Elijah nods his head. “Starved,” he answers, breathing out deeply.
“Alright. Let’s go get you fed,” I say, tapping him on the butt.
***
Elijah knows the way to my heart. A large pepperoni pizza at a cozy, low-lit diner off-campus that he apparentlyswears by,was exactly what I needed to get my mind off that unexpected call from my father.
The damn bastard. He’s been so quiet lately that I was almost thinking he was out of my hair for good.
I should’ve known better.
“Don’t forget your hat.” Elijah pouts, grabbing it from his dorm dresser before we slip out of his room.
I shake my head. “Nah, you keep it until you get back.”
Elijah gasps, looking down at it. “But this is your favorite one.”
He’s right. It is. But, knowing he has it makes me feel good. “Exactly. Which is why I want you to wear it. Give it back when I see you next.”
Elijah flashes me a wide grin before slipping the hat on backwards. He shows it off like he’s modeling it for me and damn, it looks so sexy on him that I have to look away.
“Damn. Maybe that should be your hat.” I laugh, shaking my head.
We walk hand in hand down to the parking lot of his building.
My stomach twists just thinking about having to separate from him again. I hate it.
This feeling is…empty and gross and it makes me feel wrong all over.
We arrive at my truck. I throw my bags in the backseat and lean on the driver’s side door. “So, I guess I’ll see you at Claire’s Halloween party?” I ask, pulling Elijah into my waist.
He buries his fingers in my hair as he looks down at my lips. “Yeah, I guess so.” He laughs, shaking his head. “And tonight over the phone. And the day after that, and the day after that.”
I swallow deeply. He makes it sound so easy. “Yeah, I know.”
His smile fades as he looks down at my necklace under my grey sweater. Pulling it out, he thumbs the ring he gave me, looking at it with such longing in his eyes.
“I can’t wait until winter break.”
I suck in a breath, closing my eyes and leaning my head back on the door. “Mmm, yeah. Me either.”
He pulls me in by my neck, and presses his lips against mine. We take a long moment making out, before Elijah backs away.
“Okay, if you don’t leave—” He laughs, wiping his bottom lip off withhis thumb.
“I know, I know. You’ll never let me go.” I pant, pressing my forehead against his.A low bitter sound climbs in my chest before I lunge for him again, wrapping my arms around him and holding him close.
“And I mean it. Every time.” He nips at my lip.
It takes all the will power that I have in my body to slide into my truck and close the door.
Elijah’s eyes glisten in the dark as he steps back. I’m leaving far later than I was supposed to, and at this rate, I won’t return back home until midnight.
But it’s worth it.
It’s always worth it for him.
I roll down my window as I start up the ignition.
