“And you … always you,” I mumble against his chest, not even sure if he understands me.
His heartbeat increases beneath my ear, speaking in the silence.
“I missed you, Sweet Cheeks.” His arms grow ten times stronger around my waist, almost like he’s afraid I’m a dream. “I never want to live another ten years without you.”
“If you try to leave me again, I’ll kidnap you.”
He fake shivers. “Your feisty side gives me anxiety.”
“You should see me hangry.”
He sits up straighter, taking me with him. “Now that you say that, is sour candy still your favorite candy? I remember you used to carry around a pack wherever you went.”
A couple of months ago, I thought he’d forgotten my existence. I forgot I used to carry around sour candy with meeverywhere. How does he remember every little detail about me?
“It’s more of an addiction, not a like, but yes.”
He flexes one leg up and starts digging through his jeans pocket. “Good, because I have a surprise for you.”
I sit up to see his face fully, and he looks so proud when he holds a pack of sour candy out to me in his palm. “The arena had them out for us during sound check, and I thought of you.”
Sorry, world. Soon, he’s going to disappear because I’m never ever going to get off his lap.
“Why do you look so sad? It’s just a bag of candy.” He laughs, flicking the tip of my nose with his finger.
“It’s not just a bag of candy,” I argue, getting up close to his face, and his eyes almost go cross-eyed. “It’s making me feel seen and present and showing that you listen and care.” Grabbing the pack of candy from his hand, I rip it open with my teeth before I start munching on them.
Like a shark, he takes one from my fingertips with his teeth. “Anything new in Lily Papas’s world?”
How could I forget the news that would have made me cry just a few months ago?
“I got a job!” I exclaim, and his face flinches from my sudden excitement. “That was the reason I was dancing by myself.”
“I’m confused.” His frowned lips shoot straight to my heart; he looks over my shoulder to where Stella peacefully colors. “You already have a job, and it’s right here, with me.”
Oh …
“The job starts next school year, when the tour will be done,” I clarify, cupping his face. “The last interview that I went to before you offered me a job went well. The only problem was the fact that there weren’t any open positions for me.”
He relaxes slightly at my words, the tension straining his bones loosening.
“The principal sent me an email and offered me a job since a teacher is going on maternity leave, so I took it.”
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Lulu.” An ocean full of emotion clouds his eyes. “I knew you could do it.”
“Maybe it’s just the Elijah effect,” I joke, trying to get him to smile.
One corner of his lips turns up. “It’s strength.”
FORTY
ELIJAH
“Times Three, Times Three, Times Three!”
My brother and sister soak in the chants. Usually, I would have to hold back a wince, but keeping my earpiece in helps it not get so loud.
But today, I’m standing here in invisible agony. Are they normally this loud? It sounds like each individual in this arena of fifty thousand fans is holding a megaphone to their mouth and screaming in it.
