Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Hadley

“I met your man friend earlier.”

Dread and jealousy churned in my stomach with Olivia’s words as I got into her car. I didn’t know where it came from, but the only man friend I had was Elijah. My older sister was gorgeous. I wondered if Olivia was his type. I bet she was. I wondered if he’d ask her out? These thoughts, coming out of nowhere, irritated me. Olivia was my rock, and she’d never intentionally hurt me, but if those two got together, I’d have to move away and never speak to either of them again.

“Elijah?” I murmured. “Did he flirt or something…?” I couldn’t believe I said that.

“He asked if you needed him to pick you up, but Aunt Olivia told him she’d do it,” Lucy said while Olivia grinned, oddly amused.

I had asked him on my birthday if he’d leave the car seats with me so we could use them while Olivia was in town. That was three days ago, and I hadn’t spoken to him in person since then. He’d texted me asking about Lucy, Eli, and me. It was like Elijah was checking up on us.

“You really like Elijah, don’t you, my Lucy?” Olivia asked as she pulled out of the hospital parking lot.

“Yeah. He’s my best friend.”

My heart stuttered. He’s my best friend.

And that was all it took to amplify my own feelings for Elijah Parker. A yearning took hold of me every time he left. I missed Elijah when he wasn’t around. Just once, I’d like to be the person brave enough to ask him to stay. Just once, I’d like to accept his help without questioning it.

“What about you, Hadley?”

“Huh?” I was in a daze.

“What do you think of him?”

“I think he’s too good to be true.”

Olivia smiled. “That means he’s your mommy’s best friend too, Lucy!”

“He likes us,” Lucy agreed.

______

“Hmmm,” Olivia muttered with Eli asleep on her chest. It was after eight o’clock. Olivia watched the same movies Lucy made Elijah watched. Then, I gave the kids a bath.

“What?” I asked her.

“You haven’t been telling me everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“About Elijah. You’re totally hot for him.”

“Shh!” I hissed, eyes staring toward Lucy’s room. “Will you be quiet? You know Lucy repeats everything she hears and not by accident. My kid’s a menace.”

She chuckled. “But seriously, sis, what are you doing? He’s into you big time. How can you not tell? You’ve got him at your beck and call. You should have seen his face when Lucy ran to him while cutting his grass. I heard it when he asked about you.” Olivia sighed and her gaze flickered toward the ceiling. “He’s completely smitten with you guys.”

I tried to see it through my sister’s eyes. The way Elijah helped us and just came over to be around. It was strange. If he wasn’t interested in us why would he do those things? It definitely wasn’t just about friendship, no matter what Elijah claimed. But still…

“You’ve seen Elijah. Why would he possibly want me? I know I’m not the worst thing to look at, but I’m not the prettiest either. And I’m a mom.”

“Oh my God. You kill me. If you’re ugly, then I’m ugly since everyone thinks we’re twins. We’re not hideous.” She huffed, pointing at my chest. “Not only are you gorgeous, but pregnancy also has given you a bangin’ body. See those bazookas and those hips? He’s probably salivating every time he’s near you and afraid of scaring the skirmish single mom. Admit it. I bet he looks at you, and I don’t mean glimpses, but full-on stares.”

My face heated. “His staring is intense, but I’ve gotten used to it.” Not really. I simply looked away, so I didn’t feel things.

“Okay, that’s it.” Sitting up with Eli still sleeping on her chest, she grabbed my phone off the coffee table and tossed it at me. “This has to stop.”

“What?”

“Hadley, you’re bursting out of your seams. You’re not only beautiful, but you’re a capable woman and a fantastic mom. Who wouldn’t want to be with you? Call him and ask him to take you somewhere. Go to his house or something. Anything.”

My eyes widened and glanced at the phone like it would give me the plague. “Are you crazy? It’s almost nine. What would I ask him to do?”

“You said he’s been over and watched a movie this late so what’s wrong with going to his house right next door or letting him take you out?”

I frowned, feeling scared and a little excited about the possibility. “I don’t know. We’re friends. I don’t want to ruin that.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Well, go be friends with him. I’ll be here with Lucy and Eli. And if you stay out all night, it’s not like you can’t come home first thing in the morning since he’s right next door.” She winked. “Stop thinking. I can see it in your eyes that you really want to do it. For one second, be a woman and admit what you want. Don’t you want to see how he is with you alone? He’s good with Lucy. Why not find out how good he can be to you? It’s not a crime to do that. You’re still the most amazing mom even if you take a moment for yourself. You’re so wound up over what a parent should and shouldn’t do. I know it’s because of Scott and his mean-ass family. They make you feel inadequate, and you’re scared of them using Elijah against you. Am I right?”

Panic seized my chest, and I couldn’t breathe. I recalled my phone conversation with Lilly the other day.

Scott told me you have a man around Lucy. Do you know how dangerous men are these days? Heard he was a drug addict with tattoos.

I won’t sit back and let my grandbabies be around someone like that.

Scott’s mom’s idle threats always had a way of terrifying me. Lucy and Eli were mine. But even before Scott and I split up, his mother always had her own input when it came to parenting. It was stressful and only got worse when I made it clear that Scott and I were not getting back together. She kept hinting that she’d take the kids from me. I didn’t think she could, but it scared and enraged me. How did she think she had the right?

Olivia’s words were one hundred percent true. Scott told his mom about Elijah and they both had opinions. I hadn’t spoken to Scott’s mom since. When she wouldn’t shut up, I  hung up on her. I only answered Scott through text messages. Things were already a mess with those two. Elijah would be an issue Scott and his family would throw in my face, regardless. Scott had wanted them that weekend, but I denied him. I wanted the kids there for Olivia plus the awful way he acted last time we’d seen him was enough for me to stand my ground.

“They’ll cause problems,” I finally muttered.

She nodded. “They will. It’s all they know how to do.”

Stopping myself from crying, I agreed. My voice, just like the truth, was sad. Ever since Scott had saw Elijah, it’s been awful.

“So, how about you do what you want, anyway? Your kids will be with you, regardless.”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I’m sure he’s busy, anyway.” I unlocked my phone and thought of what I should say to him. Suddenly I remembered.

Hadley: Are you busy?

He responded immediately.

Elijah: Notfor you. Everything okay?

The tension in my shoulders eased. What came next felt natural.

Hadley: Is it too late for that tattoo? I don’t know when I’ll have a chance like this. My sister offered to stay here with Lucy and Eli.

Elijah: I’ll be there in thirty.

When he disconnected, I slowly lowered the phone. My face was strangely heated. “He said he’d be here in thirty minutes.”

“That was fast,” Olivia chuckled.

I jumped off the couch. “I need to shave. I’m not sure where I want a tattoo.”

She gasped. “You’re getting a tattoo tonight? You rebel.” As I rushed to my bedroom, Olivia yelled, “Do you have any milk pumped for Eli? I don’t want to leave the little guy missing his mom’s tit.”

“Yeah. In the fridge and freezer.”

Thinking of Eli’s needs, I remembered Lucy. I stopped searching for something to wear and stepped into her room. She was playing with her dolls. “Lucy?”

“Huh?” She looked up at me.

How should I tell her? I didn’t want to just walk out without saying I was leaving. She would hate that, but if I said I was going somewhere with Elijah, I knew she’d want to go. “Mommy’s going out with Elijah. He’s taking me to get a tattoo.”

“Like his?” she asked and stood. “Can I go?”

Having kids made it hard to do things for myself. Lucy always wanted to be included in whatever I did.

“How about you and I order some pizza before they stop delivering? Mommy and Elijah can show us her tattoo when she gets home.” Olivia said from the doorway.

“Can I get one?” Lucy asked.

“If you still want one when you’re older, you can.”

“I don’t think the demons will be cool on you like they are on Elijah,” Lucy said.

I laughed. “Yeah, I want something prettier.”

“Hurry back, okay?” she whispered sweetly.

I pinched her cheek. “I will.”

“Elijah, too.”

“Elijah what?” I asked her, confused.

“Tell him to hurry, too. He’s been taking too long to come visit.”

Olivia and I shared an odd expression between us, then my sister smiled.

_____

“Is this okay?” I whispered as he unlocked the parlor door and flipped on the light switch. The fluorescent lights came on, illuminating my pale skin.

Glancing over his shoulder at me, he smirked. “Why are you whispering?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“I’m the owner, and I say it’s fine.” He tossed his keys on the countertop.

I rubbed my hands on my thighs. “I know tattooing is safe for breastfeeding since the ink doesn’t transfer into the milk, but that doesn’t change the risk of infections, diseases—”

“Okay, my cute, timid nurse.” He faced me, stepping closer. “I’m legit, baby. I take what I do seriously. Just because I brought you here tonight doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything any differently. You’ll sign a waiver as any other person would. I’ll get a copy of your I.D. and signature. You’ll sit and watch me open everything to know that it’s new. I run a sterile shop. The only thing that you’re responsible for is aftercare.”

I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous.”

“I know.” He pulled out a stool for me, and we both sat at the counter. “Do you know what you want?”

“No,” I admitted with a fake cough. My ears were hot like they were getting red. “This was all kind of spontaneous.”

“How about something small? I’ll work you up to the bigger ones later on.”

I arched a brow at him. “Are you trying to cover me in them?”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “My ink all over you is an enticing thought, but it’s always about what you want.”

I forgot my left from my right. His words turned my mind into mush. “Okay. What do you think I should get?”

He bristled. “It’s not about me or anyone else. This is about you. You think enough on a daily basis about everyone else. Anytime you’re with me, think of you.” He leaned over and grabbed a sketch pad and pencil. “A greedy or spoiled you doesn’t sound too bad,” he mused, tipping his head up.

I couldn’t fight the smile. “Stop.”

He pinned me with a heated stare. “What do you like so we can figure this out? What would you not mind having on your skin forever?”

I made a ‘hmm’ sound in my throat, still smirking as I thought about it. “I like pretty things.”

“Pretty things?” There was a mocking tone to his voice.

“Don’t laugh at me. I don’t know. I want it to be something pretty, but it has to be important to me. Maybe Lucy and Eli’s name?”

He did another thoughtful nod as he studied his sketchpad. “I agree. Beautiful people need beautiful art on them.”

“I like yours. There are so many. I know I haven’t seen all of them, but I really love your tattoos.” Did I sound a little breathless?

He looked up. “You’ll get around to seeing them all,” he said gruffly before focusing back on his notebook.

What? My heart raced. I could practically hear the blood pumping in my ears.

“How about an infinity sign with Lucy and Eli’s name wrapped into it on each end? I know it’s cliché and overused, but I’d give it my own twist. And later on, if you have more kids, we can add another infinity sign joining them together.” He tapped his pencil rapidly against the paper, not meeting my eyes.

“I never thought about having more than two,” I told him.

He stilled and glanced up. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “But that was when I thought I’d always be with Scott. Now I don’t know. It’s a scary thought. To start over, especially taking a chance with a different man. What if he didn’t stick around or cheated on me like Scott did? I never imagined I’d be a woman that would have kids with different fathers either. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but until Scott cheated, I foolishly thought he would be my one and only.” I smacked my hands against my thighs and sighed. “Ugh. Sorry. I tend to say too much around you. But I think I’d like the infinity sign. Could you draw it so that I could see if I’d like it?”

Shaking his head, Elijah coughed and looked back down. “Yeah. I can draw something.” He started sketching before pausing again. “It really hurts hearing that someone as beautiful and vibrant as you was ever with someone who—"

He stopped, took a deep breath, but just resumed drawing.

What was he going to say?

“I don’t regret anything, you know. That would mean forsaking Lucy and Eli, and they are the best parts of me.”

He slowly smiled. “I think your best parts are all of you.”

“Does that include Lucy and Eli?” I held my breath.

“I said all parts of you, did I not?” He frowned. “I’m offended you’d ask that.”

“Wow,” I said amused. “Look how far we’ve come. Remember what a jerk you were?”

“Hush. I’m concentrating.”

“You stole Lucy’s chips.”

He smiled. “She dropped them.”

“And why did she drop them?”

“I was an asshole. There. Are you satisfied?”

“Yes,” I said smugly.

His expression turned somber as he drew. “I’m glad that happened. The thought of not knowing you guys.” He pointed to his chest slowly before rubbing it. “Hurts right here.”

My mouth parted slightly as I watched him. I stood, needing a second away from him just so I could breathe. Everything he said was always so…beautiful…perfect…right to my ears.

I’d never known that feeling. It made me think he might want more than friendship. Could I trust that happiness like I desperately wanted? Running my fingers through my hair, I thought about it as I walked around and studied all the drawings and paintings on the wall. Every single one of them had a dark and morbid vibe. Demons and naked women… Violent war drawings with dead zombie soldiers… Female vampires feeding on men… I glanced over at Elijah who was hunched over the desk drawing. He really was different. Darker than other men I’d met yet gentle and kind in all the ways that counted. A low and pleasant hum warned my blood, the sensation crawling between my thighs. I clenched my legs together, then unclenched, turning myself on. Trying to decode who Elijah was as a man was burning me to liquid fire. Was he a gentle, caring lover? Was he rough? Was he somewhere in between? Could he give me a bit of both?

“Did you draw all these?” I said in a raspy voice.

“Most. Wendy and Lance did a few.”

I just knew that Elijah’s were all the artwork with the demons. He was covered in creepy ones that I suddenly wished to trace with my fingers. I trembled, and that’s when I noticed the next painting. A blonde female draped across the lap of a crouched demon. Her naked breasts arched up in the air as blood flowed from the demon’s lips—her blood. Instead of terror, ecstasy shone on her face. The demon gazed at her almost with yearning, like she was so far away despite her blood dripping from his fangs and lips. He knew he shouldn’t have her, but he couldn’t help himself. And her breasts seemed to be full of leaking milk?

That one was my favorite. Deep down, instead of princes, I thought maybe every woman wanted gentle monsters. Someone strong—scary enough to keep all the bad things away—and gentle only to those he loved. I knew where I went wrong. I’d stumbled upon a faux prince, having never met a monster before. Monsters weren’t easy to approach, but princes came too easily. Maybe you had to deal with someone easy to learn what to do and not to do just in case a monster showed up.

“Did you paint this one?” I asked.

He lifted his head and nodded. Elijah went back to drawing, then abruptly did a double-take and gawked. Something akin to panic flashed in his wide brown eyes. A hint of worry seeped into his voice. “Why?”

“I love it,” I said heatedly. “Will you let me buy it? One day I’ll have a house, and I want it to go in my bedroom. Or honestly, maybe my closet away from prying eyes.”

Elijah flinched, stood, and made his way to me. He studied the painting before looking at me. “You really like it?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Because it’s so dark and you’re so…” His gaze skimmed over me, and I fought the urge to squirm. I couldn’t prevent the desire flowing freely from me to him, though. That would be impossible.

I stared at the artwork. “Studying this picture makes me wonder what the demon’s thinking as he gazes at her. I wonder how it’d feel for someone to look at me that way.”

When I glimpsed at Elijah, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. The heat between us was palpable, and I wondered if he felt it too. Fudge, how could he not? My breasts were heavy and aching. I shuddered with an overwhelming need for Elijah.

“It’s yours to take if you want it,” he uttered.

“Really?”

He gave me a firm nod. “Come on. I’m almost finished.” He took my hand and led me back over to the stools. He was warm to the touch. I wondered how much warmer he could be.

Thirty minutes later, he was finished drawing my infinity sign. I loved it the moment I saw it. It was made of tiny sunflowers and roses. Lucy’s name curved one corner while Eli’s around the other. It wasn’t big and for my first, I was glad. The nerves hit the moment he asked, “Where do you want it?”

“Um,” I glanced around, examining myself slowly. “The center of my back toward the top, maybe?”

“Come here.” He stood and beckoned for me to follow. “You’ll have to take off the T-shirt.” My mouth dropped. “You’re the one that chose the back.” He was right. “You can hold your shirt to your chest once you take it off if that makes you more comfortable. The bra shouldn’t be a problem since you’re wanting it high in on your back.”

I nodded nervously. “Yeah.”

Elijah gathered everything he needed—sterilizing the area and opening a new needle. He kept glancing at me as he did everything as if to prove how clean an operation he ran. I just rolled my eyes and smirked. The moment Elijah turned the other way, I took off my shirt and cradled it to my chest. When he saw that I was ready, he waved me forward. I turned around and let him place the outline on my back. He pointed toward the mirror next to us. “See if that’s where you want it.”

After checking the placement, I sat down. When Elijah noticed my nervousness, he reminded me that if I could survive pregnancy then I could handle this. He said some people described the needle feeling like tiny bee stings. My apprehension eased as he began. The tiny jabbing pain was nothing I couldn’t handle. It hurt but not enough to be nervous over. The gun’s buzzing sound was more intimidating than the pain. Honestly, I was more focused on Elijah’s heat against my skin than the discomfort. The glove around his hand did nothing to mask his warmth. In fact, the thought only made it worse. So close, his touch was…

“You okay?” he murmured behind me.

“Mm-hmm.”

Two hours later, Elijah was finished. “Go check it out in the mirror.” He watched as I got up and stood in front of the mirror, gazing over my shoulder. It was beautiful. No colors were added, instead, he used different shades of black. Whatever he’d done, it was perfect. The sunflowers were feminine yet the black ink and Elijah’s drawing gave it an edgier vibe.

“I love it.” I caught his pleased expression as I faced him.

After Elijah wrapped a plastic film over it, I put on my shirt while he cleaned up. It was after midnight, and Olivia texted me an hour ago that Lucy finally fell asleep.

While I waited, I said, “Thanks. I know this was last minute, but I’m really glad I got the chance to do this.”

“I’m here for whatever you need me for.”

I tilted my head at him. He was sterilizing his area again, wiping everything down. I couldn’t read pass the look of utter concentration on his face. Kind of hard to figure out what he meant when he said stuff like that to me.

All I heard was I’m here and my body reacted. Elijah would be the type to spoil me, wouldn’t he? I couldn’t imagine him with another woman. The thought alone made me angry and hurt. It made me think… I want to be spoiled, loved, adored, and ravished. By him. It was a powerful sensation.

“How long is your sister staying?” Elijah asked once he was finished, approaching me.

“Two more days.” I waited beside him as he shut off the lights.

Elijah opened the door for me, and we walked out. Suddenly, Elijah turned and his strong hand bumped into mine. Elijah’s fingers slid over mine, warmth flowing freely from him to me. I said nothing as he intertwined our fingers as we walked to the car. I studied the of side his face, heart on my sleeve, as he walked me around the truck and opened the door for me. It was like he was easing me into something. My pulse sped up as I got in. When I turned, Elijah was still there, only closer.

“I’ve got to head to my other parlor, so I won’t be able to take you to work this week.”

I couldn’t mask my disappointment. “Oh.” I waved my hand in the air. “It wasn’t your job to take me. My parents don’t mind doing it.”

He placed his hand on my knee, his thumb rubbing across it. “I want you all to come to my house when I get back next weekend. I’ll order some takeout and let Lucy pick us a movie.”

I would have smiled if he weren’t touching me, but all I could think of was his hand on me. “Hadley?”

Locking eyes with his, I whispered, “Why are you so sweet?”

His hand cupped my knee firmly, possessively. “You’re the only one that would call me that. That’s not a word someone would use to describe me.”

“You are though.”

“Only for you and yours.”

“Elijah…”

His gaze fell on my lips. He swallowed hard and drew in a deep, pained breath before he turned away. “Let’s get you home.”

My rattled brain wanted me to reply, Let’s get you inside me. The idea frightened me yet cemented itself in my head. These thoughts were unlike me. I was so tuned to him at that moment I felt magnetic.

Panting hard and feeling achy, Elijah drove me home. I briefly thought of the painting and Elijah… Next to me… His tattoos… Naked… Wanting me…pushing inside of me.

Elijah, you’re suffocating me with your firm gentleness.I truly believed him when he said that he liked spending time with us. It wasn’t about getting into my pants with him, but lately…I thought maybe, he wanted me as more than a friend. With Elijah, I thought I could trust him with my body and heart.

Maybe I was reading him wrong. The monster didn’t want me. There was no way he could feel like I did and not do anything.