Page 37 of We Own Tonight
“Nicole!” I yell and grab herarm.
“Whatever! I told you this washappening.”
She’sunhinged.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you rubbing yourself all over Heather’s couch?” Danielleasks.
Nicole rolls her eyes and laughs. “Umm, Eli Walsh’s ass was here, and I can now say I touchedit.”
Danielle and Kristin’s heads twist to me, and their eyes widen. “What?” Danni practicallyscreams.
Fuck. I haven’t told them anything. I’m going to kill Nicole. My friends are great, but I wanted to keep this quiet as long as possible. Now there’s no way I can explain away him being in my damn house. Not without making up some crazy bullshit, which they wouldn’t believe anyway because I suck atlying.
“It’s a really long story,” I start to explain and glare at Nicole. “One that I promise I’ll tell you about, but notnow.”
Kristin steps closer, and her voice drops. “Are you okay? Why the hell would he be in your house? What’s wrong? What happened? Did you sleep withhim?”
Her questions go so fast I couldn’t answer them if I wanted to. “I’m great. I promise. It was a crazy night after the concert and then Eli returned something Idropped.”
I guess it wasn’t that long of a story afterall.
“There’s something you’re not telling us,” Danni says as she tilts her head. “Because how would he know where youlive?”
My eyes move to Nicole for saving. She owes me thatmuch.
“So, how about that work we’re all here for?” Nicole says loudly. “I have two men who promised me a very fun night as payment for working here. Let’s get to it. I’m all for my threesome that’shappening.”
That’s one way to change thetopic.
Danielle groans and shivers. “Yuck.”
“You only say that because you’rejealous.”
“Danielle!” Peter calls from the kitchen. “I need yourhelp.”
Thank God for the interruption, because I don’t know that I could’ve kept this conversation going without having to spilleverything.
We spend the next few hours working on various projects. The cabinets are painted thanks to Danielle and Kristin. Apparently, there was some water damage on one of the walls, so Nicole’s two helpers ripped it out, replaced it with new drywall, and helped repaint the living room. It’s amazing how much all of us accomplished, and the house feels completelydifferent.
I didn’t have any motivation to spend time fixing anything until I saw Eli sitting in myspace.
Everyone heads out with promises to call, and the looks that I got from Danni and Kristin say we’ll be doing a lot more than talking about theweather.
I walk out onto the porch with my iced tea and sit in the swing that my dad hung the week before he was killed. I always feel a sense of calm when I rock here, as if the wind that blows is his spirit here with me. My dad was a quiet man, but he was full of so much wisdom. He loved my mother more than anything in this world. As hard as it is to admit, if my mother had been alone in that car, my father would’ve found a way to follow her in death. He would never have been able to survive in a world without her. It’s the kind of love I want in mylife.
It’s the kind I thought I found with Matt. Boy was Iwrong.
I lean my head back and close my eyes, hoping to feel that calmagain.
Instead, I hear someone clear theirthroat.
My eyes open, and I come face to face with the man I didn’t think I’d seeagain.
“Eli,” I say, almost dropping theglass.
“Hey,” he says as he climbs the stairs. “I’m glad you’rehome.”
“What are you doinghere?”
