Park Avenue Player(84)
Hollis: I’m teasing you, Elodie.
Elodie: I thought maybe I freaked you out.
Hollis: That’s because a text doesn’t allow you to see someone’s face. If you could see me, you’d see how big my smile is at the moment. The only thing freaking me out is the fact that you’re right down the hall, and I can’t touch you. And if you don’t come down to my room right now, I’m coming to you, which is not ideal since you’re right next to Hailey’s room. Which is it going to be?
Elodie: Are you serious?
Hollis: Fuck Yes. Watch me.
About a minute later, my door creaked open. Elodie stood at the entrance in a long T-shirt.
“Took you long enough. Come here, beautiful.”
She shut the door carefully before walking over to me. “I just don’t want her to wake up and see me in here.”
I pulled her into me as I sat at the edge of the bed. “We’ll be really quiet. We need to start practicing that anyway. Her waking up is a chance I’m willing to take. She already thinks we’re—in her words—boning, thanks to Megan. So, I’m getting blamed for it without reaping the benefits, at the moment.”
“Yeah, that’s unfortunate.”
Squeezing her ass, I said, “What’s unfortunate? My not reaping the benefits or Megan’s choice of words?”
“Both? Anyway, you reaped the benefits just this morning.”
I nuzzled her neck. “It’s not enough.”
Her breaths were shaky as she bent her head back. “Hollis, what have you done to me? I’ve never felt like this in my life. I’m so screwed if you ever break my heart.”
That will never happen.
Somehow I knew that. If things with us didn’t work out, it wasn’t going to be me that ended it. My hesitation was always about my fear of her leaving me, never the other way around.
The words burst from me. I didn’t expect them to come out. But they did.
“You said you love the man I am when I’m with you. I love the man I am when I’m with you, too. But more than that, I love you, Elodie. I love you so fucking much. And I’m sorry if that freaks you out a little, but it’s the truth, and I thought you should know.” I swallowed, somewhat shocked by my own candor.
In the distance, Huey squawked. Baaa! “Anna’s home!”
It was as if the universe had given me the reminder of Anna to test me. But it didn’t change a thing.
Elodie looked just as shocked as I was at my admission. “How can you be sure so soon?”
“Soon? Just because I only now got my shit together and put aside my fears doesn’t mean I’m only now figuring out that I love you. I’m pretty sure I’ve loved you for the majority of the time I’ve known you. And that’s what scared the crap out of me.”
Her eyes watered as she let my words sink in.
She grabbed my face. “Oh my God, Hollis. That really was what I meant in the text. And then I backtracked, because I was afraid you weren’t there yet.”
“I’m here, Elodie. I’m very much here. And I somehow knew you felt that way about me, too, even when I was teasing you.” I looked in her eyes. “I love you.”
Her chest rose and fell. “I love you, too.”
Elodie straddled me. We started kissing, and the next thing I knew, I was inside her. Both of us were still sitting in the exact same position, fully clothed, just with our underwear pushed to the side now, as she rode me slowly, passionately—and ever so quietly.
Chapter 38
* * *
Elodie
“You sure you’re okay with me meeting up with Addison?”
I didn’t want to upset Hollis when things were going so well.
He came up behind me as I scrambled some eggs and kissed the back of my neck. “Of course. It’s good for you to get to know her.”
It was the weekend after Hollis and I had declared our love for each other. I’d spent every night this past week with him, except one. I’d insisted on going home to check on Bree and spent Thursday night in Connecticut—not to mention, I was all out of clothes.
Addison and I had decided a Saturday lunch worked best, given her schedule, so I’d be meeting her later today. Even though my initial interest in lunch with her had been to mess with Hollis, I did want to get to know the person who was such a big part of his day-to-day life.
I poured the eggs out onto two plates. “I’m sure there’s a part of her that wants to make sure my intentions are in the right place with her best friend.”
“Nah. Believe me, Addison has been a huge supporter of you from the very beginning. She’s not going to grill you. She just wants to talk to you, maybe rank on me a little for fun. Trust me. You’re good.”
***
Addison and I met at a cute little restaurant in Midtown. Even though it was the weekend, she was dressed to the nines in a crisp, collared shirt and pencil skirt. I didn’t know her exact age, but Addison looked about Hollis’s age.
“You’re so dressed up. I’m relieved I wore a nice outfit.”
“It’s just a habit. I always think I’m going to run into a client. You look lovely, by the way, Elodie.”