Page 94 of New Growth
My breath caught. I shifted in my seat, suddenly hyperaware of all the lingering tension between us.
“You think it’s right for you to tell me you don’t want to date,” he started quietly, his voice low and steady, “but then turn around and go on a double date?”
I blinked, my mouth opening without a clear thought behind it. “That’s different, El. And you know it.”
“No.” His jaw flexed. “All I know is you shut us down before it was even a possibility, and now you’re out with men you aren’t even attracted to.”
Us.
My stomach turned at the word. It echoed louder than the rest.
I rolled my eyes to hide the sting. “It was a favor.”
He exhaled sharply through his nose, frustration etched in the lines of his face. “I don’t give a damn what it was. I would never do that to you, Elliot. It’s about respect.” His eyes bore into mine. “This ‘friendship’ doesn’t work if we don’t respect each other.”
I tried to look away, to shield myself from how pointed those words felt. But just like at the shelter, he wasn’t having it.
He reached out—gently, but firmly—and tilted my chin up with a finger, forcing me to meet his gaze. His touch was soft, but it made my heart slam against my ribs like it was trying to escape.
“Understand?”
My throat was tight. My pride was louder than my feelings about him, but it couldn’t find a foothold at this moment, so I swallowed.
“Yes,” I answered, dry and barely audible.
His finger lingered for a second longer than necessary. Then he let go and stepped back, his eyes still on me.
“Good,” he said. “Now eat something..”
I picked up my fork, trying to mask the tremble in my hands with a scoff.
“Fine.”
But the food sat untouched for a while. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t quite shake the feel of his fingers on my skin… or the sound of that one word:Us.
It echoed in my chest, stirring something tender and terrifying.
Time to redirect.
I cleared my throat. “El?”
He looked up from his plate. “Yes, Peanut?”
“Last night was so crazy we didn’t really get to talk about it but, you said your company was interested in helping the shelter.”
“They are,” he said with a nod. “We even talked about setting up a donation bin in the break room. I’d be the one overseeing the sponsorship side of it, so if you need anything, just tell me.”
I hesitated. “Are you sure? I mean, I know you’re busy with your own work…”
“Not at all,” he said easily. “And I want to keep volunteering. I get weekends off anyway. Might as well use themfor something good.”
“You really don’t have to,” I said, pushing eggs around my plate. “I can manage with my team. I don’t want to put too much on you.”
He set his fork down and looked at me. “It’s not a problem, Ellie. I’ll always make time to help you.”
?
“Next thing I know, El’s ass was walking up to the table with Ellie, talking about how he paid for the dinner and now he’s taking her home.”
