Page 35 of Trussed In Hope
I could hear Elijah speaking, and I told her to show him the screen. She did, and he went from scowling to smiling at me.
“Know her?” He asked.
“She’s my best friend. She’s surprising me with a visit. I’m still running errands, so I’ll miss her. She’s friendly, I promise. If someone could give her a ride to the place she’s staying, I’d appreciate it.” I pleaded with him.
“I’ll have Callum take her. Don’t worry, we’ll get her squared away.” Elijah nodded to me before moving out of the frame.
“So, dinner?” She said while fanning her face.
“Yes,” I giggled.
“Bring Hardison, too.” She ended the call, and I squealed.
If there was something I wasn’t seeing when it came to Hardison and me, Tia would. Though I wasn’t sure there was anything to find. Even the distance was perfect. He was taking time for himself, and I appreciated that he was hard on himself because he didn’t like what he’d done. He was trying to protect us both, and I respected the effort, but he was also running. I was tired of the unnecessary space, and it was time for my king to return to me.
I talked Hardison into going out instead of spending the evening cooking. It resulted in more time with two people that I adored. That was what I wanted more than anything else.
Hardison witnessed me acting a fool as Tia, and I hugged each other like it’d been centuries since we’d seen each other. Then, he drove us to dinner, where he got to see how close wewere by the constant chatter and similar tastes. She turned to him and drilled him like a sergeant when we were all caught up.
He kept up, said all the right things, and even joked with her. The next thing I knew, the three of us were having a conversation filled with laughter and fun, as if getting together like this was something we did often.
Tia excused herself to the bathroom, and I went with her. When she came out of the stall, she washed her hands and cornered me.
“Emberlynn, I must say that not only does he look better in person, but I can tell that he cares about you. Are you ready for that?”
I nodded, positive about how I felt about him. “I am.”
“I can’t find anything wrong with him.”
“Well…” I went into the story about what happened between us.
Tia nodded in all the right places, and when I was done, I was sure she would change her mind about him.
“You’re only confirming what I thought. He’d rather hurt himself than hurt you. I still stand by what I said. Friend, I like him, too. You deserve to be happy. I think you should go for it. And by the way, good job on the makeup coverup.” She joked. “Promise that he’s not beating you?” She gave me her serious face, and I stood tall when I responded.
“He’s not, I promise.” I nodded, feeling the same way. “I think I should go for it as well.”
We returned to the table for dessert, but I couldn’t wait until Christmas morning. That was what I was eager for.
“What the fuck?” Hardison tried to jump out of his bed, but I held on to him.
I’d snuck into bed with him when I was sure he was asleep.
“Good morning, King.”
He relaxed into my arms for a moment, then turned on the lights on his side of the bed. He checked me over like a mother would her child after she expected harm to come their way.
“I’m fine, Hardison. I promise.” I leaned up and kissed his face and then his lips.
“We can’t chance this.” He motioned between us. “I thought I could end things, but I can’t. However, if we’re in different beds, I think it’ll work.”
I chuckled. “We’re not doing that. Hardison, that was an accident. You didn’t mean it, and I won’t punish either of us by keeping away from you. Do you remember what I wanted for Christmas?”
He nodded. “I do. I’m right here.”
“But I don’t want a tarnished version of you. One that you’ve decided was bad for me. The simple fact that you’re trying to protect me from you is beyond noble. Baby, I want you–scars and all. I love you.”
He moved back as if I’d struck him. Had I said too much?
