Page 57 of Lost Love Found

By midnight, Elaina has sent me two texts:

TORNEROSE

I’m adopting Ashley. She is the cutest human I’ve ever met!

Wow! You weren’t kidding. Your cousins like to party!

The next one comes shortly after:

I miss you and your cousins keep feeding me shots. Help!

Garrett walks over to me and slaps me on the shoulder. “Dude, the girls are doing karaoke. We’re going to go watch and crash their party.” Great. At least I’ll be closer to Elaina.

We follow the distant beats of the bass and quickly find the bar two blocks away. Through the crowd of clapping, swaying bodies and hazy smoke, I easily spot Elaina. She stands on stage with a commanding presence, one hand grasping a drink, the other confidently holding the mic. Her voice is strong and soulful as she sings Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” with seductive moves. Her jumpsuit hugs her curves while her legs move gracefully, captivating the entire audience.

I hear Kyle’s whistle behind me. “Damnnnnn. You get to take that home tonight? I hope you know how fucking lucky you are.” Oh, I do.

The other girls aren't hard to find; their raucous laughter and swaying on their feet hinting at the level of intoxication. I stay rooted to the spot until I see Elaina’s head peek through the crowd, her gait steady as she holds Ashley up. Elaina’s eyes light up when she spots me and a wide grin spreads across her face.

"Adam!" She barrels towards me, nearly knocking me over as she wraps her arms tightly around my neck. Her hands move to my hair, and she looks up at me with a softened expression.

“Hi,” she whispers.

“Addy, please tell me you saw Elaina on stage. Did you know she could sing?” She throws her arms out, almost hitting a stranger on the head. “Oh, my gawwwwd, she’s amazing! Like Shania, but somehow even sexier. Ugh. Marry her already, or I will. Don’t tell Ryan.” Ashley giggles as she walks to where the other girls are. Elaina is now giggling in my arms.

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you OK?” I wrap an arm around her waist as she leans her head on my shoulder.

“Much better now. I missed you.” Her green eyes are bright and sparkling.

My heart beats a little faster at her admission. “I missed you too, Tornerose.” She bites her bottom lip and smiles. It feels different, this smile. It’s not like the one she shares with the world. It feels like it’s just mine. She feels like she’s just mine.

I take in her flushed cheeks and wonder exactly how many shots my cousins have given her. She must somehow read my mind. “I switched to water a couple of hours ago. Everyone else is so drunk they haven’t noticed me not actually taking any shots. But I have definitely crossed the border into Tipsy Town.”

I laugh, knowing all too well how rowdy my cousins can get. “They’re animals. You sounded great up there, by the way. Looked great, too.” She blushes and buries her head in my neck, shaking her head. “You did, baby. I knew it was you the second I walked in. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you.” I still can’t.

Elaina lifts her head, emerald eyes meeting mine. “Can we go home now?” Fuck. Yes. I take her hand and wave to Ash and Ryan, letting them know we’re leaving. She tells me all about the shots my cousins fed her early in the night and reiterates how much she loves Ashley and everyone else.

I feel that familiar tug in my chest now as she talks about how well she’s gotten along with the girls. The guys are also enamored with her, not just because she’s gorgeous, but because she calls them on their shit and can hold her own. I haven’t done this in a long time, but I know no one else has ever fit this well before. No one else ever will.

When we reach our suite, Elaina takes off her shoes right away, tucking them under a bench neatly. When I turn around she has stripped off her jumpsuit and now all she has on is a silky red thong. Goddamnit. This woman.

She tugs on one of my shirts, the cotton fabric baggy and soft. As she steps into the bathroom, the light casts a faint glow onto her face. She washes her face and brushes her teeth, the sound of the running water filling the room with a calm hum. I watch her go through her routine, leaving a water bottle on her side of the bed. By the time I’ve put my track pants on and brushed my teeth, she’s nearly asleep, curled up on her side.

I kneel down beside the bed and carefully undo her ponytail. Strands of hair are knotted and I take my time to gently untangle them with my fingers. When she opens her eyes, they're bright with tears that threaten to spill over. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you, L?" She shakes her head, though one tear escapes and falls down the bridge of her nose.

“That was the tenderest thing any man has ever done for me.” I cup her cheek and she leans into my palm. “You are the sweetest, sexiest, most wonderful man I’ve ever met, Adam River Holm. I don’t know what I’ll ever do without you.”

Elaina’s eyes are closed and she’s drifting off to sleep before I can ask her what she means.

25

you trying to steal my girl?

adam

I miss her butt wiggle and her soft moan in the morning because I have to sneak out of bed early to make sure Ashley and the wedding planner have everything they need from me. Ashley had asked me to officiate the wedding, but I didn’t feel good about doing that. Being in the spotlight for work is one thing, but for my little cousin’s wedding? No. I didn’t want to take anything away from her big day by putting myself in the middle of the action. So, we agreed I’d give a speech - the only speech - at the reception. And I also agreed I’d help keep the guys on task because Ryan’s groomsmen are a group of rowdy bros with little concern for things like punctuality or simply doing what you’re supposed to.

Before leaving the room, I leave Elaina a note on my pillow.

---