Page 67 of Forever Mine
Taking the pot off the burner, I get two mugs down and pass one to Jay when he comes back from the pantry.
“Elijah likes a mountain,” I tell him.
“I know,” Jay replies, adding a Mount Fiji amount of marshmallows to Elijah’s cup before doing the same to his.
“Hey, Jules?”
I stop under the kitchen archway. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
I look at my twin. My other half. My best friend.
“Me, too.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
Retracing my steps, I wrap my free arm around him. “Will do. Love you.”
“Ditto.”
Just as I go into the bedroom, the air conditioning kicks on, causing the tiny flames of the candles I lit to bend and dance on their wicks.
I find Elijah exactly where I left him in the tub. His eyes are closed, his breathing slow and steady. If it weren’t for the small smile, I would’ve thought he was fast asleep.
“I smell chocolate.”
I sink to my haunches next to the garden tub. “Thought you might like some marshmallows. There may be a smidge of hot cocoa somewhere underneath.”
He snort-laughs, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.
Setting the mug on the bath tray, I fold my arms over the lip of the tub and prop my chin on top of my folded hands.
“Feeling better?”
Elijah swims his fingers through the suds. “Much better.”
I scoop some bubbles and drip them on his chest. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Sitting up, he leans against the side of the tub and rests his cheek on my forearm.
“I scared the shit out of myself. I don’t get it. I had no problem standing up to Justin, but going into the freaking bathroom at Belly’s sends me into a goddamn panic attack. I feel all sorts of stupid.”
“Please stop saying that. You’re not stupid. You’re the strongest fucking person I know. What happened tonight doesn’t make you weak.”
“You didn’t freak out after what Marshall did to you.”
I detest even hearing that asshole’s name. I still carry the physical scars of what he did, but Elijah has suffered more at his hand. Years of bullying, abuse—sending Justin to terrorize him. I don’t like to wish ill on people, but that fucker has it coming.
“I had you to be my light. Every time I start to drown, you save me. You’re my hero, Elijah.”
He hits me with those expressive hazel eyes. “You’re my everything.”
I brush my fingers up his neck. “I don’t deserve it, but I love the way you see me.”
“Isawyou the second we met.”
The double entendre isn’t lost on me.
