Page 31 of Crying Shame
“I like you, Clarissa. I always did.”
I liked him too. I tensed as I wasn’t prepared to deal with this new version of Elon. My stomach twisted. “We don’t know each other anymore.”
“We’re starting to.”
My shoulders felt tight. I put my empty glass down and pressed my hand to my heart. “Are you trying to save me or Sam from my life choices?”
He laughed. “I like to take care of my family and my patients. You’re included in the circle.”
Maybe the combination of the flowing water and the heat was addling my brain. I’d not thought about our late-night dorm visits in years, and now I remembered waiting in his room and sharing his tiny twin bed. I moved away from him before I did something I’d hate myself for. “We can’t go back in time and ever be twenty again, and we’re not having sex anytime soon.”
“I’m not going to push you into anything.”
My one-piece wasn’t enough cover for what I was feeling. I scooted toward the steps inside the hot tub. “I believe you. We should probably get out and head to dinner."
“Sounds good.”
I got out of the hot tub. He stood and followed me. Something occurred to me, and I stopped. “Look, I don’t want to interrupt your dating life.”
Water dripped down his muscular body. I sighed as I took in the sight of him.
“You’re absolutely not.”
I dashed to the outdoor linen closet and grabbed a towel. “Okay, because I wouldn’t mind if we became friends again.”
He reached behind me, and my entire body pulsed with desire. He wrapped himself in a towel. “I’d like that.”
I moved and almost walked right into him. I rocked back and grabbed more towels. “Good, because you’re easier to like now, and it’s pretty scary.”
We stood beside the pool, our arms and legs brushing, and watched Sam and his uncle race. Neither of us moved away from the other until Sam and Charlie reached the shallow end.
I couldn't focus on how much I wanted Elon. I needed to think about our son.
Sam's head popped out of the water, and I held out the towel. “Sam, let’s get dressed for dinner, and you have homework to finish.”
“Okay, Mom,” he said.
I glanced at Elon one more time. Part of me wished I wasn’t afraid of believing we might become more than friends. However, I needed to make sure Elon accepted our son as his own so nothing bad ever happened to Sam again. It was clearly safer for Sam to have the power of the Norouzi name behind him than it was for him to stay with me.
11
Clarissa
During dinner, Elon's brother regaled Sam with tales of places he’d been. I’d thought being a trillionaire and having access to private jets would have been enough to satisfy anyone’s wanderlust. But it seemed Charlie loved being somewhere new every single day.
I could never live like that, and I glanced at Elon more than once. He was a beacon of stability, and I liked that.
After dinner, Elon, Sam, and I walked Charlie out the door and waved, like we were a functioning family.
I directed Sam to finish his homework, and Elon said he’d texted his secretary to ensure a proper tutor was found this week.
After Sam had been working on his homework for a while, I watched him from the open door. For the first time in a long time, Sam appeared eager to solve math problems. I crossed my arms over my chest. Our son was pretty perfect. Elon came to stand next to me.
“Charlie talks a lot,” I remarked.
“He does.” Elon’s gaze was warm.
His phone rang. I took it as a sign that I could relax and uncrossed my arms.
