Elijah’s upper lip curled just enough for me to assume he may have agreed with me or he’d like what he heard. “You think so?” he asked softly as his fingertip glided over my bottom lip.

Oh God! What was he doing to me? He was making my pulse race, making me lose my mind. I had forgotten what we were talking about.

“Yes,” I whimpered, seeing his lips reaching for mine. Closer…closer…almost touching…and why was I not stopping this?

Next thing I knew, something wet slapped my face, then other parts of my body. We stood there dumbfound, looking at each other in shock and getting wetter by the second.

“We’re getting wet!”I yelled.

“What the hell? Don’t they water the grass during the daytime? Run,” Elijah shouted. Seizing my hand, we ran across the lawn as he led the way.

By the time we got to our place, we were soaking wet. We were laughing and enjoying this unexpected moment. It looked like we took a shower with our clothes on. Wrapping my arms around myself, I shivered like crazy. Elijah cuddled me into him, warming me up with one hand while the other reached inside his pocket for the keys.

I didn’t feel guilty that I was enjoying being in his arms. He was just being sweet, the way a friend would be. He touched my heart with his pain tonight, and somehow my pain was pushed aside. I wanted to comfort him as he had done so many times for me.

“I’ll make some hot chocolate,” he said as we entered our place.

“With cookies?” I asked excitedly.

Elijah chuckled, heading to his room. “Whatever you want, Babe.”

I don’t think he even realized he’d called me, Babe. I’m sure it was a slip of the tongue, but it made me feel uneasy and exhilarated at the same time.

Chapter 21

Elijah

Whiteboard:

Rent is due soon

-E

If those sprinklers hadn’t turned on, I would’ve kissed her. I don’t know what I was thinking when my lips headed toward hers. I brushed it off, thinking it was partially due to the alcohol, but I didn’t drink that much. I never really did. So I blamed it on my high from winning the race.

Entering our condo, I turned on the heater and told Alex to take a shower first. After I took mine, I made some hot chocolate and put some cookies on a plate for her.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to dip that cookie in there,” I grimaced.

“Why not? It tastes delicious,” Alex replied, carefully maneuvering her cookie with the tips of her fingers, so she wouldn’t drop it. “It’s the same concept, only it’s warmer and it melts faster.” She opened her mouth, letting a piece fall in. With one swipe of her tongue, she licked the crumbs from her bottom lip. I had to take a deep breath. That was way too much after seeing her drenched in the rain and what almost happened. Not to mention, remembering that episode when I ate the cookie from her hand to stop myself from kissing her.

“Don’t you need to go back to the party?” Alex asked, taking another bite. She made eating a cookie look so tempting. It seemed like I was missing out. Maybe I should take a bite.

“Do you want to come with me? Lexy and Seth are there.” I ran my finger around the rim, gazing inside the mug.

“No. I’m kind of tired.”

“I’m kinda tired, too. Drinking hot chocolate does that to me.” I was going to head back to the party after I dropped her off, but I couldn’t leave her here alone, especially after Liam left her.

“Elijah, can I ask you a question and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” she asked timidly, wringing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“Sure.”

“Why did you get that dragon tattoo? I think it’s beautiful.”

I stared at my drink for a second, and then looked up. “My brother loved dragons. I got that tattoo so I could show him that I’d always have him with me, forever printed on me.” I swallowed back my tears and blinked several times before I continued. “He fell asleep smiling with his hand on the tattoo and never woke up.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “That’s beautiful, Elijah. I wish I could’ve done something like that for my dad.”

“It’s never too late.”

“I guess, but I’m also a big chicken.”

“I’ve noticed.” I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

“Hey, I can’t help it.”

“Next time you’re scared, don’t knock and ask me if I’m sleeping. You can just walk in. However, I might be naked in bed. You’ve been warned.”

“Elijah,” she squealed, turning red. “Make sure you close the door if you are, and if not, just leave the door open. That will be your sign,” she snorted, then turned away as if she had said something she shouldn’t have said.

Though the thought of her coming to my bed was thrilling, I knew it would never happen again.

“Before I forget, Seth’s fraternity is hosting a Halloween party. Want to come? Lexy will be there. I’m sure she’ll mention it to you.”

“Oh yeah, she did. She’s going to take me costume shopping after work sometime this week. Do you have a costume?”

I raised my brows. “Do I have a costume? I go as myself.”

“You’re no fun.” Alex scowled at me.

“Are you going to invite Liam?”

Alex eyes shifted to the television. “I don’t think he’ll come. He’s too involved with his friends. He’ll probably want me to go to his, but I don’t want to hang out with his snobby, rich friends. And besides, we got into another fight, so I don’t know what’s going on.”