28. Abigail
ABIGAIL
“Hmm, this is nice,” I murmur as I trail my fingertips across Elliot’s chest.
“Want to wake up with you every morning,” he replies sleepily, tightening his arm around my hip.
Heat flares inside me but I don’t act on it.
I’m too content lying here in his bed, tangled up in his arms.
For a second, I thought he might do something stupid like confront his father. But whatever the boys said to him seems to have worked.
“Elliot, I need to pee,” I whisper, aware that he still hasn’t opened his eyes.
He releases me and I slip out of bed, hurrying to the bathroom. Every inch of me aches but in the best possible way.
Something changed last night. It’s always intense between us but there’s been a shift.
I want to believe it’s because he’s finally accepted that I’m his. That I’m not going anywhere regardless of his father’s threats.
I refuse to think about that. About what he might say about me and my family.
Elliot is worth it.
He’s worth everything.
I make quick work of washing my hands and rinse my mouth with some mouthwash Elliot has, careful to return it to its place.
Elliot is so meticulous and tidy it makes me smile.
Such a complicated boy indeed.
I leave the bathroom only to find the bed empty. Frowning, I hover, unsure of what to do.
Before, I might have hid up here and waited for him to return. But I’ve made my choice.
It’s him.
It was always going to be him.
Feeling a newfound confidence since facing Johnathon Eaton, I pull on one of Elliot’s rugby hoodies and slip out of his room.
The Chapel, in all its ostentatious glory, still takes my breath away, and I run my fingers over the black gloss stair rail as I descend into the living room.
It’s quiet. No sign of my friends and their boyfriends; and I wonder if they’re still sleeping or whether Elliot told them all to scarper.
“I was bringing you breakfast in bed,” he glances up from the kitchen island and gives me a lazy smirk.
“I missed you.”
“You did, huh.” His gaze darkens, tracking me as I make my way over to him.
My heart races in my chest, a delicious ache spreading through me.
I love the feeling, the way he makes me feel.
I never want it to end.
When I’m near enough, he hooks his arm around my waist and draws me close. “You look so fucking good in my clothes.”
Gazing up at him, I frown.
“What?” he asks.
“You’re a lot calmer about all this than I thought you’d be.”
“Oh trust me, I’m furious that he came to you.” Anger vibrates from every inch of him.
“Elliot.” He glances away, his hand curling into a tight fist, and my heart sinks. “Look at me,” I coax, brushing my fingers along his jaw.
His stone mask is firmly back in place, but I don’t let it deter me.
“I love you. Nothing your father does or says is going to change that. You don’t have to worry about protecting me.”
“I could fucking kill him for?—”
“No. No. I don’t want you to do anything that could get you into trouble.” I lean up on my tiptoes and inhale a shuddering breath. “I have money, Elliot. More money than I’ll ever need. And the house?—”
“No. Fuck. No.” He holds me at arms length, staring at me with disbelief.
“If you’re serious about breaking free from his control this is the easiest way. It doesn’t have to be forever. Just until we figure things out.”
“I’ll figure it out,” he says in that dismissive tone I know all too well.
“Okay. Maybe the guys will help?—”
“I said I’ll figure it out,” he snaps, turning away from me.
It hurts but I know it’s because he’s used to being in control.
Elliot is used to holding the power.
Except when it comes to his future and his options.
“I love you,” I stand my ground. “And I want to help. You can pay me back. You can?—”
“What’s up, lovebirds.” The boys spill into the room, laughing and jostling each other. “That was some performance last night. Didn’t know you had it in you, Abs.”
A low growl rumbles in Elliot’s chest, stopping them all in their tracks.
“Where are the girls?” I ask, sensing he needs a moment.
Maybe his best friends can talk some sense into him.
“They’re over at Millie’s,” Theo mutters. “Boy troubles or something.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’d better be,” he spits. “Or I’ll give that little shit something to?—”
“Okay, Rocky.” Oakley hooks him around the neck. “Why don’t we all hit the gym. Looks like you and lover boy have some tension to work off.”
“But breakfast,” Elliot starts but I cut him off with a small smile.
“It’s fine. Go with them and I’ll go see the girls.” I go to walk away but he grabs my hand and yanks me backward.
“Ell—”
“I’m sorry, Red.” He lowers his head to mine. “This is all new to me and I don’t like feeling out of control.”
“I know. But we’re in this together now. And I want to help.”
His lips thin but his eyes soften. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Go work out with the boys and I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.” He steals a quick kiss, and somebody wolf whistles. Elliot flips them off over my shoulder and soft laughter bubbles out of me.
“Have fun.” I untangle myself from his arms and give the boys a small wave, before heading to get changed.
Silently praying he won’t do anything stupid.
“How is she?” Tally asks Raine when she joins us in my dorm room.
I had gone straight to Millie’s room only to find Tally and Liv lingering in the hall so we came up to my room to wait for them.
“First love sucks.” She drops into my desk chair and lets out a weary sigh. “I’ve left her with a week’s supply of chocolate and ice cream. That should do the trick for a while.”
“She’s a bright girl. She’ll get over it,” Liv says. “They’ll probably be back on by lunch tomorrow.”
“I don’t know. She seemed pretty adamant it’s over.”
“They’re still babies. How on can you be at that age?”
“Oh hush,” Tally rolls her eyes. “Millie’s feelings are valid. Even if he wasn’t the one, break-ups are hard. At least she has you and Theo to pick up the pieces.”
“If Theo doesn’t leave him in pieces first.” Raine frowns.
“I’m sure you’ll convince him not to,” Liv snickers.
“I’m sure you’re right.”
We all chuckle at that.
“And how are you, Abs? After almost setting the Chapel on fire with your little staircase tryst.”
“I… I’d rather not talk about that.”
“Babe.” Tally eyes glitter with amusement. “You’re with Elliot now. The sooner you shed your innocence the better.”
I let my hair out from behind my ears, desperately trying to hide the flush to my cheeks.
“You can’t hide from us, Abigail Bancroft,” Liv chuckles. “We all heard what you did.”
“Okay, okay,” I murmur. “Can we please stop talking about it?”
“Own it, babe,” Raine says, offering me a knowing smile.
“Jokes aside, how are you feeling about everything?” Tally reaches for my hand. “I still can’t believe his dad turned up here.”
“I’m almost surprised it didn’t happen sooner.” Liv scoffs.
“Honestly, the only thing I care about is that Elliot is okay. Nothing Johnathon Eaton says or does can hurt me.”
“I’m sure he was just all talk,” Tally offers but I can tell from the worry in her eyes she doesn’t believe her own words. “Do you want to talk about it… The other stuff.”
“I…” God, I was stupid to hope they wouldn’t have picked up on that. “I can’t. Not yet. I love you all so much but I’m not ready.”
“We understand,” Raine says. “But whenever you are, just know that we’re here for you, Abs.”
“Thank you.” A heavy silence falls over us and I hate it. So much I blurt, “I offered Elliot my money.”
“What?”
“That’s been the issue from day one, hasn’t it? That Mr Eaton would cut him off? Well, I have money. More than I’ll ever need. If it means he can make a clean break… What?” I ask when I realise they’re all staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“You love him,” Tally says.
“You really love him,” Liv agrees.
“Well, yeah.” I close in on myself, feeling vulnerable all of a sudden. “I love him so much. And I want to be with him. I want this to work.”
“How did Elliot react to your… offer?” Liv asks, and I grimace.
“As well as you can imagine.”
“Well, I think it’s a great idea.” Tally leaps up, grinning. “You can buy a cute little place together and Elliot can teach junior rugby at the local youth centre?—”
“Elliot will be at university,” I point out, and they all look at me again.
“If you think for one second Elliot is going to leave you, you’re more deluded than we thought. Besides, attending SCU is his father’s dream, not his.”
“I guess I never thought about it like that.”
“Clearly, the two of you have a lot to talk about.”
We do.
Except, talking isn’t exactly Elliot’s forte.
Another awkward kind of silence descends over the four of us as the weight of what’s to come settles.
I’ve made my choice.
Now Elliot needs to make his.
“Rise and shine, lovebirds.” Someone bangs on Elliot’s bedroom door, their laughter disappearing down the hall.
“Fucking idiots,” he mutters, pulling me closer to his chest. “Morning.” He nuzzles my shoulder, pressing a soft kiss to my neck.
“Good morning.”
It’s Monday and all my newfound confidence has evaporated. But I don’t let him see that as I roll into his arms and cup his face in my hands. “No matter what happens, you need to keep a cool head today, okay?” I urge, needing him to remain calm.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m as cool as a cucumber,” he grumbles.
“I love you.”
“I love you too. But I really need to piss.” He untangles himself from me and climbs out of bed.
I take a second to appreciate his very athletic, very naked body.
Despite things being a little tense between us yesterday, after me and the girls returned to the Chapel, we spent the day curled up on the sofa watching films with everyone. It was nice.
Normal.
A taste of what life might be like for us if things with his father blow over.
Elliot didn’t mention my offer again and I didn’t push.
But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about what the day will bring.
The huge knot in my stomach tightens but I take a deep breath, reminding myself that I’ve got this.
That I can do this for the boy I love.
I just hope Mr Eaton doesn’t push him too far.