Chapter 33
Eri sat at the table with Avian, Lucy, and Lorna, waiting for their lunch to be delivered.
They’d rescheduled after the incident, waiting for her to feel better.
Both older women thought she’d been sick, and she was grateful they hadn’t asked her anything other than whether she felt better when they’d picked her up half an hour ago.
She didn’t think that lying to her boyfriend’s mom would be a good way to jumpstart their bonding experience, had she asked for details.
“Avian, how has work been?” Lorna asked.
“It’s good, Mamma. I’ve added two extra classes since I have the time now.”
Eri always thought it was so cute the way Avian referred to Lorna as mom, and how the older woman seemed to light up at the word.
Matteo often joked that Lorna wanted a daughter, and she constantly proved him right.
She was grateful for the relationship her friend had with her mother-in-law.
Especially since her mother was such a headache to deal with.
“What about you, Eri?” Lucy asked. “I remember you saying at the graduation lunch that you were job searching. How is that going?”
“I’m doing some freelance work. I’ve posted on a few sites and found minor jobs from them.
But I signed a contract with a large content creator for the next few years.
I originally wanted to work for a company because I wasn’t sure if branching out on my own to start was a good idea, but I’ve decided it is.
It’ll take a little while to get things off the ground, but I’m willing to put the work in. ”
“Congratulations on the contract,” Lucy replied. “I’m sure that will help get you more exposure and aid in starting your own business.”
“I agree,” Avian added. “Koa’s one of the largest creators, and working with her will put hundreds of millions of eyes on your designs.”
“She’s that big?” Lorna asked. Eri and Avian both nodded. “Then I’m sure you’ll have a list of clients in no time. I saw the designs you made for the tattoo event. They were wonderful.”
“They really were,” Lucy agreed. “I know the city takes bids at the beginning of each year for designers and banner creators for festivals. It might be something worth looking into.”
Eri hadn’t thought about that. She assumed they used the same person or company each year, but it was something for her to look into.
There was a lull in the conversation as their server brought their food. Once they were alone again, Lorna continued their conversation.
“We’re having Labor Day at our house this year. Be sure to tell Michael, Avian. If you want, you can extend an invitation to your mom. Eri, invite your dad if he’s available.”
“I’ll call him this evening and let him know so he can make plans to come if he wants,” Eri replied.
“I’ll let my dad know when he gets back home on Wednesday,” Avian responded, not commenting on her mother.
They enjoyed their lunch, and once finished, they headed to the spa to enjoy a full package that included facials, hand massages, foot soaks, and hot stone treatments. Eri felt refreshed and relaxed when they walked out two and a half hours after arriving.
They pulled up at a shopping center after the spa and headed into one of the clothing stores. Eri found a few things that she liked, and then attempted to help Avian choose between two different cute summer dresses for a brief second before they decided the correct choice was to get both.
When it was her turn at the register, Eri pulled her wallet out of her purse. Opening it, she found Elias’ card in her wallet.
“That man,” she muttered.
“Is something wrong?” Avian asked.
Eri shook her head, pulling out her debit card and giving it to the cashier as they gave her the total. “No,” she started, turning her attention back to Avian. “Elias tried to get me to take his card last night to pay for whatever I wanted today. I declined, but he snuck it into my wallet.”
Lucy let out a laugh. “He’s his father’s son. If he gave it to you, use it. I’m surprised he didn’t take your cards out, leaving you no choice but to use his. It’s something Lorenzo would do.”
“He probably thought about it,” Avian said as Eri thanked the cashier, took her card and bag, and stepped aside. “That’s definitely something I could see my husband doing.”
“You and me both,” Lorna added while the cashier rang up her items.
Eri knew her boyfriend well enough to know that if she didn’t use it, he’d say something about it. So, she decided that if she found a single item in one of the other stores they went in, she’d use it then.
When they finished shopping, they dropped her off first, and Eri asked that they all let her know when they got home safely.
Once in her apartment, she removed the tags from the clothing items she bought and put them in the washer.
She put away the other things she had bought before going to her closet.
Elias was taking her out that evening when he finished working.
Once she’d chosen her outfit, she went into her office to check if she’d gotten any more job requests or if there were some listed that she wanted to bid for to kill the few hours she had before she needed to get ready.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Elias refrained from chuckling as Eri glared at him before it morphed into a pout. He clearly wasn’t doing a good job of hiding his amusement as she pinched him playfully.
“It isn’t funny. You told me that the movie wasn’t scary.”
“No, I told you it wasn’t gory, which is what you asked,” he countered.
“I asked if it was scary, and you said no.”
“You asked if it was filled with blood and guts, and I said no.”
“You’re splitting hairs,” Eri replied.
Elias pulled her into his chest. “You didn’t enjoy the way I distracted you?”
She draped her arms over his shoulders. “I didn’t say that.”
He kissed her. The same distraction he’d given her through the movie, unfazed by the other people exiting the theater. When they pulled apart, he took her hand and led the way through the shopping plex to the other end, where they were having a late dinner at a Mexican restaurant.
Once they were seated in the restaurant and waiting for their server to come take their order, Elias reached across the table and took Eri’s hand.
“Did you have fun today on your outing?”
“I did,” she responded. “After lunch, we went to the spa and then did some shopping.”
“What did you buy when you went shopping?”
Eri gave him a rundown of what she bought before their server came to take their order. Once they were alone again, he continued the conversation.
“That sounds like a lot for thirty-seven dollars,” he responded, and he saw the exact moment she knew what he was saying.
He’d put one of his cards in her wallet because he wanted her to use it, but he should have known she wouldn’t for everything she wanted. Elias was sure she’d only used it when she did, because she thought it would pacify him.
“Baby,” she started. “You pay for everything when we’re together. I can handle paying for what I want when I’m out without you.”
“I know you can, but I’m giving you the option of not having to.”
Elias would never claim to be wealthy, but he lived very comfortably. Between both of his careers and his investments, which his parents made sure he got into as soon as he was eighteen, he made good money.
“I know, babe, and I appreciate it. But you’ll enjoy what I used it for.”
“You want to tell me what it is?”
“I prefer to let you see it.”
“Tonight?” Elias asked with a smirk, having a few ideas about what it could be.
She laughed. “Maybe,” she coyly replied before changing the subject. “I was wondering if you’d want to go for a ride on your next free weekend.”
“Of course, Amate. Is there somewhere in particular you want to go?”
“Sandia Crest Byway. I think it would be a different experience to see it on a motorcycle.”
“We can go next Sunday,” he suggested. The shop was closed, and he could take the day off from working on the bikes he was finishing up.
They continued to talk while they waited for their food and throughout dinner. Once the check came, he paid, and they made the walk back to his car.
“Are you staying?” Eri asked when they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building.
“Unless you don’t want me to.”
She leaned across the console and kissed him. “I always want you to.”
“Then I am.”
When they entered the apartment, Eri led him over to the couch and pushed him down. Elias raised a brow at her.
“Stay here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He knew she was up to something, and he had no problem waiting to see what it was.
As he waited, he removed his shoes and checked a few notifications he’d gotten while they’d been out.
They were for tattoo consultations, and Elias checked his schedule for the next two weeks to see when he could fit them in, making a mental note to respond when it wasn’t eleven o’clock at night.
He looked up as Eri entered the living room. His eyes immediately swept over her as he tossed his phone to the side, giving her his full attention. She was dressed in a dark blue lace bra and panty set with matching sheer and lace thigh highs.
“This is what I bought,” she told him, doing a slow spin, and Elias wasn’t ashamed to admit his eyes dropped to her luscious ass cheeks when she did.
“You were right, baby. I do like it.”
“Don’t get up,” she told him when he went to stand as she approached him. “We haven’t christened the couch yet, and I think we should.” She settled on her knees between his legs and reached for his zipper.
Elias ran his thumb along her lower lip. “You going to wrap these pretty lips around my dick?”
She sucked his thumb into her mouth and nodded as she unzipped and unbuttoned his pants.
He lifted his hips to allow her to pull them down as she released his thumb.
Once he was out of them and his boxers, Eri took his dick in her hand and wasted no time taking him as far into her mouth as she could.
Her eyes met his as she slowly came off and swirled her tongue around the head.
It was clear she wasn’t in a hurry, and Elias had no issue letting her take her time.