Chapter 35
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FIVE
THIS WASN’T AN actual date. Not to Georgia anyway. Roman was Anna’s best guy friend, and it seemed more like a demand from her friend, not a romantic gesture from Roman. Besides, she wasn’t ready to date. She was still healing.
But this was the first time out of her apartment, not including work, since she and Elijah broke up, and she wanted to have a little fun.
Georgia wasn’t impressing anyone but herself, so she wore something that made her smile. Tonight, her outfit consisted of straight-leg jeans, a long-sleeve white shirt with lacy sleeves, and a pair of pointy-toe blue stiletto heels.
Casual, but sexy.
And it was all to institute a good mood and confidence.
Georgia wasn’t in the mood to do her hair, but she wore it in a fashionable sloppy bun, and for something whimsical, she put on a sparkly rose gold headband. Just a swipe of mascara and some lip gloss, and she was ready to go.
Normally, she was all about driving herself on dates, but Georgia was comfortable with Roman. It was odd he didn’t offer to pick her up, since they were friends. Sort of. That wasn’t going to get her down. While Roman had asked her out, tonight wasn’t about that.
Not for her.
It was more like her welcome back to the world after Elijah ripped out her heart.
Being on the safe side, she decided to order an Uber. While she didn’t think she’d have more than her standard two drinks, she wasn’t sure if the pressure of being out with another man would make her want another. She wasn’t going to risk driving.
Within twenty minutes, she arrived at Lighthouse. It was her turn at the welcome stand where two hostesses stood.
“Hi there!” The one with pretty red curls greeted her. “Do you have a reservation?”
Georgia smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm. “Yes, under Roman Sanders. It’s for two.”
The other hostess, with long black hair and eye makeup Sophie would adore since it was over the top, wasn’t as smiley. She grabbed two menus and waited for the other girl to tell her what to do.
“Roman isn’t here yet, but he called to tell you he was running a few minutes late,” the redhead informed her.
Not ideal, Georgia thought, but it was kind of him to call ahead so she didn’t wonder where he was.
Maybe he lost her number or something so he couldn’t text her.
“But let Madeline show you to your table.”
She followed the girl with the great makeup to a booth hidden in the corner. With a frown, Georgia realized it was across from the back of the bar, where she originally met Elijah. She sat up tall. No way was he going to let him deter her from having a good night.
Madeline laid the menus on the table and eagerly skirted away, not saying a word.
This wasn’t her first, or heck even tenth, time at Lifehouse, but she still perused the menu while she waited for Roman. She set her phone on the table because if he didn’t join her in twenty minutes, she was going to send him a text to check in and make sure everything was okay.
The server came over and asked what she wanted to drink, and Georgia decided on a water and a Cosmopolitan. Something about wearing pointy-toed heels made her feel like an extra on Sex and the City, so a Cosmo was fitting.
By the time her drinks arrived, Roman was still nowhere to be found.
Georgia picked up her phone and was typing out a text when someone stood at the edge of the table. She glanced up and, wow. Her phone slipped out of her hand.
Roman still wasn’t there.
But Elijah was.
And of course, he looked delicious in jeans and a black sweater, hugging his muscles tight.
“I fucked up.” Elijah took a deep breath. “May I sit down?”
She shrugged as if it was no big deal when she was screaming on the inside. “Sure, but when Roman gets here, you have to leave.”
Immediately, he took a seat so close next to her that she had to scoot down the small booth to give them a few inches of space.
“Roman isn’t coming.”
As classy as she could manage with her nerves all over the place, she took a sip of her Cosmo. “And why is that?”
Elijah licked his lower lip, and even though he wasn’t trying to be sexy, a shiver ran up her back. “I threatened his life if he took you out.”
“Are you kidding me?”
He shook his head. “Not even a little. Why?” Elijah paused, his eyes wide with nervousness. “Did you want to date him?”
A part of her wanted to say yes, but if she wanted him to stop playing games, she couldn’t either. “No. But eventually, I will want to date someone, and you can’t threaten every man I find attractive.”
He made a noise, almost like a growl, but he didn’t comment.
“Elijah, why did you crash my nonexistent date?”
Grabbing one of her hands, holding her tightly, he stared at her. “Because I need to apologize and make sure you understand how I feel. From there, you decide if I stay for dinner. Will you please let me do that?”
Was he going to torture her with another I can’t be with you speech and try to friend-zone her?
“Peach, please?” Elijah begged her to listen, and after everything, she figured she owed him that. Georgia nodded in agreement.
Naturally, their server returned to the table. She must have sensed the tension because she put another glass of water on the table for Elijah and left.
“I’m proud of you for recognizing what you deserve. I’m sorry for not being that person when we were dating.”
“But you were.”
“In some ways,” he admitted. “But in other ways, I was scared shitless of losing you, so I kept things casual to protect myself, which wasn’t fair.”
What the hell type of apology was this?
“You were scared of losing me?” She was so over this crap. “I thought it was your job you were freaking out about.”
“I was afraid of that too. Losing Miles was one of the most difficult moments of my life. He wasn’t just a mentor, but a father figure and person I leaned on when losing my parents.
The idea you could be in the same situation as his wife gave me fucking nightmares.
But I can’t keep living in fear because now I’ve lost you either way, and it’s fucking agonizing.
I miss your smile and positive attitude.
I miss hearing your stories from work and how you always manage to save the day.
I miss you reading next to me and listening to your reactions as you read your book.
I miss kissing you and all your sweetness. Fuck, I miss you. I miss us.”
Elijah stopped for a moment, only to pull her hand to his mouth so he could kiss her palm.
“I love you, Peach. And I promise, I’m all in, if you’ll have me.”
Georgia blinked back the tears that were building.
Elijah’s hand on the table moved to cup her cheek. “Please tell me you still love me.”
While she wanted to jump in his lap, overjoyed with his apology, she had to decide whether it was enough.
HANGING ON BY a thread, Elijah clutched Georgia’s hand. He had no idea how he would handle her rejection.
She glanced at him with her beautiful green eyes. “Elijah, I love you. But love isn’t always enough.” Georgia gave a grim smile. “If you really want to be with me, the way I want to be with you, things need to be different this time around.”
Fuck yes, his shoulders finally let go of the tension they harbored. Elijah was willing to do anything if it meant Georgia wasn’t walking away.
“Tell me what you need.”
Georgia gave him a real smile this time. “You are not allowed to push me away. We both need to be honest, consistent, and respect each other. This is nonnegotiable.”
“Done. What else?”
“I want dates, whether it’s a hike or reading together or we go to dinner. I understand your schedule is hectic, but we need to make time for each other.”
“Agreed.”
“Why is this so easy?” Georgia wondered as she bit her lip.
“Because I want the same thing as you.”
“Then I want the label. I need to be your girlfriend.”
Little did she know that he wanted a hell of a lot more than that, but now wasn’t the time to propose.
“Georgia, my peach, you are mine whether you like it or not. You have been from the moment we met. If you want the title, take it. I’m not going anywhere.
” Elijah was committed to her, and there wasn’t any hesitation.
Deep down, he always knew she was the one, from the moment she sashayed over to him when they didn’t even know each other’s names.
“I’m in love with you. Nothing is changing that. ”
Fucking finally, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
It was soft and tender, but it’s been three damn weeks.
Elijah’s hand grabbed the back of her head and tilted it back so he could deepen their kiss.
His mouth pressed against hers, and he slipped his tongue in, loving her sugary taste.
Georgia moaned, and he bit her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth before pulling away.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you so much.” He was grateful Georgia was taking him back. “My life has no light in it without you.”
She hugged him close, her cheek resting on his shoulder. “I’ve missed you too, Elijah. You make me the best version of myself.”
“Don’t break up with me again.”
“Don’t give me a reason to.”
Elijah chuckled. “Fair.”
“Do you have anything you’d like to add to the list? What are your expectations of me?” Georgia asked him.
Gently, he kissed her lips. “Exactly what you said. Honesty is critical. And we can add finishing everything off your list.”
She slanted her head. “List?”
He laughed. “How quickly you forgot about your sex list.”
Her face flushed.
But he wasn’t done. “I also have a shit ton more to add to it.”
“Are you two ready to order?” their nervous server asked.
Elijah kept his eyes on Georgia. “We’ll actually take the check.”
When it was just the two of them, his mouth was like a magnet to hers. “I love you forever, my peach.”
“I love you too, Elijah.”
He was thankful as fuck she forgave him. Next step was getting her to move in.