Chapter 14
Sibyl
“Sibby!” Tucker crashes into my legs, his little arms wrapping around me. I scoop him up, burying my face in his neck. God, I missed him so much. I missed Eli, too, I did, but this kid is the highlight of my day.
There have been very few days in the last four years that I haven’t seen him.
This is the longest I’ve spent away from him, and it about killed me.
I knew I had a crush on Eli, but I think I’ve been in love with this little boy since the day I met him.
I remember thinking how perfect Lara and Eli had done.
I don’t know when I started to see him as mine, but now that it’s an option? There’s no denying how I feel about them both. I want to be theirs, and I want them to be mine.
“Hey Buddy, I missed you.” I smack a kiss on his cheek, smoothing his wild curls off his face. He has hair like his mama. Unruly and beautiful, just like she was.
“I thought you were mad at me.” Tucker pulls away, looking down at his feet. His hands tangle around each other, and nervous energy buzzes around him.
“No way. Why would you think that?”
“I made you stay to read that story. I woke up, and I saw you leave. You were crying, you—”
“That was my fault.” Eli kneels beside us, putting a hand on Tucker’s shoulder. “I made her cry.”
“But why?”
“Because I was scared.”
Air whooshes out of me at Eli’s confession. I guess we’re doing this now.
“You’re not scared of anything,” Tucker scoffs.
“I am, though.” Eli ruffles his hair, leaning against the couch. “I know you don’t remember her, Buddy, but I loved your mom.”
Tucker folds himself onto the floor, tugging me down with him. He leans into me, one little hand clutching mine, his face somber. Even he knows how rare it is for Eli to talk about Lara.
“When I lost her…” Eli sits forward, picking at the seam of his jeans. “It was really hard for me, Bud. I had a rough couple of years.”
“Because you missed her?”
“Yeah.” Eli sighs.
“I’m sorry you’re sad, Dad.”
“Thanks, Buddy. It’s not your fault. I am so happy to be your dad.”
“I know.” Tucker reaches out to pat Eli’s hand. “I’m still sorry you’re sad.”
I squeeze Tucker’s hand, giving Eli what I hope is an encouraging look.
“The reason I was scared—the reason I made Sibyl cry—is because I realized that I love her.”
Tucker’s jaw hits the ground, his eyes bounce between us.
“I got scared that I would lose her, too. Scared I might make your mom sad, if I love someone new.”
“Sibyl’s not new.” Tucker’s head cocks to the side, contemplating.
“No, she’s not. But the way I feel for her is new.”
“You love her?”
“I do.” Eli peers over Tucker’s head, green eyes piercing into mine.
“Sibby, do you love my dad?”
“I do.” I glance at Tucker.
A wide, toothy grin spreads across his face, then worry clouds his little eyes as his hand pulls from mine. “Will my mom be sad if I love you, Sibyl?”
“No,” Eli and I whisper at the same time.
“I don’t want to make her sad. You said she’s always with us.” Tucker’s baby blues turn to Eli.
“She is. She watches over you, and she just wants you to be happy, Tucker. She’d never be sad if you loved Sibyl. She loved Sibyl too, in her own way.”
Tears fill my eyes at the memories of all of us together. Lara fit right in. From the moment we met her, we all loved her. Every single one of us. I’d come to terms with my unrequited crush years before she came around. I was happy for them—happy that Eli had found someone so perfect for him.
I glance at him. There’s a soft smile on his face. One big hand comes up to wipe the tears off my cheeks.
“So we can all love Sibby?” Tucker asks, voice hopeful.
“We can, and we do. Don’t we, Bud?”
“Yeah, but I love her more. She was my girl first.”
A laugh bursts from Eli, light and sweet. The kind of laugh he used to give so freely. It wraps around me like a warm summer day.
“Maybe she can be both of ours.” Eli ruffles Tucker’s hair before his hand reaches for mine.
“Sibyl, do you wanna be our girl?” Tucker’s sweet face turns toward me.
“If you’ll have me.” I grin.
“We’ll have you.” Eli’s voice softens. He leans forward, pressing a tender kiss to my lips.
“Wait, Dad. What about the girl you went on a date with?” Tucker’s eyes widen, as if he just remembered.
“Funny story, kiddo.” Eli grins. “Sybil was the girl.”
“What?!” Tucker squeals. “You didn’t tell me that!”
“Yeah, because you can’t keep a secret.” Eli hauls his little boy into his lap, tickling him until we dissolve into giggles.
We spend all night snuggled in together. Tucker makes us take turns telling funny stories. Eli has all the good ones about Taylor and Kellan, while I have a few of my own about him, both of us recalling funny memories of Tucker.
We talk so long that Tucker falls asleep cradled between us on Eli’s bed, with one chubby little hand wrapped around mine.
“Hey,” he rasps. His fingers tuck a hair behind my ear as he jerks his head toward the door.
I shimmy out from underneath Tucker, following Eli back down to the main level. He pulls me onto his lap, settling into the couch with me in his arms.
“You know I’m never letting you go now, right?” His breath tickles my skin. Goosebumps cascade down my arms.
“I sure hope not,” I whisper.
Eli’s hand trails down my spine, sending another shiver through me.
“I want to taste you,” he murmurs into my neck, his tongue flattening as it drags up my throat. I think I might whimper. “Can I taste you?”
Eli slides one hand into my hair, his fingers tightening into a fist. Tugging gently, he bares my neck, lips sealing around my pulse point. His other hand slides between my legs, pressing into the seam of my leggings.
“Yes,” I breathe. At this point, I think I’d say yes to anything he asked me.
I am so far gone for this man.
Eli lies me on my back, slowly stripping my clothes off, fingers trailing across my skin. I gasp as they ghost over my ribs. The sensation is almost too much to bear.
“Fuck me. You’re so fucking pretty.” Warm calloused palms slip beneath me, his fingers unclasping my bra. One hand spreads out across my rib cage, the other braces the couch as he leans down, taking my nipple between his teeth.
My back arcs into the cushions, chest pressing into him. His tongue laves, lips locking around my nipple, sucking until it’s a hardened peak.
He trails kisses across my chest, moving to my other breast.
I moan, sinking my hands into his hair, tugging to pull his face to mine. Our lips meet in a messy kiss. Teeth clacking, bodies surging to meet each other.
“No,” I whine, trying to hold Eli’s face to mine when he pulls away.
“I’ll make it worth your while, Sibby. I promise.”
“Fine,” I grumble, relenting.
I watch him slip down my body, one knee dropping to the ground as he plants himself between my legs, spreading me open.
He groans. “You’re fucking soaked.”
“Mmm,” I hum. “Have been from the moment I heard your voice at the diner.”
“Fuck me,” he whispers, swiping one finger through my slick heat. “So fucking pretty,” he mutters, moving closer until his mouth is on me.
His tongue tastes every inch of my pussy. I’m writhing by the time he comes up to my clit. Green eyes peering through his lashes, watching me as I start to spiral tighter and tighter.
He flicks my clit with the tip of his tongue, sending me over the edge. I chant his name, fingers gripping his hair. My hips thrust into his face, thighs shaking as he wrings every last drop of pleasure from me.