Page 48 of We Own Tonight
Heather eyes me curiously, probably wanting to pull my man card and toss it overboard. Hell, I want to pull it myself, but I see somethingelse.
Maybehesitation.
Maybe a littledoubt.
I also see a hint ofrespect.
For the first time in a long time, I revel in that lastone.
She unhooks her leg and scoots off me so she’s sitting next to me again. I watch as she re-ties her bikini, which makes me want to cry a little, and wait for her to say something. When she finally looks over, she smiles. “Thankyou.”
“Don’t thank me yet, I’m seriously regretting it.” I smile. I am, but I go for a more jokingtone.
Heather giggles nervously, shifting again so her legs are under her. “I don’t think you know what you just did truly means to me, Ellington.” My cock strains against my board shorts when she says my full name in her soft voice. “I would’ve . . .” She stares off at the horizon before looking back. “I wouldn’t have stopped you, and I probably would’ve hated myself for being so weak when it comes toyou.”
“I’m not sure it’s you who’sweak.”
That’s the truth, right there. I’m the fool who is chasing around a girl. Heather wasn’t the one who showed up at my house, repeatedly, forced me to go on a date with her, or spent a week trying to negotiate a deal, only to take less money so she could get the fuck home to Tampa. I can lie and say it wasn’t because I wanted to see her, but I won’t. It felt like there was a magnet pulling me back to where she was. Heather may not see it, but I’m clearly fuckedhere.
“I keep waiting to wake up from this dream. That a guy like you could even look twice at a girl like me. More than that, I want to be close to you, even when I shouldn’t.” Heather sighs and then gets to her feet. “Don’t mistake my pushing you away to mean that I’m not weak toyou.”
I get to my feet and pull her into my arms. “I don’t. I know you want this as much as I do. I know that even though you keep fighting me off, you’re fighting yourself more. I heard what you said about your life, but I’m not runningaway.”
Her hands rest on my chest, and she tilts her head back to look at me. “I hope you mean it, because I’m kind of liking the idea of you stickingaround.”
“Ahhh,” I squeeze her tighter. “I knew I’d wear youdown.”
“I guess I have a thing for actors who were once upon a time in a kickass boyband.”
“Once upon atime?”
She shrugs. I’ll give her once upon a time. “I’ll have you know I’m multi-platinum. I’m more than kickass.”
“If you say so.” Shesmirks.
She’s going to pay forthis.
“That’s it.” I move quickly, bending to hoist her into my arms. Then I walk with her toward the edge of the boat. “Say you’resorry!”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Heatheryells.
“Wouldn’tI?”
I wouldn’t throw her in, but I would jump so we both wenttogether.
“Eli!”
“Say it, Heather. Say, ‘Eli is the best singer in the world and every artist should bow to histalent.’”
I’m laying it on thick, but I want to hear those words from herlips.
“You’re insane!” She laughs, and I move her closer to the edge. “Eli! Stop!Please!”
“This could all be over if you just say the words,” I admonish herplayfully.
She clutches the waistband of my shorts and yells again. “Please, I can’tswim!”
I quickly put her down and grip her shoulders. “I didn’t know. I wouldn’t have really doneit.”
