Page 81 of Until Tomorrow
ELI: Always do.
He always did. I honestly wasn’t worried about her—not really. I was more worried about what the hell I was going to walk into when I went home.
The need to get home to my wife and find out what she was up to was more than enough to motivate me to get work done faster. I wrapped up everything in a timely fashion before leaving early. I didn’t need to do anything extra.Not tonight.
As I turned onto our street, I slowed to a stop. Elliot’s truck sat out front with the hazards on. Elliot leaned against the side with his arms crossed over his chest. His chin tucked against his chest as he stared down at his boots. I rolled up behind him and turned on my hazards as well.
For a moment, I pretended to be busy—just long enough to admire him. That was something I realized I did more of whenever I saw him. I couldn’t deny there was a stir inside me because of him. That ache and curiosity, along with the growing list of what-ifs, bothered me.
I swallowed it down and let it settle where it would before stepping out of the car. Eva came hurrying out of the building, walking briskly in her heels.She waved and smiled at me before rushing to Elliot’s truck for more bags.
“Honey, what are you—”
“Logan, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll just stand there and smile at your wife as she does her thing,” Elliot interrupted with a laugh as I joined him. “I’ve tried to help now twice and got smacked. Your wife is a fucking powerhouse and don’t need no man helping her.”
“But what if I want to help?” I asked. I liked helping my wife. There was nothing wrong with that.
“I’ve got this!” Eva squealed as she disappeared inside with bags weighing down both hands.
“God, she’s fucking stubborn,” he said.
“Isn’t she?” I grinned. I loved her in all her chaotic glory. As I slid my hands in my pockets, I continued, “You know you could’ve asked for more books. I would’ve happily bought them for you.”
“I couldn’t. She tried to negotiate ten books if I let her drive. I had to stand my ground at five.”
“She wanted to drive? Eva hasn’t wanted to drive since—”
“She got into that accident when we were seventeen,” he finished for me quietly. “I know.”
“It can’t be that,” I replied as I frowned. Had it been that long ago? “It was a fender bender at best. The airbags didn’t even go off.”
“I think it was the prospect of what could’ve happened to us while she was driving that got to her,” he told me. I sighed. Eva’s relationship with death was hard. I understood it, and I worried about her because of it. “She wants me to teach her how to drive. She doesn’t want to have to rely on anyone else to get around. I just don’t know that I’ll actually get hertodrive.”
“Maybe if I’m there? And we’re in an empty parking lot?” I glanced at Elliot’s truck. There was no way she’d be able to drive that thing. And my car was small—the size would probably stress her out. I made a mental note to find the safest SUV out there and see if she wanted it as a way to ease the idea of driving. Maybe it’d be the extra nudge she needed.
Not that I minded driving her around, especially lately, since she held my hand every time.
“What the hell are you smiling at?” Elliot asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “How was your—”
“Holy fuck, she bought so much crap and made me carry it all!” he exclaimed. “And she just kept adding more bags! I thought we were going to need a second vehicle there for a hot minute.”
“But what the hell are you two—”
“Don’t you tell him!” Eva cut me off loudly.
“Yes, ma’am,” Elliot answered.
“I want to surprise him.”
“I know.”
“Surprise me with what?” I replied.
“Here, hold these, sweetheart.” She handed me a stack of paint chips as she juggled six bags.
“I can take the bags—”
