It’s a long sip of coffee for me this time. “Trying to hide me?”
“No. I just don’t want to remind people that they probably think I’m sleeping my way to the top.”
I reach across the tiny table and take hold of her hand, interlacing our fingers. “I respect that. But one day when you have my last name, you’ll have to let it go.”
Her lashes flutter. I wasn’t joking. I’ve fallen hard for this woman.
She clears her throat, removes her hand, and it’s the sign that she’ll move on from my words. “Uhm, I’ve heard from my apartment management.”
I pause mid-whiff of the strong vanilla undertone of my brewed coffee as I hold the mug near my nose. “Oh?”
“Everything will be dry and good as new in the new year,” she mentions casually.
Getting a read on Elodie right now is difficult. Is she telling me this as a matter of fact, or is she nudging me with a reminder that, officially, she and Lola don’t live with me?
“There’s no rush.” I pretend to be unaffected and take a sip of the half-decent coffee.
“Right. I know. Just thought I would update you.” She spoons the milk foam and looks away.
Is she trying to give me a prod into what she needs to hear? My mouth tugs from her cute nervousness.
“If I haven’t made my intentions clear, then let me repeat them.”
I scoot my chair forward, causing a screeching soundagainst the tile. We’re close enough that under the table, I’m able to hook my hand around her chair leg and yank her chair closer to me.
My hand stays in place, and I lean in, locking our eyes and ensuring our orbit is only ours. The room around us is somewhere in the distance.
“I’m crazy about you, Elodie. I love you. If you don’t fucking cancel that lease, then I sure as hell will do it for you,”I tell her in a low voice with grit and firmness present.
Her beautiful glossed lips part open, and I’ve come to learn it often happens when I’m direct with her in very close proximity.
“Understand?” I run my hand along her thigh before I return to sitting normally. Picking up my mug, I take a sip as casually as possible while she remains quiet, probably contemplating. “Mmm, decent coffee,” I comment.
She snickers as she leans back. “Your way or no way, right?” She sounds amused, which is a small relief, because defensive is the last thing I was going for.
“I’m older and wiser, Elodie,” I humorously remind her.
She tears a piece of muffin away for a small bite. “I’d be careful labeling yourself older because that gives me full ammo to completely push your buttons one day in a few years from now when you might actually begin to look like a Greek god who no longer has the effects of age-defying water.”
That’s when I point out the obvious. “A few years? We should talk about that long-term timeline you just mentioned.”
Is she blushing? Because her cheeks tighten and she’s biting back her smile. “We’re stuck with one another. We have Lola.” She’s being coy with me.
“No other reason?” I play along.
She shrugs a shoulder. “I mean, there is this old guy that I kind of like a lot. We’re new.”
Now, I grin and tickle her leg under the table, which causes her to break into laughter.
The people at the table next to us glance over, and I guess to everyone we’re two people in love, enjoying life.
That’s partly true.
I’m just searching for something even more certain.
Every chanceI get in the morning, I find myself in this euphoria. Today, Elodie’s hips are curved into my hands again as she braces herself on all fours, hair wild, and her body jiggles on every thrust. It’s a nice view when I take her from behind. She isn’t shy, audible enough. I love the way she lets out little gasps when I fuck her harder.
She throws me a look over her shoulder, and it’s mischievous.
