Page 43 of We Own Tonight
Crap. I did say that. I chew on my thumb and shrug. “I guess I’ve seen a few seasons.” I say the last word under my breath, hoping he didn’t catchit.
“Seasons?”
No suchluck.
“Whatever. It’s just to see how bad you butcher myjob.”
Eli shakes his head and grabs my hand. His fingers thread with mine and then he gently squeezes. “Sounds like you’re a little more invested thanthat.”
“Fine,” I admit. “I watch itreligiously.”
He brings my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “I knew you likedme.”
I laugh and hit his chest with our entwined hands. “You’re crazy. I like your show, but seriously, tell the writers they need to clear thatup.”
“So, you and your partner havenever. . .”
“Eww!” I twist in my seat. “Never. He’s married first of all, and I was married to our lieutenant so that was never going to happen on Matt’s watch,but. . .”
“You were married to your boss?” hequestions.
I guess I haven’t really been very forthcoming with information. Not that we’ve had a ton of time to get into much. I mentioned my ex-husband but didn’t go into any great detail. “Yes, I was married, but we’ve been divorced for almost five years. It was amicable to a point, I guess. Not sure whenever a marriage dissolves that it’s ever on good terms, but Matt and I see each other every day, so we’recivil.”
“You still see him everyday?”
“He’s still my boss. Unfortunately, it means that I have the pleasure of dealing with him almost daily. I hoped they would transfer me or him, but Matt has a lot of pull in thedepartment.”
Eli tenses, but he does a good job at hiding any further reaction. He has to know that I come with a past, just as he does. Might as well get some of this out in theopen.
Besides, I’d much rather know what kind of man he is before we get too deep in a relationship or whatever this is. Matt couldn’t accept my relationship with Stephanie, and she’s a non-negotiable. If Eli can handle the Matt thing, I’ll brave telling him about mysister.
“I can’t imagine being around my ex. Especially with access to a lethalweapon.”
I laugh. “In the beginning, it was tempting, but Matt is a selfish prick. He isn’t worth the jailtime.”
His thumb rubs back and forth, leaving my skin tingling in its wake. Sure enough, we pull up to the gate on Harbour Island. Here’s the contrast of my life to his. Eli scans the card that allows usaccess.
My anxiety starts to climb as the reasons why I should’ve said no start to swim back into my mind. I’m in his second of whatever number of vehicles, going through the metal gates to houses I couldn’t afford to rent a bathroom in, and I’m completely out of myelement.
I was crazy to think he and I were ever a possibility. I don’t fit in thisworld.
As we drive down another road, the houses get grander, and my despairdeepens.
The car stops, and he turns toward me. “Youokay?”
“Yes. No. I’m not really sure,” I finally settleon.
He releases my hand and turns to face me fully. “Care to explain?” His voice is light, but the concern is clear in hiseyes.
My heart lurches when I see the house we’re parked in front of. I point to the incredibly large mansion in front of us. “This. I live in a rundown house that could fit in your driveway. This is just one of the reasons I pushed you away. We’re from different worlds, and this scares the shit out ofme.”
Eli sighs, exits the car, and walks around to myside.
Well, that wasn’t what I expected. Is he going to tell me to get out of his car? Am I supposed to call a cab? Is he leaving mehere?
My car door opens, and he grabs my hands, helping me out of the car. After releasing a heavy sigh, he speaks. “I didn’t bring you here because I wanted to show you we come from different worlds. The truth is, I lived in the ghetto of Tampa, but I think you knew that already. Money doesn’t define who we are, it’s what’s inside us thatmatters.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I’m not sure if I could hate myself any more than I do in this moment. Eli has done everything right, and my insecurities are getting the better ofme.
