Page 23 of The One Who Got Away
Her mom was happy to have the company and fluttered around us in the kitchen and dining room. Melody had always been a little intense and nervous, but now she was a step away from a wreck.
Eloise was patient, but I could see a few cracks by the end of dinner.
“Still have that fire pit out back?”
“Oh, that sounds lovely.” Melody started cleaning up the paper plates. She suddenly looked from me to her daughter and swallowed. “You know what? You guys go on out there. I think I’m going to take a bath and watch Dancing with the Stars. I’m behind a few episodes.”
“You sure, Mom?”
“Definitely.” She gave me a brave smile. “Go on. I’ll clean up. Thanks for bringing dinner home.”
I grabbed our glasses and wine. “Go get one of your ridiculous hoodies.”
Eloise laughed. “I can’t help that I’m always cold. I think I still have one of yours.”
“I’ll take it.”
“Okay.”
She hurried to the coat closet down the hall and I went out to get the fire pit going. It looked as if it had gotten an upgrade sometime over the years. The gas flames licked up into the night sky. It was a clear night thick with stars and a fat three-quarter moon.
I dragged over the big, egg-shaped chair suspended on a chain and grinned when El appeared in the doorway with one of her blankets and a hoodie on. “Read my mind.”
She looked around at the cluster of chairs outside then to where I sat.
“C’mere, El.”
She licked her lips. “Okay.”
I took the ancient Indigo Valley High hoodie from her and put it on. Her fingers disappeared into the sleeves of her Eeyore sweatshirt with her blanket crumpled in her arms.
I settled into the seat and opened my legs.
Uncertain, she gripped the top then yelped when I scooped her into my arms. The swing swayed dangerously until she was tucked against me. When her blanket was situated just right, she stopped fussing.
“There we go.” I set the swing to an easy sway with my foot until she relaxed against me.
I slipped my fingers under the band of her sweatshirt and felt her breath catch. I didn’t make any other moves, even if it was killing me. I just drew little circles along the small of her back.
She laid her cheek against my chest. “This is nice.”
“Yeah, it is.”
The fire licked up into the sky between the rocks and fake logs that made it look like a bonfire. It had been a long day of driving. Rochester wasn’t that far, but it was an ass killing twoand a half hours each way. It gave me way too much time to think.
But she deserved to know what the hell was going on with me.
I didn’t want to screw this up again.
“You wanted to know what changed…”
She nodded.
“I almost died.”
She stiffened in my arms, then pushed herself up. The firelight glowed around her, leaving her face in shadows which was probably a good thing. “Gus.”
“I haven’t told anyone.”
