Page 30 of Baring All
“They’d be idiots not to, and that they aren’t. You’re an amazing woman. What’s not to like?”
Her mouth forms a perfect O, but not one word comes out of it. She simply stares at me for a long, uncomfortable minute. “What? Did I say something wrong? Offensive? Do I have toothpaste on my face?”
That has her chuckling, as intended.
“No, I – it’s just that I wasn’t expecting that. Thank you. How sweet of you.”
I give her knee a gentle squeeze. Eloise’s skin is soft and smooth, a fact I remember from our one night together. As the recollections of that night play in my mind, like a video on loop, I curse my excellent memory. I’m already so uncomfortable, and this isn’t helping. I shake my head, clear my throat, and thank the heavens she doesn’t appear to have been paying attention to my misery.
“Right, let’s go. Don’t want to be late,” I say, turning the key.
Eloise peppers me with questions on our way over to Knight and Indigo’s house. Her questions are insightful and telling of her profession.
Pulling up to the curb outside their home, I look over at her. “You’ve got this. There’s nothing to be nervous about. They’re great people who would do anything for their friends.”
“Yeah, but that only applies to one of us in this situation.”
“No, it doesn’t. We’re a family – maybe not by blood, but certainly by choice. That extends to friends, partners, and spouses. You’re my friend, so that makes you their friend too.”
Her look of disbelief has me patting her thigh. “Come on inside and see if I’m wrong.”
Unclipping her seatbelt, I hop out and open her door. She climbs out but stops in front of me and lays a hand on my chest.
“All I ask is, if things don’t work out as you think they will and it gets too uncomfortable, that you take me home when I ask.” She looks up at me with pleading eyes, and I find myself incapable of denying her.
“Absolutely. If that’s what you want, then sure, I’ll take you home.”
Her eyes dart between mine, and she finds whatever she’s searching for because she nods and slips her hand in mine.
“Okay, let’s do this then.”
I feel a million miles tall at the show of trust. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
The front door opens as we make our way up the path, and Knight stands leaning against the wooden panel. “Hey dude, right on time.” He turns his inscrutable gaze to Eloise. “Welcome, Eloise. It’s good to see you again.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you having me over. It’s very kind of you.”
Just then, Indigo squeezes herself between Knight and the door. “Hey Bear, hey Eloise. Welcome.”
We reach them, and I let go of Eloise’s hand, tugging Indigo in for a hug. “Hey short stuff, give me a hug.”
“Oi, get your hands off my girl. You’ve got your own,” I hear Knight quip and cringe internally.
The atmosphere turns awkward.
“Um, I’m not – I’m not his girl. We’re just friends,” Eloise says, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
Staring daggers at Knight, I step back from Indie and return to Eloise’s side. “The jackass is only joking,” I say.
“Oh. I – oh. Sorry.” Her face has turned a bright shade of red, and I want to kill Knight for making her so uncomfortable.
Thankfully, Indigo, reading the situation accurately, steps up to Eloise and pulls her in for a hug too. “Ignore this Muppet. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m a hugger. Welcome to our home. It’s lovely to have you here.”
I could kiss this woman, although I think Knight might object. At her words, I see some of the rigid posture leave Eloise’s body and feel my own relax some.
“Thanks so much for having me over.”
“It’s our pleasure.” I see Indigo give Knight a look as if to say “behave yourself,” before she wraps an arm around Eloise’s shoulders. “Come, let’s go on in and I’ll introduce you to the others. Agatha’s here too, and she’s such a hoot.”
