EIGHTEEN
Elton
The strip of light from the bathroom wakes me. I was sleeping so deeply – something I haven’t done in a long time. I’m sure it is the work of the goddess in my bed. I reach out to pull her in only to find warm but empty sheets and the sound of the shower from the en-suite.
Last night she knew exactly what I needed, the way to tease and demand so much from me. Pushing me to the edge and then letting me fall. I can’t ruin this with her this time.
She steps out of the bathroom in the clothes she wore yesterday. Her standard dungarees and T-shirt with a loose oversized knitted cardigan. This is how it could be for us, her quietly getting ready at the crack of dawn for work, me dragging her back to bed until the sun has properly risen.
I lean back against the headboard, ready to convince her to do just that.
But as she slowly moves across the room she notices me awake.
Her eyes meet mine and she doesn’t drop my gaze until she walks to her side of the bed to collect her watch.
She methodically fastens the strap, clutching her arm to her body, taking too long to get it comfortable.
When she looks back at me, her eyes are hollow.
I look out through the crack in the blinds. It’s pitch-black outside. She’s sneaking out.
I sit up in bed as she slips her Converse on. She blows out a breath then purses her lips tight.
She doesn’t want to stay. I won’t coerce her.
It will always be her decision. She throws her hair in a messy bun, and a few wisps of curls settle around her cheeks.
Her beauty takes my breath away. As she gets to the door, she pauses with her hand on the doorknob and turns towards me.
Her lips part for too long before she closes them again.
“Give us a chance, Reilly,” I say, but she averts her gaze and slips out of my room.
I will have her. I will show her how good we are together and how much she deserves the world I can give her.
~
My fist aches as I punch the bag over and over again. It’s been a weird morning. Neive is sullen and subdued. Despite telling Claire to stay home she was here first thing making breakfast while Jeeves has been screening my calls to give me time with Neive.
And I’m hiding in the gym taking my frustration out on my body. She walked out. In the middle of the night, no plans to say goodbye. She was going to sneak out like I was a regrettable mistake.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I whip around, my fist pulled back.
“Buddy, woah. Take a breath, it’s me.” Charles backs up, hands braced in front of him in surrender.
I shake my head and breathe in through my nose, pushing out my mouth.
“I was calling your name. You didn’t respond. Are you okay?” he asks, eyeing me with concern.
Using a towel to wipe the sweat off my face, I gulp down water, trying to quench the thirst. Or drown the anxiety. Not sure which one.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I saw Reilly last night. She brought Neive home.”
He nods. “Is she still mad at you?”
“Not mad enough not to sleep with me,” I spit out as I work back at the punching bag, hitting again and again.
“I meant Neive.” he says firmly. “Is she okay? Or is she still angry about the Wales fiasco?” My stomach drops as I brace myself against the bag, feeling the weight swing against me. My niece ran off last night and I’m here sulking over a woman. Shit uncle. Shit shit shit.
Sensing my mood, Charles pulls me away from the bag and sits me on a bench. I drop my head into my hands. This is all getting so complicated, and I keep making it worse.
“Elton. You had a crazy day yesterday. You’re allowed to lose your head a bit.” He steps back, pocketing his hands. “How is she?”
“I don’t know. She ran out of my bed in the dead of night.”
“Not Reilly. Neive,” he gently reminds me of the topic of our conversation.
“Fuuuuck.” I run my hands down my face. I’m losing myself.
Losing control of myself. “Neive’s … quiet.
Feeling guilty, I guess. And maybe a little put out after the Wales discussion.
I’ve arranged for her to talk to a therapist. Hopefully they can help her sort through all this.
God knows I’m not helping,” I admit, trying this whole open communication thing everyone tells me about.
Charles pats me on the back and hands me a paper bag.
“Burgers from Almost Vegan.”
“Almost Vegan?” I question before taking a bite. I’m starving and not against plant based generally but I need something substantial right now.
“Don’t worry, yours is beef. They have a great vegan menu as well though.”
I shrug and have a bite. Not bad. Charles finds the weirdest places.
“I had to tell MJ what happened. It didn’t go down well. But I’ve told her not to bring it up with Neive yet.” I also made sure not to mention who Neive ran to. Didn’t feel like that would go down well either. I don’t need Reilly in MJ’s line of fire.
“Good call,” Charles tells me.
Only one I’ve made recently. I keep fucking it all up. Can’t keep MJ happy. Can’t give Neive peace. Can’t keep Reilly. Period.
“Fuck, this cheese is good.”
“Vegan cheese is good?” I ask. Charles flits around with his diet, normally based on his woman of the month. He converted to veganism while dating the delightfully free-spirited Meadow, the vegan diet lasted longer than the relationship.
“Burger is veggie. Cheese is cow,” he says round a mouthful of beanburger and “cow” cheese.
For a man who grew up in a lap of luxury, he eats like he grew up in a barn.
“Stop giving yourself such a hard time, Elton. Ease up, yeah? It will all work out good in the end. I’m going to check on Squirt.
See if she fancies heading out on the boat. ”
I nod in agreement. She loves sailing with Charles, and open air can only be a positive thing. “Tread carefully, she’s fragile today. Don’t wind her up.” Though they aren’t directly related, Neive treats Charles like an uncle, and he treats her like a little sister who he loves but gets to annoy.
“You’re a good man, brother. You care about your family. Neive knows that and so does MJ. Reilly will know that as well one day,” he says as he walks out of my gym, leaving his greasy burger wrappers on the ground.
I do care about my family. They mean everything to me.