still love you?”
I felt a sob rise from my chest. “He said he always would.”
“Then why in the blazes are you sitting here with me, Zelly?” A smile stretched her face. “Time is precious, child. Don’t waste it. Tell people when you love them. Live in that love.” She tapped the back of my hand. “And bring that boy home to meet us. If he’s going to be part of the family, he deserves to know what he’s getting himself into.”
I stood up, suddenly in a hurry to get back home—to my true home. “Thank you, Grammy. I love you.” I hugged her and kissed her smooth cheek.
“I love you, too, Zelly. Be safe—don’t speed. And text me when you get there.”
“I will!” I sailed out the door and down the steps to my car. I wouldn’t speed. Not really. But when forever is waiting on the other end of a drive, it’s not easy to take it slowly.
I didn’t know Eli’s address, but I knew who did. Once I’d crossed the river and was in New Jersey, I pulled over to a gas station and texted Leo.
Zelda: Turnabout’s fair play, dude. I need to know where Eli’s living. Send me his address, and I’ll withdraw my threat to castrate you.
A few seconds later, his reply came.
Leo: A reprieve! Thank God, I can sleep at night now. Sending you his address.
Zelda: Thanks, Leo. Having a good time with Q? Behaving yourself?
Leo: All of the above and more. Are you finally going to make an honest man of Tuck? Dude is seriously gone on you. Have mercy on him.
I laughed. Leo was a good guy, and now that I didn’t have to worry about punishing him, I could freely admit that.
Zelda: Only if he begs for it. Later, Leo. Thanks again. My love to Q.
I entered the information into my GPS and took off again, following the highway to the exit for Eatonboro.
It was late afternoon, nearly five o’clock, by the time I pulled my car to a stop in front of the pretty duplex. Eli’s side was easy to spot, since the steps to the front door had been modified with a ramp. His grass was neatly cut, and there were flowers in front of the porch.
I sat for a minute to take a breath and gather my courage. For all that I’d been eager to get here, now I was a little nervous. How would Eli react? What would he say?
Finally, I forced myself to walk the ramp and knock on the front door. I heard his voice calling from within the house.
“Just a second!”
And then there he was.
I hadn’t seen him in half a year, but damn if the man hadn’t only gotten hotter. His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open a little. His fingers gripped the arm of his wheelchair.
I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I was gaping like a fucking fish.
Eli stretched out his hand and took mine. Never looking away from me, he breathed out one sentence.
“It’s about time.”
Somehow, that opened the floodgates for me. I swallowed hard and leaned down, resting my hands on his wheelchair. “Eli. I love you. I have since . . . well, for a long time. Since we were freshman.”
He wheeled his chair backwards so that I stepped fully into the house. I was vaguely aware that we were in a living room, but I didn’t pay any attention beyond that. I just kept talking.
“I ran away last year because I was terrified. You were talking long-term and babies—and I didn’t know if I could do that. I didn’t trust me, Eli. It was never you. It’s always been my problem. But I’ve learned shit. I don’t want to be afraid anymore.”
The most gorgeous smile I’d ever seen wreathed Eli’s face. He slid his hands to my hips and pulled me onto his lap.
“Fucking hell, Zel. I’ve been waiting a long time for you.”
Tilting my head back, he kissed me, and my body sang. This was what I needed, what I wanted. This man was my today and my tomorrow—and he’d been my yesterday, too. He had been my first lover, and he would be my last.
“I have so much to tell you,” I managed to get out the words between deep, drugging kisses. “But never stop what you’re doing. Promise me that you’ll never stop kissing me.”
“Never,” Eli vowed. “But I hope you’re okay with doing this on a football field.”
That