Stay For Me - Megan Smith Page 0,64
“Oh my God.” He’s made me a little reading nook. Straight ahead of me is filled with nothing but my pillows and a string of lights hanging from the book shelves that line half the room. The tree that was in the middle of the house is covered with clear Plexiglas giving it the true meaning of a tree house.
I turn around to face him. “I can’t believe you did this, Eli.”
He pulls me into his arms and I hug him as tight as I can. “You have no idea how much this means to me.” I cry. “How did I ever get so lucky with you?”
“I love you.” He says while rubbing his hand up and down my back. “I know you’ve always wanted one. Now that you’re here, and we have the room, why not have one now?”
“Knock, knock.” My mom says pushing open the door.
She’s holding a poinsettia in her hand. “I couldn’t exactly buy you a flower pot for the porch in the middle of winter so I figured this would do for now.”
I can’t hold back the tears anymore. Eli even went to the extent of bringing my mom into this. She never knew about the tree house, I’ve only ever told one person, and he has a big enough heart to involve her even though he can’t stand her. It just shows that he’s a better person for what he did.
“Aww, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Eli says pulling me back into his arms.
“They’re happy tears. I promise.”
“I’m going to take Fallon to go check out my new place and give you guys a minute.” Mom tells us as she quietly steps out.
“I can’t believe you did this.”
“Believe it, baby.” Eli says kissing me on the lips. “Want to try out the pillows?” He wiggles his eye brows up and down.
“Like you even have to ask twice.” I say before jumping into the pile of pillows, being tackled by Eli.
“Merry Christmas.” I slide my hands in the waistband of his sweatpants and start to tug down.
“This is a merry Christmas.” Eli says groaning as I take him into my mouth.
My mom is taking Fallon back to her house for dinner. Eli and I were invited to the Cahill’s and we agreed to go. I’m secretly hoping that Cooper is planning on asking Jaylinn to marry him. Cooper still doesn’t know about Eli and I, and it’s making me extremely anxious about today. I mean, why should I care? We’ve been together for months now and everything is going great, he should be happy for us. I haven’t told Jaylinn yet, that Eli and I have been having sex for months now, because I’m so worried she’ll slip and tell Cooper. Eli tells me I’m crazy because he’d never let Cooper fire me.
Beep. Beep.
“Babe, Jaylinn is here.” Eli hollers upstairs to me.
I just finished doing my hair and make-up. I run down the stairs to put my boots on before kissing Eli and running out the door. I had to rush because after my mom and Fallon left, Eli and I went back to bed where I gave him his Christmas present.
I asked Jaylinn to pick me up. It’s stupid I know, Eli even laughed at me but I don’t want to give Cooper any reasons to think Eli and I are together. I climb into Jaylinn’s car and I’m nothing but nerves. “This is so stupid.” I tell her.
“Care to elaborate?”
“I’m having sex with Eli.” I blurt out before I lose my nerve.
“Thank God!” Jaylinn cheers.
“Wait, what?”
“You think I don’t already know? I can probably tell you it’s been going on for a few months too.” She glances over to me and I’m dumbfounded. “It’s the way you guys are with each other, the touching here and there, the secret smiles, and the teasing.” She laughs. “I was beginning to worry about you two if you hadn’t had sex yet.”
“I feel so much better now.” I sigh.
“I don’t know why you just didn’t tell me sooner. I mean, it’s none of my business and all that, but still.”
And now I feel like a shitty friend for not telling her. “I know I just feel bad for putting you in a shitty situation. Cooper doesn’t want us together, he’s made that clear.”
Jaylinn pulls up to a traffic light. “You’re gonna let him stop you?”
“No, of course not,” Jaylinn arches an eyebrow at me. “Okay, maybe I am.”
“Look, let me handle Cooper, okay? I