off the couch, tightening my robe as I padded barefoot to the door in annoyance.
Did Esther forget her keys again?
It’s possible. Whenever her football player was in town, she became ditzy.
The second I cracked it open, my stomach dropped.
Standing in my doorway like he belonged there, wearing gray sweats with a black shirt and durag tied neatly at the back, was Elliot. His dark,turquoise eyes swept over me, his lips barely curving like he was fighting back a smirk.
“Hi, Peanut.”
Panicked, I slammed the door in his face. It had been a day since the almond milk incident, and I had been trying to limit our interactions. I wasn’t completely ignoring him, I still answered his calls and texts. However, after that feeling washed over me when we hugged, I kept my distance.
“Damn,” he said, voice muffled through the wood. “It’s like that?”
I took a deep breath, pressing my fingers into my temples. I should’ve ignored the door and pretended I wasn’t home.
“You can’t just show up like this,” I called out.
“I was in the neighborhood.”
