Page 32 of Loving the Sinner
“Goodnight, Elli.” I say, stepping back before I do something stupid like kiss her.
“Goodnight, Wes.”
Chapter 14
Elli
These past few days have thrown me off-kilter, my emotions-and hormones-are all over the place.
Izzy leaving? Sad. Heart wrenching. I’ll miss my best friend.
Having my own space completely to myself for the first time in my life? Happy, freeing.
Finally dressing how I want? Invigorating. Even if it is only in the comfort of my apartment. Just lounging around in short shorts and a tank top is cathartic.
I’ve lived in baggy t-shirts and oversized overalls most of my life, wearing loose swing dresses on occasion because I always felt like my body was bad, that it needed to be hidden. The shame that was ingrained into me since I was a child is something that will take a lot of work. I thought I’d hate having somuch of my skin on display, but I feel…free. Beautiful. Powerful.
Wes showing up to take us to the airport, then his proposal and shopping? A pleasant, swoon-worthy surprise.
The sexual tension with Wes being so thick I can cut it with a knife? Confusing. Arousing. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on in mylife. Wes didn’t evendoanything. As soon as he left, I used my fingers to try and relieve the ache between my thighs. It sort of gave me some relief, but I’m not sure what I’m doing so I don’t think I had an orgasm.
My date with Matt? Well, I almost forgot about that to be honest.
I thought I was confused before about Wes, but Wednesday just amplified the confusion. I could have sworn he was going to kiss me after he helped me unzip my dress.
What kind of man spends a whole day putting together IKEA furniture, listens to a complete stranger have a breakdown about religious trauma, checks to make sure you get in okay, willingly drives your baby sister to the airport, takes you dress shopping and says “You look ethereal”, then basically ghosts you?
Wes Jones, apparently.
Maybe I’m reading into it. I don’t know Wes that well, even if we’ve seen each other and talked to each other pretty much every day for the last five days. Maybe he’s just always like this with his friends. Maybe he’s just being extra nice to me because I’m new and he feels bad for me.
I sound like a damn high schooler. It’s only been three days. He’s probably just busy.
Swearing feels good. I’ve been swearing more in my head and I like how it feels.
I have an hour until my date with Matt, so I can’t waste any more time stressing over whatever the hell happened this week.
I ended up buying both dresses I tried on, but I’ll be wearing the black one tonight. Good thing too, because if I wear the blue one, all I’ll be able to think about all night is Wes’s fingers gently brushing against my skin as he undid the knot. How the mere closeness of him made my nipples hard enough to cut through glass. How if I hadn’t been wearing panties, I’m sure my thighs would have had arousal dripping down them.
Ah, shit. Now I’m turned on again.
I stand in front of the freezer to cool my heated skin because Matt will be here any minute.
The doorbell rings and when I answer it, Matt is standing there in tailored gray pants and with a white collared shirt and rust blazer. His eyes hungrily rake up and down my body. “Wow, Elli. You look absolutely gorgeous.”
I blush, “Thank you, Matt. You look pretty dapper yourself.”
Matt drives us into downtown Austin to a high rise building, where a valet takes his car from him-I’ve never seen a valet service like that in real life. He guides me to a nondescript door where he punches in a code, and it leads us to an elevator that takes us up to the top floor.
“What is this place?” I whisper.
Matt chuckles and wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into him so my back is to his front. “This is a very exclusive restaurant that overlooks the river and the rest of downtown Austin. It’s absolutely stunning. My godfather is friends with the chef.”
My family considers The Cheesecake Factory to be a fancy, special occasion restaurant, so I can’t evenimagine what I’m about to walk into. Does Matt just go to exclusive places for dinner on the regular? Is this a normal first date spot for the wealthy? What if I have to eat snails? There are so many questions I have, but all I can muster is, “But why?”
Before Matt can answer, the elevator doors open and we’re greeted by a tall blonde woman who has her hair pulled in a sleek chignon and is wearing a very nice black pantsuit. She gives us a soft smile, “Welcome, Mr. Bailey. Your usual table is ready.”
“Thank you Carla.” Matt says with a charming grin.
