Page 47 of The Story of Us
He blinked, taking in the scene in front of him. Eloise was sniffing Steve,The Golden Girlswas playing quietly in the background and Echo was stretched along the couch like Superman.
“You ready to mix this all together?” he asked Eloise.
She jumped to her feet, pushing her fuzzy sleeves up to her elbows. “You better wear the apron,” he said, passing it to her. She looped the strap over her head, and it caught on her bun.
“Here.” He reached over and freed it, his fingers sliding along her neck as he untwisted the strap. Eloise’s sharp breath grounded him in the moment. Where his past didn’t exist. Where he could pretend he wasn’t broken. That he had something to offer her. That this could be his life.
Their life.
Eloise shifted until their gazes locked together. The bright pendant lights above the bench made her skin glow even more. The scent of her vanilla and berry body wash was extra strong, and Nate wanted to bury his face in her hair. Breathe her in. Let the familiarity of her scent soothe him.
Her eyes dipped to his lips, and he couldn’t resist wetting them, teasing himself. Eloise’s mouth opened, her breath warming over his cheeks.
“Nate,” she whispered, and it wasn’t enough. He wanted to lean in, taste the way his name sounded on her lips. Swallow whatever she was going to say next, encourage her to show him. Let them have this moment that would be just theirs.
“You’re not allowed to kiss me,” Eloise murmured, her eyes never leaving his.
He blinked.
“You don’t get to kiss me unless you really mean it, okay? Only if you won’t take it back.” This time her voice wavered, her gaze lowering before she finished speaking.
I’m such an asshole.
Eloise clasped the edge of the countertop. “I’m not a toy you can pick up and put down whenever it suits you.”
“That’s not …” What he was doing? Except it was. Wasn’t it? Nothing had changed. The best thing he could do for Eloise was be her friend. Nate gulped. Stared down at the bench.
“If you want me …”
Their gazes tangled again. Hers was full of uncertainty, and Nate hated,hatedhimself for putting it there.
“… then you have to prove it to me. Just me. Forget about everyone else. But I can’t keep doing this. The back and forth. Is this something? Isn’t it? Is it me?”
“It’s not you. I swear that sounds like a line, but it’s not. It’s me. All me,” he forced out, hoping the sincerity in his heart would transfer to his words and convince her.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, turning her attention back to Steve and the big mixing bowl in front of them.
“I don’t know what to say.” Because not only was Nate an asshole, he was also a coward.
“Okay.”
“It’s not okay.”
She shrugged. “I’m going to bed. Let’s take a raincheck on the bread-making class.”
There were so many things Nate should’ve said, but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out. Disappointment coursed through him, and he watched silently as Eloise took his apron off and hung it up on the hook inside the door of the pantry.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” She patted his arm and turned towards the hallway.
“I’m sorry,” was all he could manage.
“I know,” she said without looking back.
He waited until he heard her door close to tip the oil into the mixture. Two loaves of apology sourdough coming right up.
16
“This is so fucking dumb.”
