Page 72 of New Growth
“It does, actually. You don’t see me making fun of your medical conditions. What if I started calling you sugar? How’d that make you feel?”
He smirked. “Actually, you calling me sugar in that Southern accent is very sexy.”
I shot him my middle finger, and Elliot caught my hand in his, squeezing lightly. My heart raced instantly in his hold, heat rushing to my face.
So much for avoiding touch.
“You shouldn’t be rude to guests, uninvited or not.” He rubbed his thumb delicately and deliberately over my knuckles in a soothing way while he reprimanded me. Electricity shot through me, hammering my pulse in his hold. We locked eyes. His deep, thoughtful gaze had the smart retort I had lined up stuck in my throat. The way he didn’t look fazed by this at all made it worse.
Was I so touch-starved that simply hand-holding had my nerves on edge?
“You started it.” I cleared my throat and pulled away, shaking my head free of thoughts that came rushing in from his grasp. “I’m gonna go get the face mask. Pick a movie. I wanna watch something funny.”
He didn’t say anything as I quickly got up and practically ran up the stairs to my room.
Once I was inside, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. The warmth of his thumbs gliding over my hand lingered. Involuntarily, my hand flexed at the phantom sensation, almost as if longing for more. A chill ran through me, and I decided to wash my face, both to remove the dried mask and to clear my mind.
He’s just a man, and we’re just going to watch a movie,I reminded myself. There’s no need to get worked up and no need to question things I’ve decided on years ago.
By the time I returned, he hadWhite Chicksqueued up on the screen. I stopped mid-step, frowning.
“What is this?”
Elliot turned to me like I had personally offended him. “You’ve never seen White Chicks?”
My nose scrunched. “No.”
“Elliot, don’t bullshit me. Who hasn’t seen White Chicks?”
I shrugged. “Ma didn’t really like us watching these kinds of movies.”
His expression softened, but only for a second before he grabbed the remote. “Well, your Ma ain’t here. So, we’re watching it.”
I sighed but didn’t argue, sitting beside him as I twisted open the face mask jar.
“Come here and close your eyes,” I ordered.
Part of me thought he would argue against my demands, and I even hoped he’d fight back a little. But to my surprise, he did as he was told without question. Honestly, I was disappointed by his quick submission. I liked our occasional bickering.
Still, I dipped my fingers into the cool cream and started applying it to his smooth skin, working in slow circles and trying my best to ignore the tingles of my fingertips.
I watched him closely before speaking.
“So. Why’d you even come here?” I asked, my voice quieter now.
His answer was immediate. “I wanted to spend time with you.”
“Again—why?”
He opened his eyes and met my gaze, his expression unreadable. “Because I like you, Ellie.”
I inhaled sharply, choking on absolutely nothing but air.
His posture snapped upright. “Shit—did those fuckers still put nuts in the food? I told them repeatedly not to! Fuck, Ellie, I’m so sorry. Where’s the Epi?”
I waved my hands, coughing as I tried to catch my breath. “No, no—I’m fine. No nuts.”
Elliot’s shoulders slumped. “Thank God. I thought—” He exhaled harshly.
