Page 26 of Unconditionally With Me
“It wasn’t you. None of my holding back was.”
“Elle, I don’t know how you can say…”
“Because it’s true. If it wasn’t for Rachel’s death, her letter, the shock of everything hitting me all at once, I’m not sure I would have ever had the courage to have taken the steps necessary to be here. With you. Doing this.”
“And what are we doing?” His fingers tightened even more.
“Becoming so much a part of one another that you’ll always remember I brush my teeth before coffee. That I don’t care if I fall asleep with makeup on. That your shirt is my favorite thing to sleep in because even if you roll away in the middle of the night, I’m still wrapped in you.”
“Elle.” His voice was choked.
“We’re taking the next step of us,” I declared resolutely.
He opened his mouth to say more but instead lifted his cup of tea. “Then, to us.”
I tapped my delicate china against his before sipping.
Now, we’re back in the room before we go out to another restaurant Julian has the inside track on. I’ve just slipped out of a long, relaxing shower and poked my head out to ask him what tonight’s dress code is only to find him curled up in the middle of our bed asleep.
My heart melts. “Is this what happens to you when I’m not around?” I whisper.
He doesn’t answer.
I carefully begin to unlace his walking boots before tugging them off his feet. I undo his belt and unbutton and unzip his jeans, leaving them loose around his lean hips. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, I pull up the covers and dim the lights before snatching up my cell phone and heading into the living room.
A quick check of the clock tells me it isn’t too late in New York, so I call Trina.
She picks up with a cacophony of sound in the background. I grin. “So, dinner’s over? How’s homework going?”
“Good God, I thought they were supposed to get easier to handle once they could cogitate, Elle. Now, they just argue about doingone simple worksheet!” she bellows.
I chuckle. “I sent you and Jonas a package. It should be there tomorrow.”
“Is it you? Because you’re a great gift.”
“It’s king crab,” I inform her.
“That’s an acceptable substitute, but Jonas can’t have any.”
“Why not? What did he do?” I demand.
“Apparently he’s been giving Julian the name of all these great restaurants to woo you with. I don’t want you wooed. I want you home.” She sounds as petulant as her own children at that moment.
“That’s actually why I’m calling,” I admit.
“No. You are not getting the names of another restaurant. Find them your damn self.”
I hear Chris in the background. “Mama, don’t use bad words!”
Trina growls. At whom, I’m not entirely certain. Before she can completely lose her mind, I interject, “I’m looking for the name of the place we were supposed to go to tonight. Julian is passed out on the bed asleep, so I’m going to cancel the reservation.”
“But he was going to…” And before she can say anything, Trina stops her words.
“He was going to what?” I question.
“Nothing. You said he’s asleep?”
“T, I was in the shower forever, and he didn’t stir. I’ve been out here on the phone, and he hasn’t moved. The man isn’t budging. I figured I’d just order up some of his favorite foods from room service, have a quiet night in. There hasn’t been many times in our relationship where we’ve done nothing but just be with one another. It doesn’t always have to be go, go, go.” As an aside, I mutter, “After all, I fell in love with every part of him.”
