Changing Everything (Forgiving Lies #2.5)(33)

“Of course you’re not.” I laughed shakily and rolled my eyes.

“That’s the first time you’ve seen him since . . . ?” he asked, the question trailing off, but I knew when he was talking about.

“Yeah.”

“Then I need to know if you’re okay. I need to know what you’re feeling right now, Paisley. After seeing him . . . after what just happened.”

My gaze darted to the door before looking back into his stormy blue eyes. “Honestly?”

“Always.”

“It hurt seeing him, but not as much as it would kill me to have you leave. I made the right choice, Eli. There’s no questioning that.” Pulling one of my hands free from his, I placed my hand over his jaw and brushed my thumb over the blood, wincing when his body jerked. “Sorry.”

“He can punch, I’ll give him that.”

He wiped at his lip as he straightened, and looked down at the blood on his hand before rolling his eyes. Grabbing one of the bar napkins, he cleaned it off and picked up his Guinness. I made a face as he downed half the pint.

“That’s disgusting.” He grimaced and slammed the glass back down.

“As I’ve been telling you for years!”

Eli smirked and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close as he bent down, and letting his lips fall onto mine. “The beer mixed with blood, Pay.”

“Ew.”

“Exactly.” He kissed me again, and I pushed against his chest.

“You taste like nasty beer now,” I whined.

“And you love it.”

“Lie. That is such a lie.”

He laughed and captured my mouth again, this time slowly teasing my tongue with his, and I melted into his arms and that kiss despite the Guinness aftertaste.

“Is it okay if I still don’t know how to feel about all this?” Kristen asked. “I’m happy, and weirded out, and feel like I’ve stepped into an alternate universe . . . so many conflicting emotions.”

Eli was smiling down at me when he pulled back, but he spoke to Kristen. “You have time to get used to it.” Working his jaw a few times, he reached for his glass again and drained his beer. “Ready to get out of here?”

Grabbing his keys out of his pocket, he handed them to me and my eyes widened. “You’re letting me drive your truck?” Not that I hadn’t before. But it was always only because I’d won a bet, and I’m pretty sure I knocked five years off Eli’s life every time I did.

“I don’t know . . . can you reach the pedals?”

My expression fell and I smacked his stomach. “Don’t be rude or I’ll take your keys and leave you here.”

He gripped my hips and pulled me closer. “It was an honest question. You’re munchkin-sized.”

“I am not a munchkin!”

Ignoring me, he lifted me into his arms and kissed me soundly. “Perfect pickup size.”

“I’m leaving you here,” I grumbled against his lips.

“I want to get out of here. I want to be alone with you, and I just got punched and chugged a pint all within the last five minutes. So, yes, I want you to drive.”

I frowned and gently trailed my fingers over his red jaw. “ ’Kay, let’s go, giant.”

He snorted. “Troll.”

“Take that back!” I demanded.

“The cute ones with the colorful hair that sticks straight up,” he backpedaled.

“That does not make it any better!”

“It makes you adorable,” he countered. He was still holding me, and turned so we could both see Kristen and Jason. “Later.”

“Bye,” they called out in unison, both smiling widely at us.

“Did you hear what he called me?” I asked as Eli began walking us away.

Eli kissed my forehead and squinted his eyes in concentration before smirking. “We could even give you the colorful hair and everything. Like I said, you’ll be adorable.”

People were whistling and shouting catcalls as Eli walked me out of the bar—if only they knew what was actually going on right now.

“Trolls are not adorable, you beast.”

“Does that make you Beauty?” he teased.

I growled unimpressively. “This is not the time for you to try to be sweet.”

“But you’re pint-sized, you are adorable.”

“And you look like Lurch.”

He laughed loudly before everything stopped at once. Eli stopped walking, there was no sound coming from him, and even though we were out near the ocean air, it suddenly felt thick with tension . . . and I knew it was all coming from the man holding me.

“Paisley,” he sneered my name, and my body froze. “Get back in the bar and stay with Kristen. Have Jason come out here.”

“What’s—”

Eli stopped my head from turning to look behind me as he let my body slide down his. “Please just go inside until I come get you.”

I was looking up at Eli, but he was staring directly past me—his blue eyes were dark and his body was vibrating.

“Who’s behind me?” I asked hesitantly.

“No one,” he answered. When I tried pulling away, he looked directly into my eyes. “Please, Pay.”