Chapter 6 #6
The house was still buzzing with laughter, Jason cracking jokes loudly, Leila swatting him for being extra, and Jonell trying to look innocent like she hadn’t just been airing out my phone.
But when Elias stepped in, the whole vibe shifted.
He was gravity itself, smooth and steady, pulling me in until the rest of the room blurred out of existence.
He leaned close to my ear, his hand sliding low against the small of my back. “C’mon, gorgeous,” he murmured, voice low and warm. “Let me steal you for a minute.”
Heat curled through me. I nodded and followed as he led me toward the kitchen, his big hand wrapping around mine like it belonged there.
The hum of laughter still echoed from the living room when Elias’s hand pressed low against the small of my back, guiding me through the hallway. His touch wasn’t heavy, but it was steady, like he knew the exact pressure needed to quiet the noise in my chest.
We slipped into the kitchen, the air cooler, calmer.
The faint tick of the clock and the hum of the fridge felt loud now that my siblings’ clowning wasn’t drowning everything out.
Elias leaned back against the counter, arms folded across his chest, watching me with those cop eyes, sharp, unflinching, but soft around the edges just for me.
“You gon’ tell me why you was blushing so hard back there?” His tone was smooth, teasing, but the question carried weight.
I ducked my head, my fingers fiddling with the hem of my apron. “Maybe ’cause my siblings don’t know how to mind their business.”
He chuckled, low and dark, the sound rumbling straight through me. “Or maybe ’cause you know you mine, and it’s showing on that pretty face.”
My breath caught, sharp and shaky. His words lodged deep, setting off a warmth I couldn’t hide if I tried. I laughed lightly, trying to shake it off, but it came out too thin.
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re beautiful as fuck when you flustered,” he said, no hesitation, no shame.
I looked up at him then, really looked, and the teasing smile had faded. What was left in its place was heavier. Certain. My pulse stuttered, because I knew this was the space where I either trusted what he was showing me or ran like I always did.
I swallowed hard, pressing my palms flat against the counter.
“Elias…” My voice faltered, but I forced the words out.
“Last night, you don’t know what that did for me.
That place you took me to, the way you looked at me while I was mixing, like what I made mattered?
Like I mattered?” My throat tightened. “You made me remember how much I love this. Creating. Scents. Building something with my hands. I thought I lost it.”
His gaze softened, but he didn’t move, didn’t interrupt. He just let me talk, steady as stone.
I exhaled shakily. “Your words, they’re still in my head.
You said it wasn’t a dream; it was a plan.
And I’ve been hearing that ever since. Every time I stir, every time I add oil…
I hear your voice telling me I’m allowed to want it.
” The silence stretched, heavy but safe.
My eyes burned, but I blinked quickly, refusing to let tears win.
Elias unfolded his arms then, stepping close, close enough that the warmth of him wrapped around me like a shield. His hand came up, thumb grazing my jaw, tipping my chin until I had no choice but to meet his eyes.
“Good,” he murmured. “That’s what I wanted. To remind you who the hell you are. You’re not small, Jonay. You don’t shrink. You shine. And if anybody, me included, ever makes you forget that? They don’t deserve to breathe near you.”
A shaky laugh broke out of me, half sob, half joy. “Why do you talk like that?”
His lips curved, but his voice stayed low, firm. “Because you need to hear it. Because it’s true. And because I’m not letting you tuck your dream away again like it’s too much. You bring the vision, baby. I’ll handle the rest.”
The way he said baby, low and reverent, made my heart stutter.
I leaned into his touch before I even thought about it, my cheek brushing his palm. My voice was a whisper. “You really mean that?”
He bent, forehead brushing mine, his breath warm, his tone steady as scripture. “Gorgeous, I don’t say shit I don’t mean. You’re mine. Your dream’s mine too. And I’ll go to war to see both flourish.”
The dam in my chest broke then. My shoulders loosened, the tears I’d been holding back slipping hot down my cheeks. He caught them with his thumb, brushing them away like they weren’t weakness but proof.
I rolled my eyes to keep from melting. “Fine. If you need proof I’m not running from this, I’ll see you and EJ tomorrow at Little Legends. Lunch. Don’t be late.”
His eyes softened immediately. “Yeah?” His grin widened, boyish but proud.
“Yeah, baby.”
He reached out, thumb brushing my chin up so I had to meet his gaze. “Good. ’Cause my son already half in love with you. And I’m way past halfway myself.”
The words hit me deeply, shaking something loose in me I didn’t even know was locked.
Before I could reply, he bent down low, lips pressing against mine, not rushed, not timid, but sure. His kiss was slow and certain, and when he pulled back, his forehead lingered against mine.
“Lunch tomorrow,” he repeated. “Me, you, and my boy. That’s family vibes. Don’t scare me by saying it if you don’t mean it.”
“I mean it,” I whispered, my chest tight, my cheeks hot. “I want this.”
He smiled, small, dangerous, and soft all at once. “Then it’s set.”
From the living room, Jason hollered, “Yo, y’all better not be back there making me an uncle yet!”
Leila’s laugh cracked through the walls, and Jonell giggled right after. Elias groaned, dropping his face into my shoulder while I laughed, my nerves untangling.
Tomorrow suddenly felt like the most important lunch of my life.
When we walked back into the living room, everybody acted like they hadn’t just been roasting me half to death. Jason had his arm slung over Leila’s shoulders, Uno cards already in his hands. Jonell was curled up in the armchair, scrolling on her phone, legs crossed like she owned the place.
Elias didn’t even hesitate. He sat down on the couch and tugged me right onto his lap, one big hand steady at my waist.
“Excuse you,” I hissed under my breath, trying to wiggle free.
“Nah.” He leaned back, cool as Sunday, his chest solid under my palms. “Seat’s taken. Only you fit right here.”
Of course, Jason whistled low. “Well, damn. Y’all in assigned seating now?”
Leila cackled, smacking his arm. “Baby, don’t be mad ’cause he got her blushing and you still out here fighting lame niggas in the produce aisle cuz I smell delectable as hell.”
Everybody cracked up, and my cheeks burned hotter. I tried to roll my eyes, but Elias’s hand slid slowly against my arm, thumb drawing lazy circles that sent shivers racing down my skin. My body betrayed me, leaning back into him.
Jonell finally looked up from her phone, smirking. “Anyway, I gotta get ready for my conference tomorrow. But before I go… Sis, I saw Kam parked outside your spot the other night. Didn’t say nothing ’cause I knew you’d panic. Just… be careful.”
The room shifted instantly. Jason’s jaw flexed, his eyes darkening. “He still on that stalker shit?”
My stomach dropped, but before I could answer, Elias’s arm tightened around me. He pressed a kiss to my temple, voice calm but commanding. “She’s fine. If it escalates, she’ll stay with me. End of story. Y’all don’t have to worry about her while I’m around.”
Something in the way he said it, steady, protective, and unshaken, settled me down more than it should have. Jason studied him for a long second, then nodded once.
“Welcome to the family, bruh.” The tension cracked, and just like that, Jason slapped the deck of Uno cards down. “Alright. Who ready to catch these hands?”
Two hours later, we were all still talking trash. Leila was screaming that Jason skipped her on purpose, Jonell was accusing everybody of cheating, and Elias was shaking his head like he’d stumbled into a sitcom.
“See, this right here is why y’all my favorite.
Y’all make this too easy,” Jonell declared, tossing down a draw four with evil glee.
“Well, technically,”—Jonell leaned forward, grinning like the devil—“since I brought up favorites, let’s talk about how Mama and Daddy spoiled this one right here. ” She jabbed a finger at me.
“Jonay been the favorite since diapers.”
Leila leaned in, nodding fast. “Facts. Sis been my favorite since day one. Don’t even argue,” she said while slapping down a skip card with glee.
“You should’ve seen her birthday parties, Elias. The whole neighborhood came out, while Jason got socks and a cupcake.”
The way Jason whipped his head toward me had me crying laughing. “Man, y’all ain’t finna rewrite history like that and do Diamond like that!”
“Oh, please.” Jonell waved him off, smug. “Remember the bike situation? Daddy said he couldn’t afford three new bikes since he had just started that new job. Guess who came pedaling down the block with yellow streamers on the handlebars?”
The whole room howled. Jason groaned into his palm while Leila doubled over.
“Y’all petty as hell!” I gasped between laughs. I laughed so hard I almost dropped my cards. “Y’all just mad ’cause I got better report cards.”
The table erupted with chaos. Elias just smirked, tightening his arm around me. He leaned close to my ear, his beard tickling my cheek.
Elias squeezed my waist, his voice low just for me. “You definitely my favorite.” His lips brushed my ear. “Witcho fine ass.”
Heat flared across my face so fast I had to duck my head. My smile was out of control, and I knew my siblings noticed.
Jonell clapped her hands together. “Look at her… Red as a stop sign! Lord, Elias, you done broke my sister, and I love that for her!”
Elias chuckled, lips brushing my temple again like he couldn’t help himself. “Nah. Just bringing her back to herself.”