Page 77 of We Own Tonight
He sighs. “Not much to say. My father was a drunk, smacked my mom and Randy around. I don’t remember if he hit me, but Randy says he took the hits so I didn’t have to. From what I’m told, he lost his job and thenleft.”
“Wow, is that why you and Randy are soclose?”
“Yeah, my brother was more of a father than anything. Even though he’s only a few years older, he took me under his wing. When we found out our dad was dead, that was when Randy really made it his job to take care ofme.”
It mirrors the relationship between me and Steph. When my parents died, I became the parent figure. It was different because we lost both Mom and Dad, but still, I can imagine what Randyexperienced.
I rest my head on his arm as we continue through Lettuce Lake Park. The trees provide shade, allowing us to walk comfortably. It’s Florida, so it’s always hot and humid, but today is bearable. “What about yourmom?”
“She’s here in Tampa, but she spends half the year in New York visiting her sister. They do the whole snowbird thing. I don’t get it, but they’ve been doing it for years.” Eli stops in front of the opening by a small pond and grabs my hips. “I want you to meetthem.”
I give a small smile. “I’d likethat.”
“My brother is up my ass about bringing you to his house. I’d love for you to meet my niece andnephew.”
A sharp pain slices through my chest. Eli having a family shouldn’t hurt me. I know it’s a little irrational for me to be jealous, and a part of me is angry with myself for thinking that way. In my heart, I know all of this, but it’sthere.
He rocks my hips back and forth when I don’t say anything. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry I spaced out there.” I try to laugh it off. “Maybe nextweek?”
“There’s no rush,babe.”
“Okay, I do want to meet them, though. Your niece soundsgreat.”
I love that while the media portrays Eli as big and bad, he’s a man with a beautiful heart. The fact that he’s so smitten with his niece is proof. I can only imagine how much she rules hisworld.
Eli tosses his arm over my shoulder, tucking me into the crook of his arm, and we continue walking. I’ve been around tall and strong men my entire career and never felt secure. I’ve always been able to hold my own and am proud of that. With Eli, I can almost relax. I’m not looking for the next bad guy, I’m just happy to be in the moment withhim.
“It’s so peaceful here,” hemuses.
“I’m glad you brought me here. Stephanie would’ve lovedit.”
He smiles down at me, kisses my forehead, and rubs my arm. “That’s the first time you’ve talked about her since thehospital.”
“It hurts to think of her,” Iadmit.
“Maybe talking willhelp.”
I don’t know that anything will help, but I know I don’t ever want to forget her. If that’s how I can keep her memory alive, I’ll endure the pain. My sister loved when we’d talk about the funny things my parents did. She would tell me that by whispering their names in the wind, it brought their spirit tolife.
I lean into Eli, needing his support. “Stephanie wanted to be a professional gymnast when we were kids. One time, she was practicing doing flips on the bed in my room.” I smile as I remember how disastrous it was. “She missed the bed and her tailbone hit the wall, leaving a big assimprint.”
He laughs, and Igiggle.
“My mom was so mad because we tried to cover it withpillows.”
“Pillows?”
“Yeah, like we could hide the giant butt in the wall and she’d neverknow.”
Eli shakes his head and grins. It was one of the stories Stephanie loved to tell. I ended up getting grounded because she lied and said it was me. Since it was my room and my bed, my mother never believed me when I told her Steph didit.
She was always doing those kinds of things, taking my clothes, mixtapes, and any toy I loved. What I wouldn’t give to be able to have that all back, I’d give her anything shewanted.
“You ready to head back?” he asks. “We need to meet thedirector.”
This is going to be impossible. Collecting her things and getting rid of anything we don’t want . . . I don’t know how I’m going to doit.
“I guess—” I start to say but a woman shrieking stopsme.
