Page 60 of We Own Tonight
Cindi, who has been watching the exchange, is crying as her family holds her tight. We all know the truth is that day is coming sooner than itshould.
Eli tenderly places him back in the wheelchair before whispering something to him and kissing the top of his head. Then he makes his way to Cindi and does his best to comfort her. She thanks him repeatedly, and then he’s at myside.
We watch as they leave, neither of us moving as he grips myhand.
After a few minutes, I turn into him. His arm is around my shoulder, and I hold his waist. “Today was . . .” I’m not sure how to express it, but I want to try. “It was everything. Not because you did something extraordinary for me, but because of the whole day. Seeing you with Timothy and his family, I can’t tell you how much I’ll cherishthis.”
Eli’s gaze moves to mine, and I’m almost startled by what I see. There’s an openness that is a gift. He’s giving me access to his soul, and it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. “I meant it, I want you to know me. I want to spend every possible day we have together in Tampa with you. I want to win your heart, Heather.” He wraps his arms around my waist. “I’m forty-two and this is the first time in my life I’ve wanted to share myself. Randy used to say I was wasting time by not settling down, I think I was biding time until I found someoneworthy.”
I touch his cheek, waiting for him to disappear like an apparition. Guys like him don’t exist, dothey?
“And you think you were waiting for me?” Iquestion.
“I think you make me feel like no one else has. I know that I want to give you things I’ve never given anyone else and make you proud to know me. It’s a foreignfeeling.”
“You’re not the only one who is feeling things that are foreign,” I explain. “I promised myself after my ex that I wouldn’t let another man in my heart. I lose everyone I care about. Until I met you, I was doing a great job keeping that promise. I’ve been able to shut it down before, but with you, Ican’t.”
Eli has a way of making me forget that I’m not supposed to like him. He’s leaving. He’s famous. He’s a heartbreaker . . . and yet, here I stand, wanting him anyway. The fact that he’s so much more of a complication than I could ever want is scary, but maybe I need the fear. Maybe the fear is my way of knowing he’s worth thechance.
His thumb brushes my lips. “I’m glad youcan’t.”
“I’m starting to be aswell.”
Chapter Sixteen
Heather
Eli standson my doorstep and I know without a shadow of a doubt what I want. I want to be with him. I want to be with him in everyway.
“I’m going to see my brother next week, I’d love for you to come meet him,” he says as I fumble with thelock.
Our ride home was quiet but comfortable. I was thinking about the events of today. How he orchestrated everything and cared to make it special for me. It’s something that I still can’t get a handleon.
“I’d like that. So, since I’m willing to meet your brother then you have to meet myfriends.”
“Do I?” he tilts his head to theside.
“It’s onlyfair.”
“I wouldn’t want to have the scales tipped in my favornow.”
He’s too much. “One of my best friends, Danielle, has her big annual barbeque this weekend. I’d really love it if you’dcome.”
I don’t have a big family for him to meet, but my girls are just as important to me. We’re kind of a package deal and I want him to know them. It’s also about time they learn about the relationship that’s happening betweenus.
“You’re inviting me tosomething?”
“It would appearso.”
“For an event in a fewdays?”
It’s amazing how much fun he seems to have giving meshit.
“Yes, Eli, an event, with my friends, in threedays.”
“I knew you likedme.”
I smile and shake my head. “I guess you’re kind of akeeper.”
