“I lose my job,” he simply states.
“Are you putting that on me?” I ask.
He shakes his head slowly, then pushes off my car, takes his hands out of his pockets, and closes the short distance between us. I feel his hands on my face, cupping my cheeks. I hate to close my eyes just for a moment to let it sink in because it’s probably going to be the last time.
Then his forehead touches mine, and I whimper softly. “Nothing is on you, sunshine. But I was afraid you wouldn’t answer your phone. And honestly, something this big needs to be discussed in person. But nothing happened. Nothing could ever happen, not when I have you.”
Tears escape my closed eyes, sliding down my cheeks at his words. He lifts his head, and I force myself to open my eyes and look up at him. He slides his thumbs along my cheekbones. His gaze searches mine.
“It’s only you, Wrenly. You and Ryan are my world.”
“I don’t know if I can handle this.”
Saying those words makes me feel weak, but I know from talking to Clara that the girls are not going to go away. I also know that the Maddison girl likely did that just to be a bitch. And if I were in my right mind when it came in on my phone, I would have realized it then, but jealously and insecurity are real. I couldn’t think straight. I’m not sure I can even now.
Eli shifts his face forward, and his lips touch mine before he speaks. “You can handle this because I’m not going to do anything, not a damn thing, to jeopardize us.”
TWENTY-SIX
ELI
I’m notsure how she’s going to react to any of this, but I couldn’t just not see her. I had to talk to her in person. I have to make sure that no matter what her choice is, she knows exactly how I feel about her, that she knows the truth.
It’s a stupid fucking situation, and I should have never agreed to the pictures with those girls, even if they were harmless.
I still shouldn’t have done it out of respect for Wrenly and Ryan. I should have said no thanks and walked away. But I didn’t. I posed for the picture, and I put myself in a situation that hurt Wrenly.
So I tell her that, all of it. And hope like fuck that she accepts my apology, my admittance of a mistake and that we can move forward—together.
Admittedly, I know absolutely nothing about relationships, especially because I’ve never been in one before, so I’m trying to be open and honest. Still, I feel like a pussy at the same time.
Wrenly’s lips curve up into a slight smile, so small that if I weren’t this close to her, I probably wouldn’t even see it. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I worry it back and forth a few times before I let out a grunt. I want her.
I want her so badly right now, but I’m also afraid to make any kind of move that would scare her off. So, instead of saying anything, I wait for her. I don’t want to be accused of talking her into anything, but at the same time, I want to make it clear that she’s the one I want.
“Wrenly,” I finally say.
She sucks in a breath and holds it for a moment before she lets it out slowly. My hands ache to pull her closer. My heart races. My body hurts. I am in physical pain. I need this woman like I need to breathe.
“Let me prove to you that I can protect you, protect us,” I rasp.
Wrenly’s eyes search mine. I don’t know what she’s looking for, but whatever it is, it’s hers. Whatever I have that she wants or needs, it’s hers. Whatever. Just whatever. It’s all hers. Every single thing she could imagine, I will do my best to give it to her, be it for her.
Because she’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted in my life.
She’s the mother to my son, but she’s more than that. She’s motivated, she’s sexy, she’s kind, and she fits me. I want this to work between us more than anything I’ve ever wanted aside from hockey.
“I’m scared,” she says, confessing something that I already know.
Doesn’t she realize that I’m scared, too? Shitless.
Bending slightly, I shift my face closer to hers, dipping my chin before I press my lips against hers, and then I make my own confession. “I’m scared, too, sunshine. Scared to fucking death. Whatever you need from me, any way you need it, it’s yours.”
My words come out as a whisper, even though I wish I could yell them. I want everyone to know just how much she means to me. Which is everything. She means everything. I don’t want to move my mouth from hers.
I want to pull her close, to consume her, to show her just how badly I want this, but we are standing in front of her place of work, so as much as I don’t want to, I lift my head and look into her eyes.
“Nothing happened, Wrenly.”
