Page 82 of We Own Tonight
I won’t lie, the fact that he called me his girlfriend gives me a thrill. Eli pulls me away from Randy, who chuckles over the possessive gesture. I meet his nephew, who reminds me of Danni’s son, all proud and a total boy. He fist bumps Eli and gives me the chinlift.
Then Eli places his hand on my back and leads me over to who I assume is his mother. She has light brown hair, green eyes that match Eli’s, and the sweetest smile. She’s exactly like I pictured. Her hands are delicate, and she keeps them folded on the table. When she sees Eli approach, her entire face lightsup.
“Mom.” His smile is wide as he greetsher.
She gets to her feet and takes his face in her hands. “Eli! My sweet boy!” His mother kisses both his cheeks before releasing him. “Are you eating? You look too skinny. I don’t like you tooskinny.”
“I’m fine,Ma.”
For the first time, he looks a little embarrassed. I didn’t think that was something I’d eversee.
“He’s all skin and bones,” she says to the lady sitting next to her. When her eyes go back to him, she seems to notice me. She claps her hands together and then touches Eli’s chest. “Is thisher?”
“Ma, this is Heather, my girlfriend. Heather, this is my mother,Claudia.”
Twice, but who’scounting?
“She’s so pretty.” She’s talking to Eli but looking atme.
“I’m so happy to meetyou.”
His mother walks over and takes my hands in hers. “I have waited a long time for Ellington to bring a girl to me, and here youare.”
I’m not sure what that means, other than he told me that he hasn’t really dated since his ex. Did she never meet her? I would’ve assumed they knew her considering how close to marriage theywere.
I glance at Eli, and he rolls his eyes. “Don’t start,” he warnsher.
“Oh, you hush. You don’t date, and you don’t call your mother. I have to read about your antics in those magazines. My Eli is too important to find a good girl. Makes his mother have to worry about being all alone without someone to take care ofhim.”
I laugh as she gives him shit. He doesn’t fight her back, he just tucks her in his side. “You loveme.”
She smacks his stomach and laughs. “Come sit, Heather. This is my sister,Martha.”
I take the seat next to her, and Eli leans in, kisses my cheek, and wishes me luck. I watch him grin as he walks off. Asshole. Way to feed me to thelions.
His mother is absolutely perfect. She asks me a million questions about my job, my family, and her eyes fill with sympathy when I tell her about Stephanie. Her entire being is filled with warmth, and it’s comforting being around her. Claudia tells me a little about Eli before he was famous, and I can’t picture him that way. She talks about how scrawny he was, and that Randy was his only and best friend, which is something I assume followed him intoadulthood.
He doesn’t talk about any friends, and now, I can’t imagine it’s easy for him to trust anyone. When you’re as successful as he is, it’s probably impossible to figure out who wants to be your friend because they gain something from you and who genuinely cares about you. It’s easier to shut them all out and not worry aboutit.
“You surviving?” Savannah says, handing me a beer beforesitting.
“It’s been such a great day sofar.”
“I’m glad. I have to tell you, we were shocked when Eli said he was bringing you to theparty.”
I’m not sure if I should be upset or relieved that he doesn’t bring random girls here. I take a drink, hoping to mask my emotions. “I guess I was,too.”
“Don’t take that the wrong way.” She gives me a reassuring smile. “We’re all a little protective of Eli and haven’t been a fan of his past choices. That said, judging by everything he told us, you’re nothing like that. We were really happy he was finally going to get his head out of his ass and bring youaround.”
“Vannah,” Claudia chastisesher.
“You know you were happy, too, Mom. He’s been so weird since the she-bitch.”
I nearly choke on my drink. I think I love this girl. “I take it you don’t like hisex?”
She lets out a loud laugh. “No. I hated her from the first second I saw her. You know how it is, I’m sure, women can read other women prettyeasily.”
“Oh, for sure,” I agree. I feel like that’s one of the advantages that make me a good cop. I have a pretty good gauge for whether someone is pulling crap or if they made amistake.
