Page 60 of Cheating Minds
Eliana rolled her eyes, waving him in. “The girls have already gone to bed, but I thought you could keep me company while I finish wrapping?”
He nodded, and Eliana led him to the makeshift wrapping station she’d assembled on the floor beside the tree. Their Christmas wasn’t going to be particularly bountiful, but everything under the tree was funded by Eliana—and Eliana alone.
For a while, they worked in quiet companionship, the same way they worked throughout the majority of the workday. The golden tree lights and the candles on the mantlecast a golden hue upon them, making the space feel cozy and small.
Which is what Eliana believed prompted her next words. “So, my divorce went through.”
The paper Milo was slicing ripped sideways as his scissors lost their grip, and he cursed under his breath.
“Sorry,” he said. “And congratulations. That’s a big win.”
“I’m just really glad we were able to keep it out of court.”
“For sure.” Milo agreed. “So, uh, what’s the new plan?”
Eliana paused, glancing up at him.
“You know . . .” he continued. “Do you want to keep writing? Take those classes? What comes next?”
“Definite yes to the classes,” Eliana said, wrapping the excess paper of the gift she was currently working on around the package three times before tapping it. “I’ve already registered. Only two classes a semester,” she hurried to add, seeing the excitement in Milo’s eyes.
“Two classes are two more than zero, Bugs! That’s awesome.” He paused for a moment, glancing dubiously at her wrapping methods. “And the writing?”
“I think . . . I think I’m going to be done with the writing,” Eliana smiled.
Sharing her story had proven therapeutic at times, traumatic at others, but it had given her insights and ideas and hard truths when she’d needed them most. It had been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but now that her story was told, she didn’t think she had another in her. Instead, she longed to return to the never-ending to-be-read pile perpetually awaiting her attention.
“I see,” Milo said, casting her a nervous side-eye. “And if I were to ask you out formally. On a date. Maybe this weekend . . . do you think that could fit into the new plan too?”
Eliana grinned, giggling softly as she accepted.
The question, however, brought back the memories ofthe reception she'd received when she'd marked her story as complete. The response had been overwhelmingly positive. Shockingly so. But there was one common complaint amongst the chat—and that was the simple fact that Milo wasn’t featured enough. That theromancebetween the two should’ve been explored further.
Eliana couldn’t fault the readers for loving Milo—for wanting more. Not when she felt the same. But the story she’d written,Cheating Minds, was a story of revelations and revenge and finding oneself in the scattered remnants of a broken shell.
The story of Eliana and Milo, however, had no place in that tale. For the story of Eliana and Milo would become a story all its own—one of growth and love and fresh beginnings. It was a story she planned to keep close to her heart. But who knows . . . she could always try her hand at a short story one day.
The possibilities were endless.
