Page 72 of Finding Elodie
“Yup. I appreciate that, for my sake as well as yours. Because if they’d kidnapped you and scared you, I would’ve had to beat the shit out of them.”
Elodie had a feeling he wasn’t kidding about that either. “So you came up with the hiking plan?”
“Yeah. And figured Aleck could buy all the burgers and shit. His place really is amazing. We gave him crap about renting such an expensive place, until he told us he wasn’t renting, that his family owned the condo. Apparently they’re loaded, and when they found out he was going to be stationed here, they gave it to him and bought another for themselves, for when they visit the island.”
“Wow,” Elodie said.
“Yeah. You wouldn’t know it by looking at him that his family’s rich. I think he was on the team about six months before we even found out. I figured we might as well take advantage of the perks of the complex.”
Elodie was looking forward to seeing Scott’s friends and teammates again. There was no chance to get to know them aboard the Asaka Express. She couldn’t help but hope they liked her.
“You have nothing to worry about,” Scott said, as he took her hand in his and pulled her toward the kitchen. “With how much I’ve talked about you, they already like you. Come on, I’m hungry. I didn’t eat lunch today because I was worried about telling you I was leaving. Now it feels as if my stomach is eating itself.”
“Scott,” she scolded. “You can’t skip meals. It’s not good for you.”
“I know. What’d you want tonight?”
They went back and forth about their options and finally decided on sriracha shredded chicken tacos. They were quick and relatively healthy.
Since Elodie had to work in the morning, they headed to bed early, and after Scott had gotten her off twice, and had orgasmed once himself, they lay together, their arms and legs intertwined, replete and relaxed.
“Be safe next week,” Elodie whispered into his shoulder.
“You know I will be. I’ve got an amazing woman to come home to now. There’s no way I’ve found you, only to get taken out by some asshole now.”
She smiled against him. “I’m gonna worry about you every second,” she told him.
“Only appropriate, because I have a feeling I’m gonna be worried about how you’re doing as well,” he said.
Elodie lifted her head and frowned. “No, that’s not allowed. You need to concentrate on what you’re doing. I’m gonna be fine. You’re the one who’ll be in danger.”
“Until we know exactly what’s going on with Columbus, you don’t know that.”
“I’m going to go to work, be on the ocean all day, then come back here. I’m not going to be gallivanting all over the island. I’ll be holed up in your apartment.”
“Our.”
“What?”
“Our apartment,” Scott said easily.
Elodie smiled. She liked that. No, she freaking loved it.
“So if it’s our apartment, you’ll let me pay half the rent?”
“Not a chance,” Scott told her.
Elodie hadn’t really expected him to agree. That was just the kind of man he was. But she could easily find ways to contribute. The man ate a lot. She could order groceries to be delivered, just as she’d been doing at Kalani’s. He didn’t pay attention to what was in his fridge or pantry very much. And if he thought a grocery fairy was visiting and restocking, she didn’t mind.
“You need to talk to Kalani about your lease,” he told her. “There’s no reason to pay rent when you’re here all the time.”
He was right, but Elodie wasn’t quite ready to give up her room. She knew she’d be hard pressed to find anything as cheap and nice as what she had right now. It was only one room, but still. For just her, it was perfect. And she liked Kalani, and knew she could use the extra money as well. Besides, as much as she thought things between her and Scott were going well, if his friends decided she wasn’t a good match for him, or if he changed his mind, she’d need somewhere to go. She made a noncommittal sound in the back of her throat.
He sighed under her. “I know, it’s not fair of me to ask you to give up your place. But you and me are going to work out, El. It’s okay if you keep it until you’re sure.”
That was the thing, she was sure, but it seemed like a huge step to give up her place. She was practically living with him already, as he’d pointed out, but still. “Thanks,” she said after a beat.
Scott hugged her, and she traced his tattoos on his opposite shoulder and upper chest. They looked kind of like the designs on the Indian pottery she’d seen from the American southwest. He’d admitted that he’d gotten them right after he’d joined the Navy, when everyone else was getting inked. He didn’t regret the design, but they also didn’t have any deeper meaning.
