Page 103 of We Own Tonight
I wish I could take this for him and handle it, but a swell of relief washes over me at how well he’s doing. Eli didn’t need me to do anything but be by his side. We talked about how to deal with the press in regards to me, and we agreed as a couple that I wouldn’t speaktoday.
Eventually, we got Sharon to agree to it, but we had to give her something in return. So, as soon as he’s finished with this, he’ll head outside where there are barricades to keep the fans at bay. Sharon thought it would be good for him to sign autographs and appear normal after he tells them about his illness. I thought he should get rest, but I was pretty muchoverruled.
“My girlfriend, Heather Covey, has been by my side through the entire week.” Immediately, the press get to their feet, hands are raised, and people are calling his name, but Eli doesn’t flinch. He gives them a second and just smiles. “I’m going to give you all the run down so hopefully you won’t have any questions by the time I’m done. Although, I’m sure that won’t happen.” Eli laughs as a few of them do aswell.
After he tells them a very abridged version of our relationship and who I am, I can breathe a little. My heart is still going a mile a minute, but he commands the entirety of their attention. He’s truly in his element right now, and it’s downrightsexy.
He finishes, draws a deep breath, and asks, “Anyquestions?”
“Are you saying you’re officially off the market?” A young reporterasks.
Eli rocks back on his heels with a grin. “Yes. I’m very much off themarket.”
He points to the next person with their hand up. “Do you plan to move back toTampa?”
“I plan to fulfill my obligations toA Thin Blue Lineand make time for my relationship as well. Does that mean I’ll be in Tampa a lot more? Yes.” I watch in awe as he takes each question withease.
“Any plans to getmarried?”
My eyes widen at the leap from being off the market to marriage. We both love each other immensely, butJesus.
Eli chuckles. “We’re taking things day by day rightnow.”
“So, it isn’t serious?” The same reporterasks.
I can almost feel Eli’s mood shift from amusement to anger. “If it weren’t serious, I wouldn’t be here, Joe. In the last ten plus years, when have you heard me talk about a girlfriend?” Eli challenges him. “It’sserious.”
Joe doesn’t respond, and Eli moves to the next hand. It goes on with the same variations of questions, all centered around our relationship, none about his multiple sclerosis. Which is baffling since that’s what the point of thiswas.
I stand one step behind Eli as he moves to the nextquestion.
“Ms. Covey.” She looks at me and a flash of fear hits me. “Do you plan to quit your job as a Tampa PoliceOfficer?”
Eli starts to speak, but I touch his arm as I get closer to the microphone. I don’t know how I got here, but my feet somehow moved toward him. “I don’t. I love serving this city, and I’ll continue to do so.” I slide my hand down his arm and rest it on top of his hand. The smile on Eli’s face is full of pride. He laces his fingers with mine, and I’m not afraid. He’s up here taking the hits and standingstrong.
I can do this because together, we’reunrelenting.
“Is it true you were marriedbefore?”
I watch Eli’s knuckles turn white from gripping the side of the table he’s holding with his other hand. I squeeze my fingers and take a page from his book. “Yes, I’ve been divorced for five years. Eli is aware of my previousmarriage.”
Sharon moves to the other side of Eli and pulls the microphone out. “That’s all we have time fortoday.”
Sharon ushers us to a private room, where Eli takes a seat. He refused to use the walker today. I didn’t even attempt to convince him otherwise. However, it’s clear that it took a great amount of energy for him to stay on his feet andperform.
“You did great,” I say, wiping hisforehead.
“You weren’t so bad yourself.” He smiles and takes my hand inhis.
“Yes, yes, you both were great,” Sharon says as she types on her phone. “We need to get you out there as quickly as possible. They all need to believe you’re the epitome ofhealth.”
I’m suddenly thinking this meet and autograph thing was genuinely a badidea.
I roll my eyes and fight back the urge to slap her. “Are you good?” I askhim.
“I’ve got this,baby.”
The instinct to protect him rises, but I repress the urge. I have to trust him, which means not trying to control the situation. It’s so much easier said than done. I’m a cop. I thrive on being in control. It’s who I am, but I also know that it’s his greatest fear within ourrelationship.
