Chapter 26
ELODIE
It’s crazy how a simple bench can be the center of the universe, where people come to contemplate life.
My hometown of Everhope has the best one, perfectly placed for people-watching on Main Street.
Normally, I’d rejoice that good coffee is just across the street.
Today, though, I’m only using my to-go cup to keep my hands warm.
I’m not rejoicing, but I’m not drowning in sorrow, either.
The feeling of someone approaching is strong. It’s an all-too-familiar presence of someone who is persistent, arrogant, and I wouldn’t change a thing about him.
“Thought I might find you here.” I hear Hayes’s voice and, in my peripheral view, notice the way he takes a few steps cautiously before he slides onto the bench. There is a little distance between us, but not so much that all I would have to do is take my pinky to touch his.
"Not many places to go here unless I’m at my parents'." I keep watching people entering and leaving Foxy Rox.
“Is it a coincidence that this is also where we talked the first day we walked back into one another’s lives?”
When he puts it like that, my stoic face softens because I find it both funny in a way and poetic. For a moment, amusement wins out over restraint. “We’ve come full circle,” I say, looking at him, feeling a bittersweet warmth.
Even though it’s been two days, the reverence in Hayes’s eyes remains the same.
Sure, he doesn’t appear to have slept, and the stubble on his face is the perfect length to scrape against my thighs.
But as I watch him, I shift from worry to noticing something peculiar: his patience.
There is more of it than before, and that quiet change soothes me.
“A lot has changed since then, I get that.” He outstretches his arm across the back of the bench. “But to me, it’s only good.”
I laugh dryly. “Then you were some high-powered guy holding legalities over my head.”
He clears his throat, and his face contorts. “I’m aware. To be fair, I was in major shock.”
I nudge his shoulder with mine and begin to smile. “Why? It was a completely normal BBQ. Potato salad included.”
“The fact you just joked is maybe promising.”
“I needed time to think or cool off. But now that I’ve had that, then I’m certain of a few things.
” I roll my lips in and debate the best way to explain myself, feeling hesitant at first. “Sometimes I think who we were on the island are two completely different people than who we are now. Then I remind myself that it has to be. Those were carefree moments, and now we have responsibilities, whether at work or, more importantly, with Lola. We’re not the same people now.
” As I say it, I feel the weight of change settle over me, blending nostalgia and acceptance.
He collects the cup of coffee from my hand and sets it down on the ground under the bench. Scooting closer, I feel his arm wrap behind me to bring me a tad in his direction. “Can I tell you a little secret?”
“That you like the real world a lot better?”
His brows rise. “Reading my thoughts again?”
“Easy to do when I feel the same. Also, disagreeing with you really sucks.”
He tips his head to the side. “No argument there.”
“I love the way you won’t let anything happen to not only Lola but me.
I love the way you can be stubborn and romantic at the same time, and it’s annoyingly hot even if it can twist my mind.
Actually, some may say you are a walking red flag because of your insistent personality.
Except, I've come to learn it's your protectiveness and possessiveness for your family.
Apparently, that's the kind of man I want to be with. But I think I finally know how to navigate you. The direct and tender sides of you. Plus, waking up with you is perfect. I mean, I should probably give credit to your mattress for that one,” I tease him.
“Cute.”
I smile wider. “I love our breakfasts and dinners that make me happy. Or how lucky I feel to catch your eye at work for an extra second because you’re mine.”
“Only yours,” he whispers and squeezes me closer.
“Good, otherwise lingering stares in the office would be awkward,” I retort.
He quirks his lips out in agreement. “Anything else that I should know?”
“Communication is key. That’s why when I took a step back and had a chance to breathe, I do believe that your idiot lawyer— ”
“Ex-lawyer,” he corrects.
“He made a mistake, but at least it forced us to confront everything. I’m a broken record.
Whether I meant to or not, Lola was hidden from you, and you have every right to process and navigate how to handle that in your own way.
But these last months, I’ve hidden my own heart.
I didn’t want to confuse a fantasy in my head that I’ve only imagined before I saw you again.
Everything must be for the right reasons.
The truth is the connection between me and you is ours, always has been.
That also means you have the power to break it. That scared me.”
Hayes swoops up my hands into his. "Trust me. I’m going to cling to the trust you’ve given me, which means I will hold on carefully and confidently.”
“I want us, and all our future brings.”
“Marriage, more babies, in case you need clarity.”
I glare at him playfully. “I’m sure it would be tomorrow if I said yes.”
He shrugs. “You’re not wrong. I'm not getting any younger, and I already got your dad’s approval.” He winks.
Was that what he and Dad talked about at Thanksgiving? “That was fast.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I see vulnerability appear. “Maybe honorable, as my dad would say. But I already knew then that it is far more than infatuation with you. It’s too strong.”
Sighing, I partly turn to rest my head against his shoulder while lacing our fingers together. “The future comes up a lot on this bench,” I joke.
“Last time on this bench, you told me you didn’t expect things from me out of obligation.”
Bubbling a laugh, the memory comes to me. “I’m independent. But then you entered the picture, and I learned that I don’t need to be. I have someone supportive who wants to give me the world. And I want to make him happy.”
“Sweetheart, I’ve never agreed with you more.”
I peer up to meet his eyes. Everything in my chest feels strong, I’m teetering on the edge of complete happiness, and the best part is I know it’s there when I fall. “Thanks for not trying to end my lease without me.”
A smirk crawls on the corner of his mouth. “How do you know I didn’t?”
“Because I contacted them to end my own lease.” I smile at the cocky look he gets on his face at the win.
“And while I’m at it, you’re right. We piece together like a puzzle to make sure Lola has the best, and I need to remember that I’m not parenting alone anymore.
I shouldn’t second-guess or refuse opportunities.
So I’ve told Foster that I’ll go to the conference in Houston.
I have you now, and she’ll love extra alone time with you.
Just don’t spoil her too much. I’ve been demoted a few times on the who-she-cuddles-first scale. ”
“I’ll say no to cookies a few times or buy a balloon to even the playing field again.”
He lowers his mouth to meet mine for a soft kiss, a brush across my lips, really. “I love you, Elodie.”
“Me too. I mean, I love myself, but what I meant was me too, as in I love you,” I begin to ramble.
He grins before his long finger plants on my mouth. “I know what you meant. Don’t be adorable right now. Not when I’m trying to figure out the fastest way to get you somewhere to show you how much I love you.”
“Here I was thinking that I could finally enjoy my coffee since the serious conversation was over.”
He shakes his head and fakes exhaustion from my antics. “Since I’m in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and I’m positive the farmer walking out of the shop with a box of donuts is watching us, then I will abide by your let’s have a coffee reunion.”
I bring my hand to his cheek, feeling his skin against my own, with certainty swirling inside me. “Trust me, that could be an idea. However, I was thinking one more sip of coffee, your car, and this spot outside of town, perfectly secluded.” I flash my eyes at him.
“And that is why you’re my future. Such a smart woman,” he jokes.
I stand up and offer him my hand. “Come on.”
My body molds to Hayes. After yesterday—a quickie in his car and our choice to return to the city—I should be exhausted.
Instead, I soak him in as he drags his mouth along my shoulder while I straddle him.
I breathe in his warmth in what is now our bed.
His hand roams from my hips to my ribcage under his shirt that I’m wearing, mapping me.
I lock eyes with him, my fingers splayed across his chest.
We woke to find ourselves in this position, just lying here for a while, limbs entwined on a lazy Sunday morning. But that’s about to change because I lower my mouth to his.
“I want you inside me,” I whisper.
He smiles against my lips. “Me too,” he murmurs and deepens our kiss. It’s smooth, soft, but pure reverence.
Sneaking my hand between us, I feel his hard cock under his boxer briefs that presses against my wet center. We’re both ready for one another.
I begin to move to align him but freeze when I notice Hayes’s facial expression change to panic.
“I can’t sleep.” Lola stands in the doorway, still in her pajamas, holding her two stuffed bunnies that hang from her hands.
I almost bolt off him at the same time as he tries to toss me off his body, shifting the blanket even though I’m in a shirt that falls to my knees.
Hayes awkwardly chuckles as he adjusts the sheets. “That’s because it’s morning.” Lola begins to patter our way. “I thought that safety thing on the side of the bed was to keep her in bed,” he mumbles under his breath and holds a tight smile.
“Falling out is not the same as climbing out,” I mutter.
We both begin to scoot and make space for her in the middle of the bed.
“What brings you here?” I ask our daughter. “Hungry, I bet.”
She nods her head and looks between us. “Toast jam, please.”
“Of course, your highness,” I promise as we cuddle in together.
“Want to go swimming today?” Hayes asks her, and Lola instantly lights up and bounces, which gives us her answer. “Maybe we can convince Mommy to join us in her bikini.” He winks at me.
“Or I can supervise?” I tease.
Lola begins to pull my arm. “Come swim.”
Rolling my eyes, I won’t be able to decline the suggestion. “Fine. Breakfast first, though.”
“Okay.” Lola begins to wiggle away from us and crawls to the foot of the bed to carefully slide off, and she runs.
“Whoa. Where ya heading?” Hayes checks.
She pauses in the doorway. “Swimsuit.”
We both laugh. “Or breakfast first,” I repeat.
Already at two, she has defiance and runs away anyhow.
Hayes leans in to kiss my cheek. “Raincheck on having you on top of me, and I’ll go handle this.” Then he scampers out of bed too quickly and heads straight to his dresser for a shirt.
I scratch the back of my head with wild hair. “We’ll need to tell her that this is her permanent home now,” I remind us.
His signature grin appears. “I’m not sure that’s going to be difficult.”
He’s right. I’m not sure Lola ever grasped the dynamics of living space. I wave him off. “Meh, you have a pool. She’ll be in heaven.”
He yanks down his shirt as he approaches the bed and crawls onto it quickly to kiss me. “I think her mom is too.”
The back of my knuckles run along his rough cheek as I smile. “How observant of you.”
One more quick kiss, and he disappears.
Sighing, I fall back and rest my head on the pillow. Somewhere in my head, a list develops of laundry, breakfast, and where we left the pool floaties. But it’s quite noisy because I’m still relaxed after the last five minutes.
All because I’m no longer hiding anything, my heart is no longer hidden, and I’ve laid my heart bare. Lola is where she should be, and I’m where I want to be.