Chapter 23 #2
“You don’t like uncertainty, but who does? Just talk to Elodie.” He bites into his sandwich.
I inspect my own, happy that it’s turkey.
“I feel like we’ve been half doing that lately.
But I think it’s time to get a little more serious.
She mentioned that her apartment will be ready again.
As much as I’ve given every indication that she and Lola have moved in now and won’t be moving out, I’m not 100% until I have the logistics done and dusted. I think like that sometimes.”
“It makes sense to stay if she’s already there.” He speaks with his mouth full, holding the sandwich over a plate as he decapitates it. “But it has to be because she wants to be with you long-term. Not just because of Lola.”
Opening a packet of mustard, I’ve been listening. “That’s maybe the issue. If she moves back to her apartment, then what happens logistically? Sure, we’ll end up spending nights together, but…” I fear what thought crosses my mind.
Foster drops his sandwich onto the plate and sinks back into the chair. “Ah. Got it. The fine print.”
“Something like that.” I’m not sure I have much of an appetite right now. “My lawyer emailed me because I want to finalize Lola’s trust. But he reminded me that even though it isn’t needed, I did originally ask him about custody arrangements.”
Foster winces when I say that. “That’s a little extreme, no? Do you think it’s really needed?”
I shake my head. “Not at all. Right now, we are both committed to putting our daughter first, and we are something more than just co-parents. There isn’t a need for paperwork.
It’s something on the backburner just in case something were to ever change.
But even with no paperwork,, there can’t be any gray areas between Elodie and me. ”
“If she’s in a shitty mood tomorrow in my department meeting, then I can blame you.”
Rubbing my thumb along my chin, I debate what’s next. “I’ll just talk to her. It sounds so simple.”
“Humans hate confrontation,” Foster states the obvious. “But you can put on your big boy shoes.”
“Thanks.” I smile contritely at him, then take a bite of my own sandwich.
He picks up a chip. “You’re welcome. That’s the good thing about being single. I get to watch from the sidelines and analyze.”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “How is that going for you? Any future prospects for the wife title?”
“Nope.” His P is sharp. “Much to my family’s dismay.” He comes from old money, and I’m positive his family has expectations for him to carry on the name.
“A friend of Elodie is joining the company. Apparently, she finds you remotely attractive.”
He develops a cocky grin. “Oh yeah? I saw her in the elevator with Elodie. Sutton, right? I threw her my best look, the one I know women like. Suave, yet it says I make my own rules. Which would be what I’ve learned from you and Julian. No way am I getting involved with workplace entanglements.”
“To be fair, Elodie and I make a point not to cross paths here. The only time is the occasional lunch or when we pick up or drop off Lola.”
Foster grabs his sandwich again and huffs with skepticism.
“I guess it’s true that you both don’t exactly flaunt your relationship, but people are aware.
Eventually, she will be your plus-one to whatever business dinner someone thinks requires a date.
You’ll both, at some point, make it more public outside the office.
If she feels you two are serious and endgame, of course. ”
Inside of me boils at the thought that there could even be another option. I also need people to know that she is mine.
“Trust me. There is only one way this could go. I just need to check off the confirmation, and that has to come from her.”
“Good luck.”
I don’t need it. I’m still a little nervous, though. That’s what she is capable of. Making a man who is completely unnerved by life lose his balance.
And my tolerance for that has reached its limit.
Elodie hums while she cleans up Lola’s mess on her highchair. She waited until Lola was asleep to spruce up the area.
I watch her while I sit quietly at the kitchen island, pretending to read my emails. When she carries the sponge to the sink, now mollified with her efforts, she turns and leans against the sink to face me.
“Want to watch a movie or something? I’m actually not exhausted for once.”
This is my in, and I slide my phone to the side. “Actually, can we talk about something?”
Her mood quickly shifts to concern. “Sure. Everything okay?”
I leave my seat and circle around the counter, closing our distance when I lean against the opposite counter. I’m careful to give a little room to ensure we have a serious conversation that can’t be turned into intimacy until it needs to.
“The lawyer is sending you more documents for Lola’s trust. You’ve been pushing it off. It’s really important that you read it over and sign it. It’s for her college fund, ensuring she’ll be taken care of from now until infinity, even if something happens to me. I don’t want to stall,” I explain.
“Right. Sure. I keep forgetting to look over that stuff. If you really feel it needs to be done, then of course. I’m okay with it,” she replies sincerely.
My lips twitch, not quite ready to commit to a smile. “Good. And you gave up your lease, right?”
“Oh.” She seems taken aback and briefly drops her eyes to the ground. “No. Not yet.”
I lift my chin, and a sound of confusion rumbles in the back of my throat. “Why the hesitation? You see us as long-term, right?”
She stuffs her hands in her back pockets. “Of course, I mean—”
“This isn’t me moving fast, it’s me being logical. Others might co-parent well apart, and that’s great for them. But us? It doesn’t make sense for you to move back, hesitate, or make us live a life apart every day. You’re living here now, and it’s going pretty damn well, no?”
She shrugs a shoulder. “It is.”
“Take Lola out of the equation. I need to hear you say that you are 100% invested in you and me. We’re not together because you’re the mother of my child, and you’re not with me because I’m Lola’s dad.
We can have it all. You just need to be committed.
I feel the answer, but I need to hear the words. ”
Her lips press and slide to the side. “Hayes, you’re a lot.” She half smiles. “It’s been a whirlwind since you walked into that BBQ.”
“I don’t think any BBQ will ever be the same,” I joke.
“The first few days were a little rough. You really threw a lot at me. Well-intentioned threats, and then you turned them all into clear goals. Me.” Luckily, her angelic look remains.
“It’s a lot for a woman. But I’m here. I haven’t been in a situation where someone so close to me is all-in.
It’s been only me the last few years. Now it’s not.
I wanted to wait until I’m certain I’m not caught in a moment.
You’re charming, in case you didn’t notice.
” She lunges forward to close our distance and scoops up my hands into hers.
“This is where I should be. My brain is catching up. If it didn’t, then what would you do? ”
I hiss a breath and flex my jaw. “I’m not sure you would like that answer.”
She flutters her lashes, not pleased with my answer. “What does that mean?”
Squeezing her hands, I’ve got to keep our touch from breaking. “It doesn’t matter. Just persistence, I guess.”
“So, right now, if I said that it’s better if we were only friends, then what would happen?” By her tone, I’m guessing I might have triggered a slight fear.
“Let it go,” I insist.
She grumbles and makes a point to let go of my hands, shaking me away. “Now I’m frustrated with your vague answers. I don’t want to get hurt, and this is what happens.”
I’m quick to grab her wrist to prevent her from walking away. “I would never hurt you, and you know that.”
Again, she breaks free from my hold. “I’m going to bed.”
“Avoidance?”
“Yes,” she answers bluntly.
“We love one another, you know.”
She is already halfway out of the kitchen area. “We do,” she confirms. It’s her voice when she’s annoyed, but at least she isn’t angry.
I give her 20 minutes to cool off, and when I arrive in the bedroom, she’s sitting up, sewing, and wearing one of my shirts. She doesn’t look up but knows I’m there.
“Still in avoidance mode?” I can’t help but find her cute.
“No,” she intones. “I just needed a minute.”
I off my shirt to get ready to join her. “My fault.” There is a little guilt there.
“It is.”
We have a minute of quiet until I slide under the covers, and she sets her supplies on the side and looks at me as I sit up. “Is this us fighting? Because I don’t want to.”
A smirk dances on my lips. “Then we don’t. Only trying to have a realistic conversation. We didn’t fight. It was a small argument.”
“You’re right. It makes no sense for me to hold off if we already know that we can be something.”
“Good. I’ll end the lease for you.”
She breaks out into a wide smile. “I’m sure you already wrote the email.”
I dive to wrap my body around hers. “You know it.”
We kiss, and this has all been what I needed to hear.
“Make-up sex?” she initiates.
Another way to my heart. “You don’t even need to ask.”
It’s a long night.
But then morning comes, and our usual routine comes to a halt when I walk into the kitchen and find her leaning over the counter, staring at her phone, and fury on her face.
“Your lawyer emailed me.”
I search for the coffee beans, surprised that Elodie hasn’t used the machine yet. “Oh yeah?”
“I didn’t check my email last night.” Her voice chokes off, and I can hear something is horribly wrong.
Giving up on the coffee, I turn to face Elodie, who looks up with tears pooling in her eyes. “The trust papers. We discussed that, so fine. But then he added something, and it got me thinking about what you said last night about how I wouldn’t like your answer if I said we had no future.”
I’m cautious to approach her; something in my chest pings, and it hurts.
She swallows. “He sent me custody papers. Was that your plan all along?”
It takes me a few seconds to dissect what she just said, then it hits me what exactly she means and that a serious error happened.
My entire stomach sinks, because this wasn’t supposed to happen at all.
The lawyer was told not to send those because they are no longer relevant.
Now he has completely pissed me off, and Elodie is an emotional wreck.
Holding my hands up, I’m quick to try to stop her from misunderstanding.
“Elodie, listen to me. He sent those by mistake.” And is now officially fired.
“Who the fuck cares. They were obviously on your mind.”
Shaking my head fervently, I’m trying to disagree. “No.”
“If I denied what was happening between us, then you would play hardball and resort to legal means? I mean…” She laughs sadly. “You think we couldn’t even find an understanding as two normal adults?”
“We would.”
“Have you just been… gosh, is this all to ensure that you have the fine print signed? I mean, you have rights, so you could. But I thought…”
I rush to her and grip her arms to ensure she looks at me. “I’m telling you. He sent them by mistake,” I seethe out as our eyes meet in an intense stare. “I’m madly in love with you.”
Her breathing is heavy as her anger is apparent. “Congratulations. Now we are really fighting. I need space.”
And she storms off, leaving me to slam my hand on the counter. Angry she won’t listen, furious with a stupid piece of legal paperwork, and worried that this is going to push Elodie and me back a step.
But I’ll respect her wish for space—until I can’t.