Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

Hadley

One week rolled into two. Between Lucy’s new school schedule and my late night text messages from Elijah, I felt like I was living a completely different life. I thought I was content years ago with Scott. I thought I was ecstatic when I got my job at the hospital. I thought I never needed anything more than Lucy and Eli to keep me satisfied.

What I didn’t know was how much happier I could be. I didn’t know this level of pleasure existed. Not only me, Lucy was an all around joyful kid, but I swear she was even more so lately. Her face could light up the night sky.

“Lucy talks about Elijah a lot,” Mom said one evening after work when I went to pick them up from her house. Lucy’s school starting at nine clashed with my work schedule, so I had to take her to my parents’ house every day. Of course my dad tried to get Lucy to spend some nights with them, but she always said no, choosing to stay with me. When I was in school, Lucy and I spent nights apart. I guess she had enough of staying away. Luckily, it was only a couple days out of the week. So far my days off worked to our advantage, and she didn’t have to get up early every morning.

“She’s so happy, isn’t she?” I beamed at my daughter who sat at the kitchen table showing her papaw something she brought home—probably the millionth time since they picked her up that day.

“M-hmm, not only her.” Mom grinned at me, but I ignored it. “When are we going to talk about him?”

Him equaled Elijah.

“I need to go home and get out of these scrubs,” I told her, rising from the couch.

“Sit down and talk to your mother.” I sat down. “Still just friends?”

I fought hard to keep the smile off my face. I examined the floor, plucked at my ear, let my eyes bounce around the room before giving in. “See what you did!” I groaned, pointing at my red face.

She laughed. “He seems good with Lucy. What about Eli? And you? Is he good to you?”

I dropped my hands and grinned so wide it hurt. “Oh, fudge, Mom. He’s so good.” My eyes watered. I was so happy and nervous all at once. “I don’t know what to think of someone treating us well.”

“Oh, baby.” Mom got up from Dad’s recliner, sat down next to me, and hugged me. “It’s all right.”

“Ugh, stop. This is embarrassing.” I pushed away from her. “I really, really like him. I think maybe more than like.”

She pulled me into another hug. “You deserve to be happy. Don’t you settle for anything less. I won’t ever let you again.”

“Is he legit?” I whispered.

“Only you can answer that.” She patted my back.

“Lucy has been so happy since he’s come into our lives. She doesn’t even seem bothered anymore when her dad doesn’t call or come get her. Lately, she hasn’t wanted to go see him at all. Makes me wonder what will happen when Scott decides he wants to see them again.”

“It’s obvious that Lucy thinks the world of Elijah, but that’s not the only place her joy comes from.” I gave Mom a puzzled frown, and she elaborated, “Lucy’s happy because her mother is. I know what you’ll say, but don’t interrupt me. I’m sure Lucy liked Elijah a lot when she first met him, but you realized she liked the things he bought her too. Lucy didn’t start caring for him like she does now until she saw that you cared. You think your four-year-old isn’t capable of seeing how he treats you? You think she doesn’t see everything he does for you guys? She notices all right, and she likes him all the more because of it. And also since he’s spoiling her with whatever she wants.”

I laughed and wiped my eyes as she continued, “Don’t get upset when I say this, Hadley. It’s only the truth. Neither of you know what it’s like to have a man other than Papaw help out. Scott did nothing for you. Honestly, how much money did you waste on that boy?”

Her words made me ashamed. It was normally my dad that said these things. She patted my shoulder when I glanced down, unable to meet her eyes. “I love you, Hadley. Now that you know what we did, you know never to settle. Scott was lazy, never wanted to stay home, and didn’t want to grow up and take care of his family. But from what I’ve seen of Elijah, you won’t be able to beat him away with a broom. He’s in this all the way, sweetie.”

I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Really?”

“A man is busy until he finds something or someone to make time for. Has he ever been unavailable for you?”

“Elijah’s tattoo shop is always fully scheduled. I haven’t seen him much this last week since he’s been staying open late. I know he won’t say it, but I think he extended his hours to catch up with all the times he left early to pick me up from work. But no, he’s never too busy for me. He texts me while he’s at the shop and even drove to the apartments between his appointments yesterday because Lucy asked him for chicken.” I cupped my fingers over my mouth. “Oh, fudge. He’s perfect, isn’t he?”

Mom tilted her head. “I’m sure you know how imperfect he can be already, but yeah, sounds to me like he’s here to stay.”

_______

With Mom’s words replaying in my head, I decided I couldn’t survive on text messages alone. I wanted to see Elijah, so we went to his parlor instead of heading home. I drove the SUV Elijah helped me pick out last week—he insisted on going with me. I liked it so far. The monthly payments were a little higher than the ones for the car, but I could still afford it.

Lucy was excited about the idea, but I told her she had to behave. Was it weird to bring a baby and a kid to a tattoo shop? Probably. But if Elijah and I would be a couple, then this was something they’d see and know about. I wasn’t an uptight person, but my dad was a little stricter about things, but even he said nothing about Elijah. Yet.

Maybe it was coming soon with the way Mom asked about us.

“Let me give it to him,” Lucy said, trying to take the bowl of soup from my hands. Mom insisted we bring it to him while visiting him at the parlor.

I gave it to her before she made me drop Eli. “Be careful with it.”

Lucy opened the door for us and yelled, “Elijah!” He glanced up from his corner as he slipped on a pair of gloves.

A cheerful grin stretched across his handsome face. My chest cracked open and all these feelings burst through. “Lucy!” He looked over at the guy sitting with his shirt off. “Do you mind giving me a sec?” he asked the customer.

“Go on. I’m in no hurry,” the man said as Elijah chucked off his gloves and tossed them in the trash.

“I hope we’re not bothering you,” I said while the other tattooists ogled us.

“No. I was just about to begin on a back piece.”

“We brought soup from Mamaw’s!” Lucy thrusted the bowl upward. Thankfully, Elijah caught it. For a second, I thought it was about to hit the ground. “It’s good.”

“Thank you. How was school today?” he asked.

“Good. When will you get off work?”

“Late, I’m afraid.”

“It’s been like this all week!” She tossed her hands up dramatically.

“I’ll be free this weekend, and then I’ll come see you.” He ruffled her hair, and she swatted his hand away. “I miss you all.” His gazed at me.

“You must be Lucy,” the female tattooist hollered over. If I remembered correctly, Elijah told me her name was Wendy, but I was too afraid of getting it wrong to say it out loud.

“Are you doing a tattoo?” Lucy said in awe.

“Yeah, I am.”

“Can I see?”

“You can get on the stool and sit and watch me from the counter but it’s against the rules to come back here. Health violations and all.” Wendy paused. “Do you mind if she peeks over here?” I realized she was asking the girl she was tattooing. I saw her shake her head no, and she gestured for Lucy. “Come on.”

Lucy looked at me for permission. “She said at the stool, Lucy. Don’t go back there.” She grinned and rushed over to the stool. “Papaw won’t like how much she’s taken a liking to tattoos since meeting you.”

Elijah stepped closer and rubbed his hand down my arm. Goose bumps spread over me at the small bit of contact. I hadn’t had the chance to sleep with him since last week. “Does your dad even know about the one on your back?”

I sputtered. “What? Of course he doesn’t. I’ll tell him when I’m fifty.” I gazed at him—admiring how long and dark his eyelashes were, the unruly mess of hair on his head, and his dark and dreamy eyes. I breathlessly mumbled, “I miss you.” I tightened my hold on Eli, afraid he’d slip right through the putty I became.

“I miss you, too.” More slow fingers running up and down my arms.

“How late will you be tonight?” I asked.

Elijah jerked his head toward his customer. “Depends on how much he wants to get done on his back. I’d say about midnight.”

“Will you come wake me?” It came out as a whisper. Shyly, my eyes met his.

“Fuck, yeah.” He glanced over his shoulder. “But I got to get to tattooing if I want to be out of here anytime soon.”

I nodded. “We’ll leave before Lucy looks at all your paintings.”

He chuckled.

______

Elijah woke me up after midnight. He called me so I could let him in. As soon as I opened the door, his hands were all over me. He carried me to my bedroom where we barked out orders to each other on being quiet in which neither of us followed.

His hands trailed over my nightie until he reached the bottom. Up and over, he yanked it off of me before we tackled his clothes. Our bodies came back together. So much heat—his body was like a furnace against mine and I thrived off it. He kissed and kissed and kissed me all over before burying his face between my legs. Trembling and coming on his tongue, he hovered over me, slipping inside me so perfectly, and brought me to another orgasm as his piercing rubbed into my clit.

My toes curled in the process. I really, really loved that piercing.

Afterward, Elijah laid beside me rubbing circles across my shoulder. “Come take a shower with me.”

“Go shower at your place,” I said.

“So relentless,” he muttered, pinching my nipple as he climbed out of bed.

I hissed. “Ow.”

I watched as he slipped on his pants and walked out of the room. A second later, I heard the shower come on. Sighing, I climbed out of bed and put on some clothes. I turned on the baby monitor, picked up the receiver, and went to the bathroom. Shutting the door, I locked it in case Lucy woke up.

“This is not your place,” I told him.

“This is not your place,” he mimicked. Through the curtain, I saw Elijah’s silhouette as he lathered shampoo in his hair.

“I don’t sound like that.” I fought hard to keep from laughing.

“You sound like a hard ass,” he grunted. “Come here.”

My stomach flipped at his soft command. “I’ll wait and shower in the morning.”

“So stingy with that ass…”

“What was that?”

“Come. Here.”

Eyeing one of Lucy’s cups lying in the floor by the tub, an evil idea struck. Tiptoeing, I grabbed the cup then moved to the sink. I snickered as I filled it up with cold water. “What are you doing? I’ve lost all the water pressure.”

“Washing my hands,” I fibbed, shutting it off.

“What the fuck woman? Get in the shower and let me—” I dumped the cold water over the top of the shower curtain. A god-awful Ohhhh sound rushed out of his mouth, and I burst out laughing. “You’re going to regret that.”

I shrieked as he opened the curtain and reached for me. Elijah missed, but that didn’t matter. Water dripped onto my floor as he stepped out of the tub, scooping me up before I got to the door.

I squealed. “Don’t. I still have my clothes on.”

He laughed too. “Should have thought of that before.”

“Noooo,” I yelled as he pushed me under the water, stepping into the tub. He shot me a wicked grin as he turned the hot water knob off. “Noooo!” Cold water sputtered over me. Elijah stood to the side while holding me in place. “Turn it off, you jerk!”

So, so cold.

“Come on, you can say something a little meaner than that.” I reached out for him as he spoke. He was at the end of the tub where the cold water couldn’t reach him. “Don’t come any closer, you’re cold.”

I laughed. “I want a hug. I’m freezing.”

“Turn the hot water back on, and I’ll hug you.”

“So evil,” I muttered. He let me adjust the water. I sighed happily as the hot water sprayed over my cold, wet clothes. “I’m soaked.”

“I know. You’re a pretty sight.” Elijah gathered my drenched hair off my shoulder as he stepped forward, twisted me around, and pinned me against the wall. My breath came in soft pants by the time he leaned down and kissed me—making everything so intense. The way he kissed was so demanding and controlling. He slid his hand over my neck and stroked the skin while pulling my hair with his free hand. My mouth opened, and Elijah slipped his tongue inside to tangle with mine.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Mommy?”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Is Elijah in there?”

Elijah pulled away as my eyes widened. He stared back at me, not knowing what to say or do.

“Just one second, Lucy,” I yelled before whispering to Elijah. “Oh fudge, oh fudge, I’m soaked.”

“Relax.” Elijah shut off the water and moved aside so that I could step out. I grabbed a towel and patted myself down, but it was pointless. My clothes were sopping wet, and I stood in a large puddle.

While Elijah dried off, I said, “I’ll go out first.”

“My shirt’s still in your room.”

Deep breath. Cracking open the door, I slipped out and shut it behind me, easing Lucy aside so that she couldn’t peek inside. “Did you shower with your clothes on?” she asked.

“No,” I whispered.

“Did Elijah shower, too?”

“Elijah took one, and I accidentally fell in.”

“Is he spending the night? Is that why he’s here? I heard you guys laughing.”

So many questions!

“We were being silly, and that’s how I fell in.” I dropped my head realizing I couldn’t keep this up. Elijah didn’t like it, and Lucy would be heartbroken if she thought I was purposely hiding something from her even if it was grown-up stuff. Slowly, I lifted my head. “Lucy, how would you feel about Elijah being Mommy’s boyfriend?”

“Really?” I wasn’t feeling confident with the dreary sound of her voice until Elijah opened the bathroom door in only his jeans and Lucy wrapped her arms around his legs. “Can we watch a movie?” She gazed up at him.

“I’m sorry we woke you up, Lucy, but you have school and need to go back to sleep.”

She groaned long and loud before asking, “Will you be here when I wake up?” Elijah looked over at me for the answer.

“Doesn’t that sound fun? Elijah getting to be here some mornings with us?” I asked.

She jumped. “Yes!”

“Okay, let’s settle down and head to bed.”

Another groan from her, but she twisted on her heels and thumped into her room. I pinned him with a glare the moment she disappeared through her door. “Was this your goal?”

“You started it,” he pointed out. I bit my lip nervously. “Stop, Hadley. Stop thinking. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. You didn’t plan to keep me a secret forever, did you?”

“No…”

He pinched my nipple. “Better go change so we can get Lucy to sleep before Eli wakes up.”

I could feel myself glowing at the way he said we.

But that was also Eli’s cue to cry.

Elijah stifled his laugh. I shoved him while I hurried to change and get Eli.