I know he said he isn’t fully convinced that we are reincarnated lovers, and I can still sense a bit of hesitation as if it’s wrapped around him like a security blanket, but there is one thing that I know for certain: Elijah and I aretogetherin one way or another.
He has fallen for me, and we are moving rapidly toward a life together that is full of light and laughter and is so incredibly long.
Bennett stops by again, gently taking Elijah’s order and demanding to know mine. Then he drifts away again, leaving behind a glare and a huff of disapproval.
“So,” I say, breaking our newfound silence as we wait for our food. “Now that we’re basically together, I guess it’s about that time.”
“Aboutwhattime?” Elijah questions, and I can’t help but smirk at his semi-worried stare.
“About time for you to meet my family.”
“I’m sorry—what?!”
Ah, he’s so cute.
Elijah is completely flushed now, his hazel eyes wide and terrified as he gapes at me. And as much as I find his outburst to be amusing, I also find it to be a little rude, all things considered.
“I was under the impression that you understood me, angel,” I say, and I don’t bother to mask my disappointment.
“What does that even mean?” he demands, and I shake my head softly.
“It’s just that I have every intention of marrying you someday, so I figure you might as well go ahead and meet my family. I figured this wouldn’t be such a shock to you.” Before he can speak, I add, “Oh, and I’d like to meet yours as well.”
“Okay, slow down, cowboy,” Elijah interjects, raising his hands almost as if in defense. “I was being serious when I said I wanted to try this out, butmeeting each other’s families?Doesn’t that feel like a bit much straight out of the gate?”
“No,” I deadpan, my expression stern and unrelenting. “I’ve been waiting for you my entire life, Elijah. Nothing about this is rushed for me.”
“Well, it kind of is for me,” he says nervously. “I mean, I don’t have these quote-unquote memories you speak of, so I’m really going off of feelings and blind faith. And we both know I’m not the best with either of those things.”
“Sure, I get that.” Elijah seems to relax slightly at my placating tone, but I continue to speak. “So that’s a no?”
“Yes, it’s a no!” he all but yells. I can read from his expression that he’s extremely embarrassed—as if the prospect of introducing each other to our families is like looking them in the eyes and screaming,we’re having sex!
“Hmph.” I cross my arms, leaning back in my booth.
Elijah’s serious facade cracks, and he grins in amusement at my public display of discontentment.
“Let me adjust, okay? Give me just a little bit of time. As soon as I’m a bit more sure of everything between us, then I’ll be more than happy to mingle with our families.”
I concede with a sigh, mostly content to take what I can get.“Okay, okay. But you’ll be making this up to me—I’m very disappointed.”
An evil little grin curves at the corner of Elijah’s mouth, and he leans forward as he wiggles his eyebrows.“And how would you like me to do that?”
I meet him in the middle of the table, my fingers tracing the inside of his wrist softly. He shivers at this touch, and I smile.
“I can think ofso manyways to make myself feel better, all of them involving you. And your body, of course,” I tease.
“Rowan, youdog.”
“Woof, woof, baby.”
“I want to just—”Elijah starts.
“Your food.” Bennett drops my breakfast sampler onto the table with more force than is necessary, and Elijah flushes even further at having been caught red-handed in such an intimate conversation.
I think we both forgot where we were for a moment.
As Bennett places Elijah’s pancakes on the table, Elijah gives him a half-smile and says, “Thank you.”
