I say nothing. A hot, angry burn is spreading throughout my entire body, and I don’t trust a single word that wants to escape from my throat. Instead, I shampoo my own hair and focus on that task.
Elijah laughs. “Rowan! Stop being like this. It was just a bunny.”
“How did he win it?” I question him.
I can’t see him with how my eyes are closed, but I know for sure that this little asshole is grinning.
“A test of strength.”
“As soon as I can see again, I’m spanking your ass,” I threaten, and Elijah squeals as he jumps out of the shower.
“Noo! I didn’t do anything wrong!”
I focus on rinsing my hair, and by the time I’m done and climbing out after him, I find he hasn’t gone far. Leaning against the sink with a towel around his waist, Elijah is smiling at me.
“Come here,” I tell him, and he giggles some more.
“Rowan, no! Pancakes! I demand it!”
I have him snatched around the waist a second later, landing a soft smack onto his clothed ass as he laughs hysterically.
“Fine,” I concede, pulling him against my chest. “But if he stares at you for too long, I’ll go into a greatly detailed explanation of how it feels to have my dick shoved down your—”
“Okay! I get it!”
We take my truck into town since Elijah left his car at his apartment. Tabitha’s Place is decently busy for a Saturdaymorning, and we take a seat at the booth by the window that Elijah loves so much.
He basically vibrates in excitement at the thought of his pancakes, and it takes away some of the nerves I have from being here.
Since meeting Elijah, I have been in town more than I have been in my entire adult life. I can’t help but wonder what the locals think. The stares are still frequent, but no one directly says anything.
In some ways, I guess he acts as a barrier. Or maybe Elijah is my new impenetrable shield, the one that now serves as my protector from the world that surrounds me.
“Oh shit.” Gone is the boy who radiates sunshine in the shadow of oncoming breakfast delights, and in his place is slight anxiety and darting eyes.
I am absolutely positive that I know what he sees; I have no reason to look.
Instead, I lean my cheek into my palm, my elbow propped on the table between us, and give him a lazy smile.
“Just ignore him. If he takes our order, pretend you don’t notice the tension,” I instruct.
Elijah nods briefly at my statement and doesn’t turn away from my eyes as Bennett approaches our booth.
“Elijah, there you are! Are you okay? You ran off from our date yesterday and I was worried about you. I really should get your number, that way next time I can just call,” he rambles.
Next time?!Does this jackass not see that we are literally on a date right now?
“Bennett,” Elijah begins before I can speak. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m alright. I’m just deathly terrified of heights, so that tower ride was a very bad idea for me. No worries, though. I’m fine now. Could I get a sweet tea?”
“You are? Why didn’t you say so? I never would have dragged you on that ride!” Bennett exclaims, and it seems he still has yet to notice I’m here.
Or, rather, he refuses toacknowledgethat I’m here.
“I tried to say so. I said several times that I didn’t want to ride that ride. I even asked the guy to let me off, and you wouldn’t let him,” Elijah states matter-of-factly.
“What?!” I all but shout, turning my newly formed glare onto Bennett, whose eyes are still locked onto Elijah.
“I just thought you were nervous. I’m so sorry, Eli. I promise that will never happen again.” He pauses for a moment, and then a small, cheeky smile forms over his pink lips. “I hope Felix was able to comfort you while you recovered.”
