Finding Our Forever: (A Defining Moments Novel) (27 page)

Ding.

Eli: Anyway, I would love to take you to lunch while you’re here. Thoughts?

Me: I don’t know, Eli.

Eli: It’s just lunch. To catch up.

Me: Can’t we just talk on the phone or something? I’m not sure that seeing each other is a good idea.

I almost regret it the moment I hit send because seconds later, my phone rings.

Shit.

I hadn’t necessarily meant right now.

“Hey,” I sigh into the phone. “Ya know, that wasn’t exactly an invitation to call me immediately.” I throw in a chuckle so he doesn’t think I’m just being bitchy.

“Well hello to you too, beautiful,” his strong, sexy voice purrs into the phone.

“Hi,” I reply, sounding like a total idiot because I already answered the phone “Hey.”

He laughs gently before continuing. “Why don’t you want to have lunch with me?” he asks, sounding a little bit defeated.

I try not to, but a sigh slips out. “Eli, I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Jesus, I miss him.

“Look, I know you said you didn’t think we could be friends, but I think you’re wrong. You’re probably only in town for a few days, and I want to take my friend to lunch.” His no-nonsense tone makes me sort of weak-kneed.

“Fine. Lunch. As friends.”

“Great. How long are you in town? We could do it tomorrow?” he asks with a lot less stress in his voice.

“Tomorrow’s fine,” I respond quickly, avoiding the first question. “Where do you wanna meet?”

“I can pick you up,” he tells me with zero reservation.

“Nope. This is not a date. It’s lunch between friends. Where do you want to meet?” I reply, sounding a little bitchier than I intended it too.

He doesn’t say anything for a second and I’m about to apologize when he finally replies, “How about we just meet at Chino’s at eleven thirty? I doubt they have a Chino’s in Arizona and I know how much you love it,” he answers, a hint of sadness returning to his voice.

“That sounds perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I reply, trying to make my voice sound friendly without being overly excited.

Truthfully, I’m terrified to see him.

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

He hangs up without another word. It makes me feel like an asshole that I was too snappy about it. It’s not as if he asked me out on a date. He specified it was lunch as friends. He’s the one who said he doesn’t want a relationship, so why would I assume he would consider it a date. I need to pull my head together before our lunch tomorrow.

I need to make a game plan for how to tell him I live here. I have to tell him. Ben knows and will eventually tell him and I’d rather him hear it from me.

Making my way into my bedroom, I open my closet to try to find something not overly sexy, so I don’t appear to be trying too hard, but cute and sassy to wear tomorrow. Seeing how most of my clothes are too big right now, I don’t really have much choice, so I dig through the back of my closet where I still have some clothes from twenty pounds ago. Wrinkled and faded, but probably the right size for now, I grab a cute pair of cutoff jean shorts, and dig further into the pile for a shirt. When I find my perfectly broken-in Doctor Who T-shirt from my teenage years, I’m almost giddy. I love that damn shirt! Why the hell did it ever end up in the back of my closet?

I throw the jean shorts, newly rediscovered T-shirt, and a few other things that were in my laundry into the washer. It’s late, but I start the load anyway. I’ll just dry them in the morning if I fall asleep.

Now that I’ve spoken to Eli, my nerves are wired. It’s only 10:00 p.m., but I’m usually getting ready for bed now. I grab a glass of ice water from the kitchen and make my way back to my bedroom, Kindle and phone tucked under my arm.

Propping myself up on a bunch of pillows, I set my phone on the nightstand and open my Kindle to read for a bit. The novella series I’m reading right now is freaking hilarious. It’s called
Three Little Lies
by Sara Ney, and I’ve devoured it over the past few days. It was definitely a much-needed break from the crime/drama books I’d been reading lately. I love them, but I’ve missed my fun romances.

I consider starting another book, but when I glance at the clock and see it’s after midnight I figure it’s time for bed. I do the nightly routine and am snuggled down into my covers when I hear Diesel whine.

Getting up to let him out, I hear something outside my front door, and I freeze. Diesel makes his way to the front door, his hair rising and his growl creeping out. As I’m tiptoeing to the door to peek out, two loud bangs hit the door, followed by Diesel losing his mind barking. My heart jumps into my throat and I’m afraid to even look out the door before I hear, “Sara, open up.”

Ramzi.

Flipping the lock and wrenching the door open as fast as I can, Ramzi pushes her way in and slams the door behind her. She leans back against the door, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against it. Her face is red and blotchy, so I know she’s been crying, but she looks more pissed than anything right now.

“Z, what’s going on?” I ask her quietly, trying to keep from freaking out.

She sighs heavily, opening her eyes slowly, and turning and peeking out the window before finally answering me.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” she grumbles, peeking out the window once more before walking into the living room and slumping onto the couch.

“So, you staying here tonight?” I ask her calmly, as though she didn’t just scare the shit out of me.

“No, I’m going home. I just want to make sure Ben is gone before I leave,” she replies coldly.

“Did he drop you off?” I ask, still confused about why the hell she’s banging on my door at this hour.

“Yes,” she barks before getting up and storming toward the bathroom.

“Z, stop right now!” I shout at her, halting her movement. I don’t yell. Especially at her.

She turns her head toward me with her eyebrows raised.

“You tell me what the hell is going on,” I beg her, my voice laced with concern for her.

She stares at me for a minute before she finally responds. “Ben and I went to my place to talk. It didn’t go well. I told him to get the fuck out of my house, and he refused to leave me alone because I was upset. Said either he was staying with me or he’d drop me off here. I chose here.” She starts back toward the bathroom again.

“So, you’re staying the night?” I ask her again.

She doesn’t stop to answer this time, but responds, “Nope, I’m leaving as soon as I know that big bastard is gone,” before slamming the bathroom door behind her.

That went well.

A few minutes later, she comes out of the bathroom looking better than when she went it.

“You okay?” I ask her, trying not to be irritating.

“Nope, but I will be,” she replies before wiping away a tear that sneaks past her eyes. “I’m going home. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She walks to me and hugs me tight. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and talk about it?” I ask her before she lets go.

“Not right now. I need to process what just happened,” she replies before squeezing me one last time and heading toward the door.

“Call me tomorrow,” I say to her retreating back.

She holds her hand up in acknowledgment but doesn’t stop as she heads to her car. I know Ramzi. Whatever happened between her and Ben was rock bottom. I can see it written all over her face.

I head back inside, throw my now clean clothes in the dryer, and then return to my Kindle. My worry for Ramzi will keep me awake anyway, so I guess I’m starting the new book,
Juked
by ME Carter. Just like that, I’m lost in a world about a smoking hot soccer player named Daniel Zavaro. Swoon.

WHEN MY ALARM
goes off the next morning, I kick myself for not turning it off last night. I forgot it was still set for my work week. I definitely have no desire to get up at 5:00 a.m. on a day I don’t have to work, especially after the craziness of yesterday and being wide awake until almost 2:00 a.m.

I turn the alarm off and roll over, praying for just a few more hours of sleep.

Hours later, when I finally pry myself out of bed, I realize I only have about an hour before I have to leave for my lunch with Eli. Guess I better get to it.

I shower quickly because I need to spend some time on my hair. It’s in serious need of a trim. I’ve also been considering coloring it for the first time. I’ve always wanted to try another color, but with my pale skin and freckles, I’m not sure how a different color would look.

Forty-five minutes later, I’m done primping and putting on the clothes I’d picked out and washed last night.

Before leaving, I text Ramzi.

Me: Girls’ night in at your place tonight?

I throw my phone in my purse and scramble around to feed Diesel and let him out before I leave. Just as I reach for my purse to head out, my phone chimes.

Z: Sorry, girl. Raincheck.

Now I’m really worried. She never “rainchecks” me. She usually tells me why.

Me: Why? You have to work?

Z: Nope. I’m going to pay my dear ole brother a visit.

My heart drops. She’s never met her half brother. He’d made it completely clear when he found out about her that he wanted nothing to do with her. Why would she go see him? What in the hell is going on?

Me: Z, why are you going to see that douche canoe? I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Z: It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you all about it when it’s sorted, which may take a while. Right now, I need to deal with a bunch of shit. I love you, girl, but I need to deal with it alone.

I’m staring at my phone trying to figure out how to reply when it chimes again.

Z: Will you take Daisy for me until I get back? I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. Kylie and Nikki are holding down the bar for a few days.

Me: Absolutely. When are you going to drop her off?

Z: About an hour?

Me: I won’t be home. I’m having lunch with, Eli. You have a key, just put her in the house with Diesel.

She doesn’t respond for a few minutes, so I head out to the car. Must be pretty damn important if she’s asking me to keep Daisy. That dog goes everywhere with her. Just as I put the car in reverse, my phone chimes.

Z: Be careful. I’ll see you in a few days.

Be careful? What’s that supposed to mean? Drive safe? Don’t choke on your lunch? She’s being cryptic and it’s irritating the shit out of me. Glancing at the clock, I throw the phone in the cup holder and head toward Chino’s. I’m going to be late if I sit here texting her anymore. When she gets back, she’s going to tell me what the hell is going on whether she has it “sorted” or not.

The moment I pull onto the street Chino’s is on, I see Eli’s truck and my heart starts beating too fast. As I make my way into the parking lot, I have an internal discussion with myself about the things we should and should not talk about.

First and foremost, I need to tell him I live here before he finds out from someone else. If he doesn’t tell me to take a hike, then we’ll go from there. My new job is a safe topic. How his semester is going with the new major is safe. His mom. Is she back from Italy yet? How’s his sister? Is Destry adjusting to being home? How is he liking UC? All safe topics.

As soon as my car is in park, the door is being opened, which startles me, but when my eyes meet the amazing green orbs attached to the face I’ve missed so much, my heart feels as though it might explode.

No, Sara. Just no. Friends. Just friends having lunch.

His smile is genuine, and it softens my exterior a little. He’s happy to see me. He reaches toward me and I place my hand in his, allowing him to pull me out of the car. As soon as I’m standing, he engulfs me in a bone-crushing hug. I hear him take a deep breath that sounds as if he’s smelling my hair, which makes me chuckle a little.

“Did you just sniff my hair, Elijah Harper?” I laugh out. I feel his chest rumble with his laughter before he pulls back and answers honestly, the only way he’s ever answered me.

“Yes, ma’am. I’d almost forgotten how much I love the coconut smell.” My heart flutters a little bit. In all the time that we spent together, he’d never once mentioned he liked my shampoo or lotion. I love the smell of coconut, so I use a lot of coconut scented products.

“That almost sounded creepy,” I joke, trying hard not to show him how much his words affect me.

He fake punches my shoulder as we head toward the front of the building. “It’s totally not creepy,” he returns playfully. “It’s not like you weren’t aware of my addiction to burying my nose in your hair.” And just like that, the awkwardness sets in. The only time I ever noticed him doing that was when we were in bed together, but I didn’t realize it was because he was smelling my hair.

We meander in and grab a booth near the back, as always. The waitress takes our orders, neither of us needing to look at the menu, and then scurries away not even trying to pretend she’s not checking Eli out. I mean, I get it. He’s off-the-charts hot. She could totally have tried harder to hide it though. Jeez.