I think I actually hated it.
“I’m going to give you a little insider info, I really do think you would be a good match for her and I want my little sister to be happy.” The insinuation that Mabel thought I could make Elle happy had me puffing my chest.
Mabel spent the rest of our time telling me about Elle’s favorite tv shows, the kind of music she liked, her favorite foods. I wish I would have brought a pad of paper and pen. “One last thing. Elle hates going into the caves. She does okay through most of it but there’s a part where we are shown true darkness and it gives her wicked anxiety.” I open my mouth to ask why she would go through it if it made her so uncomfortable but Mabel doesn’t let me get the words out.
“Our parents got engaged in the cave. She is usually okay to make it through when Henry is with us. He’s scared of the dark like any two year old would be. Elle can be brave for him but he’s obviously not here, so she doesn’t have anyone to be brave for. She’ll try to grimace and bear it, she doesn’t think we know how she feels but I know and now you do too. Don’t make me regret telling you.”
I have no words so I just offer a quick nod.
We’ve reached the top of the mountain and the rest of our group is gathered at the entrance of the cave. It’s painfully obvious how uncomfortable Elle is.
I want to go to her and wrap her in my arms, tell her we can skip the tour and start our hike down.
Whatever she needs, she just needs to tell me and I will make it happen.
I don’t do that, though.
I’ve known Elle for less than a week and for all intents and purposes she dislikes me, all I’ve done is intrude on her workspace and break her glasses.
I’m a nuisance to her. Nothing more.
I could be so much more for her.
I want to be so much for her.
The revelation nearly takes me to my knees. I must have altitude sickness or something. I shake my head to clear the thoughts. I’ll keep my eye on her while we make our way through the caves but I hadn’t earned the right to do anything more, no matter how badly I was realizing I wanted it to be that way.
Chapter Nineteen
ELLE
Iwas going to draw blood from how fucking hard I was biting my lip but I had no fucks to give.
I couldn’t even focus on that as the cave tour guide gave their spiel about how it was true darkness we were about to experience. My heart’s pounding and I can’t stop the small gasp that escapes me as I try to prepare for the lights to go out. Something warm grips my hips just as the lights are turned off.
“You’re okay. Breathe with me.”
Intruder.
The warmth from his chest as he pressed his front to my back slowed my heart almost instantly. I could feel his chest rising and falling alongside his inhales against my back and his breath tickled the hairs that had come loose from my claw clip.
“Just a few more seconds, sweetheart. You’re doing so good.”
I feel his fingers flexing on my hips before one hand slowly sliding forward to wrap around my stomach. My soft stomach.
“Shhh, I’m here I got you.”
I was having an out of body experience, I feel myself lean into him, resting my head against his cheek, it felt like time has stopped until he whispers in my ear again.
“I’m going to let you go now. You did so good, sweetheart.”
A feather of something I don’t want to identify brushed my neck, leaving a small circle of moisture, and I stopped breathing. The lights are back on and Patrick is gone but there’s a burning in my stomach I haven’t experienced in a long time, I almost whimpered at the loss of contact with him.
I almost fucking whimpered.
As my eyes adjust back to having light, I whip my head around and find that my Intruder is nowhere near me. Just like he had been all day, he was close to Mabel and they were chatting like old friends. I couldn’t keep the scowl off my face if I tried. I didn’t want to think too hard about why those two together made me see red.
Instead, I stomp to the front of our little group and pretend to be listening to our guide.
