Page 80 of Tears of Ink
“Have you nothing to say?” I shift from foot to foot. I kind of expected some reaction, not just dead silence.
“Faith, I can’t believe you got this out of them in two days; it’s insane.”
“Oh, it was easy. It was fun, so they were keen to see what stages came next.”
“What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”
“Glassblowing and free form glasswork.”
“Sounds hot.”
“Have you got any other paintings stashed here?”
His eyes narrow. “No, why?”
“I just wondered where you hid all your little secrets.”
“Not here.”
We turn back for the door and my chest begins to ache. He’s already told me he’s driving back to London tonight. It’s nearly midnight, and I think he’s crazy, but he’s got a breakfast meeting at eight. I can’t believe he came all this way just to talk to me. Although the silly giddy little girl locked inside me wants to believe he came this way to kiss me too.
“You going to be okay with Lewis?”
“Another messed-up teenager? Sure, I’ve got that handled.”
We are outside my room and he kisses me on the cheek. I inhale the delicious scent of him.
“Drive back safe,” I say. What I really want to say is “stay”, but I don’t.
He smiles, kisses me again, and walks away, and I slip into my room before anyone can see me.
Elijah has made it clear that this can’t, and won’t, be anything other than just fun between the two of us, and that’s okay. It’s just how I like it: fun, casual, and simple.
When I wake in the morning, there’s a notification on my phone from Messenger.
Eli Jones: I like being a teenager with you.
I grin and swipe the message open.
Faith Hitchin: Don’t forget to grow up for work. Hope your breakfast meeting goes well.
I’m surprised when a green dot appears next to his name and I can see dots moving at the bottom of the screen telling me he’s writing.
Eli Jones: You remembered my meeting, I’m honoured.
I shake my head, and when I glance up as I think of a response, I find an insane version of myself grinning back at me in the mirror.
Faith Hitchin: I feel somewhat neglected by the lack of overnight spooning.
Eli Jones: you’re going to break your rules for me.
Faith Hitchin: don’t be so sure. They are unbreakable and have been for a very long time.
Eli Jones: are you free Saturday?
Faith Hitchin: I’m living in your grandmother’s museum of a house. I think I might be free.
Eli Jones: got to go, the meeting is starting.
