Page 97 of Ruling Scar
Pen Pal: Did you have a package delivered to my place?
I break away from work emails to reply.
Lennie: I ordered the next book in the series I’m reading.
Since it’s Friday and I’m going to his after work, I had it delivered there.
Pen Pal: You only read a chapter of book one last night.
Lennie: I liked it and I wanted to be prepared.
Pen Pal: You didn’t just order the next book. You ordered the next six.
Of course, he opened the package. Elijah’s place isn’t pristine but he keeps it clean. Everything has a place, even if it’s the throw blanket folded on the back of the couch or a new album joining the others on the bookshelf. The cardboard box my books arrived in is probably already in the recycling bin.
As if to confirm he sends me a photo. He’s lounging on the couch, one of my new smutty books covering his face.
He’s such a dork, but there’s an infectious grin on my face. It doubles when I realize he’s posted it to his stories.
We’re still keeping it quiet, or somewhat. Leopold doesn’t worry me as much and I know most of Elijah’s family know. Thankfully, no one in his family told Yelena or she’d likely call and invite my mom over for dinner in an attempt to spill the beans.
I know I have to tell Mom at some point. I don’t plan on keeping this hidden forever. But right now, it’s nice. Our little self-imposed bubble. No weirdos, no angry people, no judgment.
Maybe that’s why I love Elijah’s place. It’s free of all three.
But because life is rarely stress-free, I get a text from my sister the next day.
It’s Saturday afternoon and I just finished book two of the current series I’m reading.
Adeline: What are you doing?
Adeline: Where are you at?
My fingers hover over the keyboard.
Lennie: I’m at Ren’s.
Adeline: You’re a fucking liar.
Albert saddles up to the couch and licks my cheek.
“What’s wrong?” Elijah asks from the kitchen. He’s baking muffins and the whole house smells like blueberries.
I sit up on the couch, softly stroking Albert’s ears.
“Leonora?” he asks.
I don’t know why but the hair on the back of my neck lifts. I stand up, my legs shaky after hours of doing nothing on the couch. Slowly, I walk toward one of the big, airy windows in the living room. It faces the front of the street.
“Shit!” I fall to the floor. My phone lights up a second later.
Adeline: I fucking knew it.
Elijah walks over while wiping his hands with a dishcloth, peering out the window.
He doesn’t look disgruntled at all, but then again he told me last night he’d like to brand my ass. I know he wants the whole world to know we’re together. I’m the one being careful.
I pick myself up from the floor, sighing. “I’ll go let her in.”
