Chapter Six
Elizabeth stared at Kevin, wondering why she’d ever looked anywhere else.
She had always loved him. Always. Even as a child.
Then it had been different, more innocent, and carefree, but as they’d gotten older, what she felt for him had changed.
It had matured as she had. She had watched from afar as he’d dated every cheerleader, every popular girl in school, then he’d joined the Army and left home.
She had finished high school and gone to college.
She’d gone on with her life, even if every time she heard his name she clung to the warm way he made her feel, even if he had no clue.
She’d heard that Kevin had come home, but she hadn’t seen him.
She’d thought she might have one day but the stranger had been so different from the Kevin she’d known, she dismissed it as her mind playing tricks on her.
Then things had gotten serious with Michael.
He’d proposed and, at Mama’s urging, she’d accepted. She’d thought things were good.
Then one night she knew she had to see Kevin. She had to see him before she married Michael. Yeah, she’d been drinking, but only enough to lower her inhibitions. She’d taken an Uber out to the compound where she’d heard he lived, then asked around and knocked on his front door.
After that, Kevin had called, and sent more text than she knew what to do with, but guilt about what she’d done, and behind Michael’s back, had kept her from picking up or replying, even once.
And now she sat here, staring back at him as his words slowly sank into her brain.
“I won’t force you to do anything, but I want this chance with you, Elle.
I want to have this baby. To raise it together.
I want an us. But I want you to be happy, Elle.
I want you happy more than I want anything else.
So, whatever you decide, I’ll back you. I’ll be here for you no matter what, sugar.
You just need to tell me what you want.”
She searched his face, one she knew as well as she knew her own, looking for any sign he wasn’t being completely honest with her.
“I—” She stopped and swallowed, not sure she could get the words out. “I want to try. I want this baby and I want you.” Her words were barely more than a whisper but since he was only inches away, there was no doubt he heard her.
“Thank you.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers in a chaste kiss. “Finish eating, sugar.” Kevin pushed himself to his feet, picked his pizza up and took a bite.
She turned back to her plate and realized she hadn’t ordered anything to drink.
“Well, crap.”
“What?”
“I forgot to order anything to drink.”
“And I guess the whiskey I brought is out. I saw a vending machine next to the elevator, what do you want?”
She told him, he snagged the keycard she’d left in front of the TV and left, promising to be right back. She glanced around the room, wondering what she could do to keep busy because as nervous as she was now, there was no way she could sleep, or even sit still.
She’d just finished her pizza when she heard the latch on the door. Turning, she watched as Kevin let himself in, two bottles of coke in one hand.
“You didn’t need to get me two.”
“I didn’t. One’s for me.” He came in and let the door swing shut behind him, then dropped the key back where he’d gotten it and handed her one of the cold bottles.
She twisted open the top, listening for the seal cracking that told her it was sealed, then tipped it back and took several long swallows. When she lowered the bottle she found Kevin watching her, one brow lifted.
“Good?”
“Excellent. Thank you.”
“No problem, sugar.” He moved closer, leaned over, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You determined to stay here tonight?”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Why did you come here?” He lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed. He met her gaze.
“I told you. I couldn’t go home. Michael has a key.”
“I know, but that’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Why here? You had to have passed at least thirty hotels, at least half of them nicer than this place. What made you come here, out of all of them?”
She dropped her gaze, first to her hands, then to the floor. “I—I don’t know.”
“Then let’s look at this a little different. Why head this way? Why not go north to Creola, or even to Pensacola or Biloxi? You came here. Why?”
Elizabeth looked up, looking at the abstract print mounted above the bed, but not really seeing it.
“I knew I had to tell you. I came this way because you live out here.” She paused, licking her lips before continuing. “I was going to call you in the morning.”
“That’s what I was hoping to hear.” He reached out and covered her hands with one of his.
He tugged them toward him and took her hands in his.
“Now that I know, there’s no reason to stay here, sugar.
Want to come to my place? The bed’s more comfortable; the fridge is stocked and if we need anything I can send a prospect.
I’ll tell them not to let anyone new into the compound without checking with me, so even if Anderson or your mom figures out where you are, they can’t get to you. I’ll protect you, sugar.”
Elizabeth met his gaze, stared at him for a moment as everything her mother would say when she found out ran through her head.
that reminded her. She found her phone, and sent Mama a message saying she was fine.
She was safe and she would be in touch soon, but she needed some time.
She let Mama know she’d be shutting off her phone, then she powered it down.
If she stayed here, she’d hear her mother’s voice in her head all night long.
She would worry and stress about it. If she went with Kevin, he would distract her and keep her from brooding.
“Let’s do it.” She stood. If she was leaving, she needed to change clothes.