Page 48 of Effing Eli

I reeled her into my arms and held her tightly. “Breathe, baby. In and out. Just breathe.” Shit. She was trembling. I ran my fingers through her hair, hoping it relaxed her like it used to.

“The last time I saw everyone was Labor Day weekend when we were all in the Hamptons. Do you remember?”

Fuck yeah, I remembered. Autumn had kicked me out of the apartment the morning after we returned from the trip.

I rubbed her back. “Yes, Boo. I remember. But they aren’t upset with you. They are thrilled we’re back together.”

She lifted her face, her amber eyes searching.

“Don’t look at me like that. We’re back together. I told them we were because we are. Are you going to tell me different?” I held my breath waiting for her reply.

She shook her head. “No. We’re back together.”

“Yes, we are.” I hugged her again and kissed her neck. “They’re excited to see you. It’s going to be okay.”

“I believe you.”

Sweetest words ever.

I kissed Autumn there in the middle of the walk. She had nothing to worry about, but it was just like her to freak out. She was a sweet, caring woman. It had torn her up, knowing my family would be brokenhearted when our marriage ended. My family all loved Autumn. I just hoped they didn’t overwhelm her.

Who was I kidding? My cousins? They’d pounce and fight over her like she was the last slice of Aunt Mona’s famous Death by Chocolate cake.

17

Autumn

I STARED OUT the window from the Range Rover Eli’s aunt, Mona, had sent to the hotel, so we didn’t need to take a cab. She was a sweetheart, but Eli and I were used to hailing a taxi. But Eli had told me Mona wouldn’t allow it when the text came that our driver had arrived.

I grew up very differently from Eli in a middle-class home in Jersey. My parents worked in city jobs, my mother at the DMV and my father for the police department. “Civil service is good and respectable work,” they’d touted my whole life. I never thought any less, nor had my brother, Jeremy. My little family of four was close. I had a great childhood, but I wanted out of Jersey. I had wanted to work in the city… Manhattan. An office overlooking Central Park was my dream. I had worked my butt off and got accepted into Columbia.

Then I met Eli Morgan in the library. We were seated at separate tables, both with our heads in books. I couldn’t help but notice every girl who stopped to talk to him. He smiled most times, but I could see his frustration. They hadn’t seemed to care he was trying to study. I’d felt bad for him, but it wasn’t my problem, so I ignored him. Three hours later, my stomach grumbled. I tucked all my books into my backpack and made my way out, heading straight for the dining hall. I’d just sat down when this handsome, preppy guy with tousled, wavy brown hair dropped into the seat across from me with a wry grin and stunning blue eyes.

He’d said, “For over three hours, you ignored me. Why?”

I’d stared at him for a long second before I replied, “I was studying. What do you care?”

Eli had looked dumbstruck, then burst into laughter. I melted at the sight of him.

After that day, we studied together and hung out. We enrolled in the same classes and became inseparable and fell deeply in love.

When he took me home to meet his family for the first time, I had no idea what I was in store for. We’d rarely talked about our families. I knew he was an only child and had several cousins, and he knew I only had one brother. I hadn’t learned a thing about his parents but he knew mine were blue-collar workers.

I’d choked on my spit when the taxi stopped in front of the most regal townhome I’d seen. Even now, I was in awe.

“We’re here.” Eli took my hand and kissed it. “It’s going to be just fine, Boo. Trust me.”

He’d said those exact words to me a decade ago when I met his family, who happened to live on the prestigious Seventy-Third Street. Later, I’d discovered they were coined the Manhattan Morgans due to their clout and money. The boy I’d fallen in love with had grown up filthy rich with his aunt, uncle, and six cousins after he lost his parents in a tragic automobile accident. My life changed in many ways that day, mostly for the better.

Even though I loved his family and they loved me, I was nervous to see them. My heart raced and my hands were clammy.

The door opened and a hand reached out to help me out; it was security, of course. “Ma’am.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Eli scooted out behind me with the wine and flowers in tow. I’d probably drop one or the other or both; I was such a wreck. Eli managed to hold the bottle and bouquet in one arm, and with the other, he took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

I tugged on his hand, stopping him before we got to the door, but it opened before I could say anything.

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