“Oh yes, I tried to sneak details from Pacey, but he was close-lipped. Tell me, did you get him good?”
Eli chuckles, and as he sits back down—after one more thoughtful squeeze to my hand—I bring my bowl to the kitchen as Mom follows me. I stand at the sink, staring at my dad animatedly talking to Eli as Mom stands right next to me.
“Honey, I can see it all over your face. You like him.”
“I do,” I say quietly and then turn away. “But he doesn’t like me like that.”
“I beg to differ. There’s more than friendship between the two of you, and I think you need to figure out just exactly what that is.”
“Mom—”
“Penny, look at me.” I turn toward her, and she grips my chin. “There is something there. Despite what you might have said to each other, there is more, and you would be doing your baby a disservice if you don’t figure out what it is.” When tears start to well in my eyes, she softly says, “I’ve never seen someone look at you so intently, the way he looks at you. He speaks so honestly, so sincerely, about and to you. Reminds me of how Pacey looks at Winnie, if I’m honest. Give Eli a chance, give you a chance, and at least see if anything is there.”
I smooth my lips together and glance away.
“You won’t regret it.”
Just then, Dad and Eli erupt in laughter, and when I look over my shoulder at them, Eli has the largest grin on his face, a smile so wide that it stretches all the way to his eyes.
What would it be like if I gave us a chance? If I told him how I felt, how I’ve been feeling?
What’s the worst that could happen?
He could reject me. That’s the worst that could happen.
But what would happen if he said he felt the same way . . .
That’s the question that’s burning a hole in my twisted-up stomach.
What if he feels the same way . . .
* * *
Eli clicksthe door shut and locks up before turning to me. Cutely, he pulls on the back of his neck and says, “I think they like me.”
I chuckle and nod. “Oh yeah, they’re pretty much in love. I’d say it was a successful dinner on your end.”
“I think so too. And hey, thanks for doing the dishes, you didn’t have to do that. I planned on doing them after your parents left.”
“It was good for you and my dad to have some talking time together. I didn’t mind.”
“I appreciate it. I really like your dad. I mean, I’ve known him through Pacey, but I’ve felt that made us more mates, than anything. It didn’t give us a father and son relationship. This might be stupid to say, but he kind of encompasses what I think a dad should be—tough but loving. And the way he called me son . . .” He smiles softly. “Hell, it felt good, Penny. It felt really good. Thank you for tonight.”
I never thought what it might be like for him, someone who doesn’t have parents or siblings, being included in a family dinner with a close-knit family. I didn’t notice when my dad called him son, but I guess that’s not something I’d generally take note of. But I can genuinely sense his appreciation, the way he feels accepted within my family, and it reminds me to thank my parents later for treating him like one of our own.
“No need to thank me, I should be thanking you.”
“For what?” he asks, stepping closer and taking my hand in his. The subtle move makes my pitter-pattery heart skip a beat. Maybe Mom was right. Maybe there is something more between Eli and me. Maybe he does look at me a certain way and has just been hiding his feelings in the hope of keeping the peace between us.
And now that he takes another step closer, all I can think about is . . . should I attempt to see if she was right?
“I’m saying thank you for being so open and honest with my parents. I know they needed the reassurance that everything is going to be okay.”
“And do you believe everything will be okay?” he asks as his fingers gently brush a strand of hair behind my ear.
I wet my lips, and his eyes follow the movement as I slowly place my hand on his chest. I’m not sure what’s pulling us together, I’m not even sure if I’m dreaming this up, this connection we have, but I’m letting myself fall into it.
Between the absolutely sexy vulnerability he showed tonight and how his smile lit up the night, the whirlwind of emotions is messing with my heart and mind.
