Chapter 17 Elijah
ELIJAH
ME
Where are you right now?
CLEO
My parents’ house in Paso Robles. How are you? Where are you?
ME
I just spent four hours on I-5 and now I’m in a luxury suite at Franklin’s favorite boutique hotel. In Paso Robles.
I would love a response, because in case it wasn’t obvious, I would like you to join me here ASAP so we can discuss your emails.
In case THAT wasn’t obvious, it’s actually because I want to make passionate love to you and I would rather not do it for the first time in your parents’ house or in my car.
CLEO
Yes. Sorry, I was just thinking you need to have the hero of your movie do the rushing to see his ex-wife thing at the end, even though I’m sure you would hate it!
ME
You know what, Curly? I can’t think of one thing I hate right now. Unless you don’t show up to this hotel room while I’m once again giving you this very romantic opportunity to meet me in a hotel room in order to have sex with me. I would really hate not being able to see you immediately. Room 7.
CLEO
In case it’s not obvious, I am very glad you drove four hours to see me. I will see you in fifteen minutes. I just have to call Franklin and ask him what to wear.
ME
He will say a trench coat, your sexy boots, and nothing, if he knows what’s good for him.
Today was the best, but tonight is even better.
Right now is good, but fifteen minutes from now will be phenomenal.
As long as Cleo gets here in fifteen minutes.
Here is good. I can see why Franklin likes this place. I have been in some very nice hotel rooms in my day, but the comforter on this bed is the thickest and loftiest I have ever seen. The headboard is…significant. Very sturdy bedposts. I have ideas. But I will save those for later.
I pull out my phone again and open the text app.
ME
I can’t find the remote.
ELAINE
Oh for crying out loud. I quit.
ME
I’m kidding. Thanks for making the reservation. I just wanted to thank you for everything and say that I hope you get well soon. If you were ever truly sick in the first place. I appreciate you.
ELAINE
I must have a fever again because I’m hallucinating.
ME
No, I’m just in a good mood. I don’t expect it to last, but who knows.
ELAINE
Do you need me to come to the office on the 26th?
ME
I don’t. I might not even be working on the 26th.
ELAINE
Well, then I might not recover until the 29th.
ME
That works. Happy holidays, Elaine.
ELAINE
Happy holidays, kid.
I check my watch and then look out one of the windows, even though I can’t see the street or the parking area from here.
Eight years ago, when I was waiting for Cleo in that penthouse suite in Hollywood, I paced around so much I practically wore out the carpet.
I didn’t call her because I didn’t want to seem needy.
When I finally sent her a text to ask where she was, about ten minutes after I got Cleo’s response, I got the call from Alyssa saying she was looking for me at the lounge by the pool because she had something important to tell me.
I didn’t tell her to come up to the room because I didn’t want to explain why I’d booked the room, but I also didn’t want her to be there in case Cleo changed her mind and showed up.
So I met Alyssa down in the lobby. She sat me down in a quiet corner and told me she was pregnant, that I was the only guy she had been with in half a year, and that she wanted to have this baby.
It was literally the opposite of how I saw that night going, but some part of me wanted to be a dad, even then.
I didn’t think I was ready to be a parent yet, but I don’t know that many people feel ready when it happens.
I’d be lying if I said I’d never thought about Alyssa as a possibility off and on—we were basically raised to think about each other that way.
We just didn’t have much in the way of chemistry.
But we had enough love for each other to make getting married and having a baby together work for a little while.
I think we both realized about a year in that we didn’t have what it took as a couple to make it for the long haul.
We just did what was best for Paxton for as long as we could.
And as busy as we were around the holidays, that was always when I could feel it the most—that we wouldn’t be married forever.
I guess that’s why I wanted Paxton to believe that Santa was bringing him presents for as long as he could.
But that kid knows what’s up. He brought me the best Christmas present of all—Miss Cleo. In an elf costume. And sexy boots.
I pick up the TV remote and switch to a channel that plays Christmas songs.
Wouldn’t normally be my first choice when I’ve invited a woman over.
Nor would it be anywhere in my top one hundred choices for a music channel to set the mood.
But I have a feeling this woman will appreciate it.
And I have a feeling I’ll be in the mood no matter what music is playing in the background.
There’s a knock at the door. While twenty-five-year-old me would have taken his sweet time opening it because he wanted to appear cool—thirty-three-year-old me has already ejaculated into Cleo’s hand in a supply closet and woken up on the floor with her, so…I do not take my time.
I fucking sprint to the door and open it to find Cleo standing there, leaning against the door frame with one hand.
I’m shirtless, so the way she bites her lower lip as she looks me up and down…
it’s intoxicating and worth all the cookies I didn’t eat this year.
Even more intoxicating is the fact that she is wearing a black trench coat that hits above the knee, and her legs appear to be bare, which is excellent. She is also wearing yellow rainboots.
“I didn’t bring my sexy boots to my parents’ house, but I did borrow my mom’s sexiest galoshes. You like?”
“I kinda do, actually.” Grabbing her hand, I pull her inside and kiss her. “You’re here.”
“You’re here.”
With my arms around her, I say into her ear, “There are two things I need to say to you. The first is—that must have been so difficult for you that night, and I’m sorry.
But you are an exquisite, gracious human being, and you did the very best, right thing.
I mean, I would have fallen head over heels in love with you if I’d slept with you that night.
But if I’d found out Alyssa was pregnant after that…
it would have hurt you so much worse because even though I would have wanted to go with you to New York, I would have done right by Alyssa no matter what.
And as melancholy as I was that you and I never had a chance together, I have never regretted being there for Paxton. ”
“I know. It all worked out for the best, though, didn’t it?”
“It’s a fucking Christmas miracle, babe.”
“What’s the second thing?”
“I want you to strip for me and then get on that bed so I can fuck you.”
She steps away from me, grinning. I follow her over to the bed as she slowly unties the belt around her waist. Then she turns to face me as she unbuttons the trench coat. “Well. I chose not to wear nothing under here, in case I randomly got pulled over for speeding to get here.”
“Smart, and I like the enthusiasm.”
Letting the coat drop to the floor, she says, “But I did wear the vest my mom crocheted for me. I think it’s super cute.”
There are two smiling Rudolph faces with red pom-poms over her boobs.
“I’m into it. Take it off.”
She does. She unbuttons the three buttons and lets the vest drop to the floor.
After staring at her naked breasts for what feels like forever and also not nearly long enough, I notice she’s wearing a pair of green panties that are embroidered with the words Kiss Me, I’m Elfish.
And there’s a little felt Santa’s helper hat sewn onto the waistband below her belly button.
There is no logical reason for me to be so turned on by those ridiculous panties, but I am. I am ridiculously turned on by them.
Well, now I’m just turned on because she’s slowly wriggling out of them and kicking them away with her foot.
And there she is, naked before me. With enough curly hair on her head for two women and exactly the right amount of everything for me.
“You are so beautiful,” I marvel.
“Thank you. I look forward to getting a better look at your penis.”
“You say the best things.”
She climbs onto the bed, facing me and maintaining eye contact the whole time, until she lies back and practically disappears into the comforter. It’s like the comforter is swallowing her whole. Her joyful laughter pleases me, but fuck that—the comforter can’t have her. She’s mine.
I am out of my pants faster than I can say, “Get back here, you.”
She lifts and spreads her arms, and there she is again.
It’s like the sun shining through the clouds.
My heart is racing, and I need a minute to catch my breath.
So I do the thing I always did in film school when I couldn’t believe how pretty she was and I didn’t want her to know she had the power to bring me to my knees.
I start critiquing her. While removing my boxer briefs.
“Those panties you were wearing…did I get the concept right? Was there an elf inside of them? The concept is kind of messing with my head right now.”
“Are you giving me notes on my whimsical Christmas panties, Mr. Abrams?”
“Sorry.” I actually am sorry. I need to stop doing that.
This woman should be praised all day long, by everyone, especially me.
“What I meant to say is… Am I going to have to kick the shit out of one of Santa’s helpers?
They all need to know that this pussy is mine.
” I dive into the clouds, into the sun, between those impossibly strong thighs, taking her magnificent pussy in my mouth. Again. From a new angle.
“Elijah,” she whimpers, combing her fingers through my hair.