Page 38 of Falling for Lucifer
That was why she decided to slide her thumb across the screen and answer her father’s call. She didn’t miss the smile on Lucifer’s face, either.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“’Bout time you answered your phone,” he fussed.
She sighed. “I didn’t know what to say.”
Silence stretched between them before Daniel spoke up. “I don’t know what to say a lot of the time, either, sweet pea. There’s a lot I wish you knew, but out of respect for ya mama?—”
“Fuck her?—”
“Watch it, Ellodie. That’s still ya mama, and I refuse to ever do anything to drive a bigger wedge between you two.”
“She does that all on her own, Daddy. There’s nothing more you could do,” Ellodie said absentmindedly as she thought about what secrets her father might be holding in. It never occurred to her that there might be more going on behind the scenes of her parents’ marriage, other than her mom being the biggest bitch born.
“I didn’t call to talk about her. You know my birthday is this weekend. I want to see my granddaughter.”
Ellodie’s face screwed up. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
“Of course I want to see you too. Lucifer too. We’re having a party?—”
“I don’t think so, Daddy. I’m not bringing Lucifer to another event he isn’t welcome at.”
Lucifer rubbed her arm, and she laid her head on his chest as she tried to calm her nerves. The thought of putting Lucifer in that kind of situation again made her extremely uncomfortable.
“He’s welcome. I already talked to Kamilah. She ain’t got no choice. I pay the bills here, and it’s my birthday. I want my babies here, and I want Lucifer here. End of story.”
Ellodie’s jaw clenched as she breathed deeply. Her phone was suddenly snatched from her hand, and Lucifer’s voice filledher ears as she looked up at him. He had her phone up to his ear and spoke to her father.
“We’ll be there, Daniel.”
Ellodie hated that her dad spoke so loud while on the phone. He was true old-school in that way. He thought he needed to shout to be heard, and now Lucifer’s nosy ass was signing them up for another gathering she didn’t want to be a part of. She would much rather take her father to dinner in a more private setting, and most importantly, without her mother. Ellodie was about to suggest that when Lucifer grabbed her phone.
“Lucifer, my man,” she heard her father say. “I look forward to seeing you. This Saturday at five.”
“Bet,” Lucifer said before they said their goodbyes.
Ellodie glared at him as he tossed her phone back on the couch. “Now why the hell did you do that?”
Lucifer hugged her tightly to him. “Because I fuck with yo’ daddy.”
Ellodie pouted. “He’s married to a she-devil, in case you forgot.”
Lucifer chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”
“Lu, I’m serious. I don’t want to be around that woman. How can you after what happened last time?”
“It ain’t about her,” he replied as if it was that simple.
She shook her head. “I just don’t want you to feel unwelcome anywhere. That thought makes me crazy,” she admitted.
The way she felt so protective over him should have been studied. She never understood women who didn’t play about their men. She never had that with Wes. But Lucifer pulled something different out of her, and it felt like she finally understood what it was like to be ride or die for a man. Because she would gladly protect him and do what she had to do to keep him safe every minute of every day, hands down, no questions asked.
“It’s all good, baby,” he said, turning her head so she looked at him. “Besides, we ain’t faking no more.”
She beamed at him, and suddenly, whatever she had just been so worried about no longer mattered. “You’re right, we aren’t.”
“No more playing pretend,” Lucifer said with a smile of his own before he kissed her.
