15. Effie
15
EFFIE
M y lungs scream and my legs ache as I try to keep up with Kieran as he runs down the sidewalk.
Each raindrop hits the ground with a splash. It’s torrential, and we’re both soaked through.
He’s nowhere close to moving at full speed, but even still, I can’t keep up.
Spinning around, he smirks at me.
“Shut up,” I pant.
“Didn’t say a word,” he says innocently.
As I roll my eyes, the world around us lights up with another crack of lightning, closely followed by booming thunder.
We really need to move, but I’m not sure my legs can take it.
“Go without me,” I say, sounding way more dramatic than necessary.
A violent shiver races down my spine and my teeth begin to chatter.
“You think I’m going to leave you here alone?” Kieran asks in disbelief.
I already know he’s not, but I’m slowing him down.
Reaching up, I try to drag my hair back from my face, but it’s soaked and sticking to my skin, just like my clothes.
He does the same, but because he’s Kieran freaking Callahan, he looks like a god as he drags his fingers through his soaked hair. His muscles ripple beneath his skintight, long-sleeved t-shirt.
Water runs down his face and drips from his chiseled jaw. He looks like he should be on some TV commercial right now, whereas I look like a drowned rat.
Suddenly, he moves forward, and before I know what’s happening my feet have left the ground and my ass is up in the air.
“Kieran,” I scream as he takes off running again.
I bounce around upside down with his arm locked around the backs of my thighs.
My hoodie and shirt ride up, exposing my back to the ice-cold rain that’s lashing at us.
My teeth chatter violently as rainwater runs toward my shoulders.
I attempt to wrap my arms around him, but I don’t stand a chance. His body is too massive.
“I’m not going to drop you, Ef,” he shouts back when I settle for twisting my fingers in his soaking wet shirt.
By the time he slows, all my blood has rushed to my head, making it feel like it’s seconds away from exploding.
Glancing to the side, I discover that we’re on Grams’ street and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Holy crap,” Kieran says after walking past his car and toward the front door. “Look,” he says before putting me back on my feet.
The world spins around me, and thankfully, his hands don’t leave my waist as everything settles.
When I see what caused his reaction, my breath catches.
We have bouquets of flowers, plants, and containers of all shapes and sizes in front of Grams' front door.
“What is all that?” I ask in confusion.
The flowers are self-explanatory, but the rest…
I stand there with my head still spinning while Kieran gathers it all up.
“Are you going to let us in?” he asks with his arms full.
I jump into action and pull the key from my pocket.
No sooner does he releases everything, than I begin pulling lids from containers.
Cookies. Cakes. A casserole.
I shake my head, unable to believe what I’m seeing.
I know that Grams had great friends and a support network. I’ve spent time with all of them at the care home over the last few months. They’re always inviting me to dinner, or offering to cook for me, but I’ve never taken them up on the offer.
Sure, a few came to see Grams with goodies to share, but I never expected this.
With my hand covering my mouth, a sob breaks free.
Their kindness and generosity floor me. And I haven’t even opened the cards that accompany the gifts.
I stand there shivering and staring at it all in shock.
“Effie, you need to go and shower,” Kieran says, dragging me back to reality.
Another violent shiver rips through me, proving that he’s right.
“Come on,” he says, once again gathering me up and leading me toward the bathroom.
I’m aware of how much I’m leaning on him right now, but I can’t help it. If it weren’t for him, I’m not sure I’d be functioning at all.
He’s giving me a reason to fight and to keep moving. I’ll take everything he’s offering me while he’s here and willing.
At some point, he’ll have to return to Chicago. I should probably go with him. It’s where my life is. My job. My apartment. But right now, I can’t imagine being anywhere but here.
He leaves me in the middle of the bathroom as he turns the shower on.
In only seconds, steam fills the room, and warmth rushes over my cold body.
“Can you take it from here?” he asks, ducking down to look into my eyes.
I hate to consider what he sees when he looks at me.
Unable to hold his stare, I look down at the floor and nod.
I might be broken, but surely, I’m capable of undressing myself.
“Call me if you need me,” he says before kissing my brow and stepping out of the room.
I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding the second the door closes behind him.
Needing to get out of these wet clothes, I let out a shaky breath and embark on the challenge of stripping down.
It’s harder than I thought possible, and I almost call Kieran back to help at one point. But I summon some strength from somewhere, finally abandoning everything in a soggy pile on the floor and stepping under the hot stream.
A blissful sigh falls from my lips, and I stand there unmoving as I soak up the warmth.
Spinning around, I close my eyes and tip my face toward the water.
Tonight was…I shake my head, unable to find a word that sums it up.
Painful. Beautiful.
Everything I needed.
Kieran is everything I need.
He seems to know exactly what will help, and tonight was it.
And dancing on the bandstand.
There is a photo on the mantlepiece of Grams and Gramps doing the exact same thing a few decades ago.
He made me feel so close to both of them tonight.
Tears fall as I think about their lives and how quickly their presence has been wiped from the world.
I manage to clean up, but I move slowly, enjoying the escape the shower provides me.
It’s not until the water begins to run cold that I finally reach for the dial and shut it off.
With a huge fluffy towel wrapped around me, I make my way to my room to find some pajamas.
I’m dressed and sitting at my vanity, brushing my hair, when his footsteps move closer.
I look up just in time to see him fill my doorway with his massive frame.
My breath catches at the sight of him standing there in nothing but a pair of tight boxer briefs.
Holy hell.
My mouth runs dry and I fight to swallow.
“Finished in the bathroom?” he asks, as if he hasn’t just knocked me on my ass.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen him wearing barely anything. But it’s been a few years since I’ve seen it this up close. It’s usually on a screen on some advertising campaign.
Dragging my eyes up his body, I find a smirk playing on his lips.
Asshole did that on purpose.
“Y-yeah,” I stutter like a teenage girl with a stupid crush.
He nods once and then disappears, leaving me with burning cheeks and a racing heart.
It was the same when he slid his hands to my ass earlier. Something I haven’t felt in a very long time shot through my body, leaving my nerves tingling and my blood heating.
The shower starts running thirty seconds later, and I shamelessly imagine him pushing his thumbs into his waistband of those tight boxers and letting them drop down his legs.
Do not think about anything else, Effie…
“Motherfucker,” Kieran barks, and I gasp.
I didn’t tell him there wasn’t any hot water.
A cackle erupts as I think about him hopping around in ice-cold water.
It’s evil, but I can’t help it.
Forcing myself to move, I pad through to the kitchen in my fluffy socks, shorts, and zip-up hoodie.
Putting some milk in a pan to heat, I hop up onto a stool at the island and stare down at the pile of cards that accompanied the gifts Kieran brought in earlier.
They’re all addressed to me. It’s humbling to know how many lives Grams affected, and also how many people care enough to reach out, to send me their love and support.
I’m still trying to decide if I want to open them or not when Kieran appears in the kitchen, wearing a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.
I don’t want to say I’m disappointed that he’s covered up, but…I am a little.
“Good shower?” I ask, putting on my best innocent face.
“Hmm,” he mumbles before walking toward the stove to check the milk. “Are you going to open those?” he asks, distracting me.
“I don’t know,” I confess, staring back down at them. “I really appreciate that people have sent them, but…” I sigh. “It’s just another bit of evidence that she’s really gone.”
He turns back to me. My skin tingles with his attention, but I don’t look up.
“Then don’t. Wait until you’re ready. There is no right and wrong right now.”
“I know,” I mumble as he makes our hot chocolate.
“What do you want to do?” he asks, bringing two steaming mugs over.
It’s late now, but while I might be exhausted, I don’t want to go to bed. I’ll only lie there thinking.
I shrug. What is there to do?
“Movie?” he asks. “I’ll let you choose.”
“Sure,” I say, slipping from the stool and walking out of the room.
We settle on the couch, and Kieran passes me the remote control.
“Oh, the power,” I tease.
“Make sure you choose wisely,” he mocks, knowing full well the kind of movie he’s going to end up watching.
I don’t need to search very far; Grams and I used to watch old romcoms whenever I visited, and they’re all there in her recommended section.
Kieran groans as I scroll through, and I can’t help but laugh.
“We can just watch ESPN if you want,” I offer.
“Absolutely not,” he states firmly.
“Okay then. Miss Congeniality it is,” I say, pressing play on mine and Grams’ most-watched movie. Grams used to fantasize about being a badass like Gracie Hart. She’d have made a great FBI agent.
“Wonderful.”
“Careful, I know all of Gracie Hart’s moves. I could take you down if necessary.”
Kieran chuckles. “Is that right?”
“Yep. You wouldn’t even see it coming.”
“Now that I want to see.”
“Shhh,” I hiss. “It’s starting.”
He laughs again and wraps his arms around my shoulder, pulling me into his body.
Snuggling against him, I relax as I lose myself in Grams’ favorite movie.
Tomorrow, I have a long list of things I need to do to ensure her final send-off is worthy of her, but right now, I’m going to reminisce on the good times with my best friend.
She may be gone, but her spirit will live on through us forever.