Chapter 23 #2
Elliot was drunk. That much had become increasingly clear over the last hour of the festival, and now as he and Daisy meandered back to the flower shop, it was obvious.
Main Street was empty save for a few stragglers heading back to their cars or walking the few blocks home, which was for the best considering drunk Elliot apparently liked to sing. Loudly.
‘Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do,’ he crooned as they walked. ‘I’m half-crazy all for the love of you…’
Daisy hadn’t heard this song since her grandpa used to sing it to her when she was little. Despite the curious stares from a few people walking across the street from them, Daisy smiled.
‘It won’t be a stylish marriage. I can’t afford a carriage. But you’ll look sweet upon the seat of my bicycle built for two.’ Elliot threw his arms out on that last note, really going for it, and he got a smattering of applause from the others on the street and one call for an encore.
‘Do you know that one?’ he asked, ignoring his new fans.
‘I do, actually.’
‘It’s a good one.’
‘Very good.’
‘It’s about you.’
‘Is it?’
‘It should be.’
‘Okay, Elliot,’ she said with a laugh, steering him toward the shop with one arm around his waist. He slung his arm over her shoulder.
‘You’re so pretty,’ he said.
‘Thank you.’
‘No, I mean it. You’re the prettiest girl in the entire town.’
Daisy bit down on a smile. Sure, he was drunk, but it was still nice to hear.
‘Thank you, Elliot.’
‘Probably in the entire world.’
‘I think you’re getting carried away.’
She could feel him shrug.
‘I don’t think so. I think you’re the prettiest girl in the entire world.’ He started humming ‘Bicycle Built For Two’ again, and she realized there was no way he was driving home. Or walking for that matter. He was barely putting one foot in front of the other as it was.
‘Hey, Elliot, where do you live?’
‘Here.’
‘I know, but like what’s your address?’
This seemed to stump him. He told her several addresses, none of which were in Dream Harbor.
He was very insistent on a particular one in New York that she was sure must have been his house with his ex, and she wasn’t about to point that out.
Not right now. Not when Elliot’s version of being sloppy drunk involved serenades and compliments.
‘I think you need to spend the night.’
His brows rose comically high above his glasses. ‘A sleepover?’
‘Yep.’
He groaned a little bit. ‘I’m sorry I drank too much fairy wine,’ he said, leaning into her as she unlocked the door and she tried not to laugh at his new name for the wine he’d been drinking all night.
‘That’s okay. That stuff packs a punch.’ They walked through the darkened shop, Elliot’s arm still draped over her shoulder. He wasn’t putting his weight on her, but he was definitely letting her guide him past the flowers and the mess she’d left behind in her hurry to get to the festival.
‘I was nervous about tonight. About hooking up,’ he whispered, his breath tickling her ear, confessing.
‘I was, too.’
‘You were?’ He sounded shocked, which almost made Daisy laugh.
‘Of course. I didn’t know … I mean, I wasn’t sure what you would … want. After you said you didn’t want to be fuck buddies.’
‘Me, neither,’ he said with a groan as he plopped onto the end of her bed which, luckily, she had pulled down from the wall before she left.
Elliot looked suddenly lost as he took the crown from his head.
Daisy moved closer to brush the petals from his hair.
He opened his legs, and she stepped between them. His hands found her hips.
‘We’re not going to hook up tonight,’ she said.
‘I know.’
‘And maybe we should stop calling it that. It sounds ridiculous.’
‘Definitely,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I am sorry, Daisy.’
‘Don’t be. This is for the best. It’s … safer this way.’
Elliot let out a sad little moan and rested his head against her clavicle. His fingers gripped her hips tighter, like maybe he didn’t think this was for the best at all. Like, maybe he wished they were having an entirely different type of sleepover.
‘You’re probably right,’ he said as she ran her fingers through his hair. It was thick and dark, and she resisted the urge to tug on it. He smelled like wine and fruit and bonfire smoke. She probably did, too. Like summer and desire.
She nearly changed her mind. She nearly pushed him back on her bed and climbed on top of him—consequences, be damned.
But then what?
‘I’m definitely right.’ She pressed a chaste kiss to his head, forcing herself to do the right thing, the responsible thing.
Sleeping with Elliot while he was drunk was morally questionable at best, and definitely not going to lead to a good time.
She hadn’t been able to convince him that they could sleep together casually while he was sober, she certainly shouldn’t try while he was drunk.
She extracted herself from between his legs, his hands lingering on her hips but finally letting go as she pulled away, backing up toward the kitchen.
‘You should have some water.’ She poured him a glass, needing to put some space between them, which was nearly impossible in this tiny apartment.
‘Thanks.’ His eyes were dark, his lips wine-stained, and his hair a mess from her fingers as she handed him the glass. She needed to get out of here.
‘I’m going to get ready for bed. I’ll be right back.
’ She left him on the bed singing quietly to himself as she went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her, shutting Elliot and his tempting mouth and strong hands out.
She gulped a deep breath, repeating to herself that this was for the best. Sex would only make things worse, more complicated, harder to recover from.
But then she thought about the way Elliot’s fingers dug into her hip bones, and the way his hair felt in her hands, and the way he kissed her like he meant it—like he had put his whole self into that kiss—and she thought she needed to give Mac a piece of her mind tomorrow about the strength of those damn drinks.
Because this did not feel like it was for the best at all.
It felt like they’d gotten so close only to have the moment ruined.
She went round and round like that as she did her nightly routine, wanting Elliot while not wanting to get hurt by him. Or to hurt him. Round and round until she had no idea where she’d landed.
By the time her face was washed and moisturized, and her teeth flossed and brushed, and she returned to the bedroom, Elliot was fast asleep. The decision was made for her.
Daisy gently took off his glasses. He sighed a little when she did and she couldn’t help but push his hair away from his forehead. Why did he have to look so damn pretty?
She put the glasses on the table and then curled up on her own side of the bed, determined not to touch him anymore, not to make this feeling in her chest worse.
The first night they slept together was turning out just as fake as the rest of their relationship.
But the frustration of not having him for real was building.