24. Eli
Eli
My dick is killing me. The guys thought it was absolutely hilarious that I backed myself into the dumbest bet of my life and lost. Now I can’t even work out, film my jump rope videos, or jerk off to inappropriate thoughts of my neighbor.
Everyone at the bachelor party also harassed me, tried to convince me to really commit and get a full Jacob’s ladder and plan multiple appointments to complete that with Marcus, but fuck that.
One rung on that hellscape was high enough for me to climb.
A couple more weeks of healing and it should feel much better. Should being the key word here. It’s not like I am planning on using it anytime soon. Some of the options that Marcus showed me could take six months or longer to fully, one hundred percent heal. No thank you.
“Good morning, peanut,” I say to a sleepy Wren, snuggling her close to me and kissing her cheek. I lay her carefully on the changing table and get to work. Once she is fresh, we make our way to the kitchen, both needing our first meals of the day.
My coffee brews while I make Wren’s bottle, the routine second nature to me now—something I would never have imagined myself becoming a natural at.
My actual breakfast can wait until my baby girl is fed and happy.
It’s a beautiful morning, so I decide to feed her out on the back deck.
We can soak up some gentle rays of vitamin D together before the sun turns harsh and blazing hot.
I settle onto one of the navy-blue padded chairs at the patio table and lean back, letting the soft morning sun kiss my face.
I hear a tiny groan, pulling my attention across the lush green yard.
The lights in Kendra’s garage studio are on, side door wide open, and a gaping Kendra is standing in her doorway.
She locks eyes with me, tries to quickly spin back into the space to hide her embarrassment, but it’s too late .
. . I caught her gawking at me. And I fucking love it.
Love knowing that I still have some kind of effect on her, that it’s not just hatred, no matter how hard she tries to mask it as such.
“Good morning, neighbor,” I say, my voice still gravelly from the early hour.
Biting that temping bottom lip, she replies quietly, “Morning.”
“Come have some coffee with me?”
“I have a lot of work to do.” She points over her shoulder.
“Coffee will give you the boost you need to keep going. How long have you been out here?” I give her a knowing look.
“Since four thirty,” she admits reluctantly.
“Exactly, you need the caffeine. Come on.”
Her shoulders droop with exhaustion, and she trudges across the space between us and up my deck stairs.
Taking the seat farthest from me, she settles in and says nothing.
I study her for a minute before I ask, “Do you mind finishing up Wren’s bottle while I get our coffee?
I had a fresh pot brewing while I fed her, and I am sure it’s ready now. ”
Shifting uncomfortably, Kendra tucks a wild, pink strand of hair back into her messy bun and says, “Sure, I can do that.”
I pass Wren over to Kendra with the bottle and burp cloth.
I see kindness, affection, maybe even love for my daughter in the way she looks at her—but I also don’t miss the shadow of hurt that flickers before she snaps down her softer mask, smiling down at the tiny girl in her arms. I lost Kendra’s trust a long time ago, and there is no way that she would let me in if I asked her why holding my daughter winds up so many emotions for her.
All I can do is be thankful that she was willing to sit here with us at all.
Making our coffee the way we each prefer and placing them on a tray, I linger and watch Kendra and Wren through the open kitchen window.
Wanting to keep her around as long as possible, I decide to put some fruit I had chopped up in the fridge on the tray as well and lemon poppyseed muffins my mom dropped off yesterday.
As I finish arranging everything I hear Kendra’s grumbling to Wren as she pats her back, gently trying to get a burp out of her. Her back is to the window, so she has no idea I can hear her.
“And why does he still have to wear that stupid shirt, hmm?” she asks Wren.
I look down at myself, unaware as to what I had even tossed on today in my sleepy haze to get to Wren as fast as I could.
Huh . . . It was one of my old college T-shirts with the arms cut off, leaving most of my sides exposed.
Kendra always did like it when I wore these—that summer.
It made my cock and my heart ache thinking of how many memories were twisted up and lost to time.
I scoop up the tray quickly, careful not to slosh the hot coffee from the mugs, and make my way back out to the deck.
Kendra looks up at me with narrowed eyes, like she’s trying not to let herself enjoy the sight of me towering over her.
I set the caffeine and breakfast offerings down in front of her and then stretch my arms up over my head, my shirt lifting up, exposing the waistline of my grey sweats, lower abs, and hint of happy trail.
It was too easy of an opportunity to pass up torturing her a little bit, and since Kendra is holding my daughter it isn’t like she could run away.
Picking up my coffee, I sit down right next to her, abandoning my former seat, and she lets out a frustrated sigh. “Do you have to sit right there? You have six other chairs.”
“True, but I wanna be right by my girl.” I reach out and stroke my hand across Wren’s soft, dark hair.
Kendra’s eyes are locked on me, her expression stony and sad all at once. She adjusts Wren in her arms and takes a sip of her coffee.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“You’re welcome. Brought some food too, figured you probably haven’t fed yourself much before you got to work out there this morning.” I nod to her garage.
She lets out a snort. “Correct. I’m in crunch time.”
“What for?”
“My secret project, remember? You promised not to tell.”
“I think I am pretty good at keeping your secrets,” I say evenly, not sure that it was the best idea to try and dip into our past.
“Yeah . . . Rem asked me to make Lainey that stuff, and then I went a bit overboard adding to it so I could surprise both of them. Now I’m feeling like I won’t get it done on time.
I just want them to love it.” Kendra pops a strawberry in her mouth, licks off the juice from her fingertip, and my dick pulses painfully.
“I saw what you were painting the other day, and it was incredible. Rem and Lainey are going to be fucking floored.” I grin at her.
A genuine laugh falls from her berry-stained lips. “Thank you, and shouldn’t you not swear in front of her?” She peers down at Wren. “I mean, I have a hard time stopping myself in front of Kins and she’s one, and I’m not around her twenty-four seven.”
“I definitely should not be swearing in front of her, but it’s still kind of new. Some things just slip out. She is stuck with me and the mess that I am.” I frown.
“You aren’t a mess, Eli. She is so lucky to have you. That you’ve stepped up in the way you have.” Kendra shakes her head. “Not everyone would do that.” She reaches out and squeezes my hand. It only lasts for a brief moment but sends a ripple right to my heart.
Clearing my throat, I push past my emotions. “Besides that time crunching, are you ready for the wedding?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood, picking up a muffin and eating a big bite, crumbs tumbling onto my shirt.
I dust them off as Kendra says, “Yes, everything is planned to perfection. Renee has her yard looking extra nice for the ceremony, the reception at Gino’s is exactly what they want, not overly fancy and relaxed. But of course Renee is making sure it’s still special for them.”
“Well, I can’t wait,” I say enthusiastically. “I’m going to have the most beautiful date there, even prettier than the bride—but don’t tell Rem I said that!” I smile at Kendra, but she is just looking down at Wren.
“Sure. Thanks for the coffee and breakfast. I have to go get ready for work. Full day of clients at Dip and Dye.” Kendra gives Wren a snuggle before passing her back to me and crossing over to her own space.
She doesn’t go back into the house though; she goes to the garage, shuts the door, cranks up loud music, and stays in there the rest of the day even though she said she had to go into the salon.
Once again, showing me I somehow put my foot in my mouth, and she couldn’t wait to get away from me.