Saving Emmy by Rayne Lewis

Chapter 23

Eli was nervous. He kept the outward signs from showing but his stomach was doing somersaults and backflips. The moment of reckoning was upon him. Either he and Ember would be forging forward, exploring a new relationship, or he’d be losing the most precious thing in his life. He kept telling himself it was for the best, that he needed to carve a new path...hopefully, one that included her.

“Where’re we going?” Ember asked from the passenger's seat of his truck, still in the sexy-as-sin dress, the hem of which rose past her mid-thigh now that she was sitting, legs crossed over one another, enticing. Eli craved to reach over and run his hand up her creamy ivory flesh.

Eyes on the road, bud. “Someplace special.”

Ember tilted her head. “Going to give me any hints?” Her voice was all singsong, bubbly and bright as she was. The nervous undertones he’d picked up on earlier were gone.

“It’s a place we’ve been before.” He bit his inner lip, keeping his concentration pure and innocent, warding off the scandalous, delectable and indecent things he’d like to do to her.

She scoffed and wrinkled her forehead. “That’s a shitty clue. We’ve been everywhere together, Eli. Think you could narrow it down a bit?”

Wasn’t that the truth? And it hit him square in the gut. They had been everywhere together. Every adventure. Every milestone. Every turn of events. It was Eli and Emmy; they were Eli and Emmy. They were two parts of a whole. He could hear the smile in her voice without taking his eyes from the road. When he didn’t elaborate, she reached over and laced her fingers with his.

His hand gripped the wheel tighter as a jolt shot through him and it took everything within him to keep the truck on the road. He wondered if she felt it too, because she jumped like a cat on a hot tin roof. Maybe his mind was conjuring things with his emotions heightened, but whatever happened from here on out was beyond his control and the fates would make whatever happened, happen.

The country road meandered and they drove in silence. Not that they didn’t have anything to say, but because everything had been said before. They didn’t need meaningless words to encompass what was them. They’d driven this path a thousand times if only once. The familiar scenery passed them by and everything felt as it did a thousand times before. Comfortable. Content. Safe. Easy. Everything Emmy and Eli.

“Um, seems like we’re heading to my parents?” She looked over at him, “Are we going to my parents?”

Eli let out a chuckle. “Kinda.”

“Kinda? That’s your answer?”

“Yup.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Nope.”

Ember huffed in mock indignation, and Eli let her stew. Suspense always killed her. Birthdays and Christmases were her kryptonite. She could keep a secret but it was always on the tip of her tongue wanting to burst forth. He knew she was dying to know what he had in store and the longer he could keep her guessing, the better. He tightened the grip on her hand, keeping his eyes straight ahead, not daring to glance over at her in that dress. Damn, she was his kryptonite.

Nearing the house, he slowed the truck.

“Sooo,” she drew the word out, “why are we here? Dad and Mom are both at the store.”

Eli knew this because he’d spoken to Pops earlier. He couldn’t think of anywhere better to have their talk. He didn’t pull into the driveway; instead, he took the gravel access road around to the backside of the house and put the truck in PARK. Ember looked at him, confusion marring her features.

“Stay.” At the single word, he opened his door.

“I’m not a dog.” By her laugh, he knew she wasn’t mad.

“Be right back.” He shut the door before she could protest, taking the back steps two at a time, and disappeared into the house.

* * *

Ember sat wondering what he was up to. After the whole bathroom incident, and the humiliating talk with Mary and Maven, her mind was still reeling over what exactly happened.

She couldn’t believe Mary called Maves. Shaking her head, she felt the embarrassment wash over her again. She loved her girls, and wouldn’t trade them for anything, but some days...some days she just wanted to strangle them both, today, being one of those days.

Maven had been her usual boisterous, over-the-top self. She bounced and fluttered around the office, no filter in place, her voice carrying like a damn megaphone. It would be a miracle if King or Slate hadn’t heard her every word. Ember guessed it didn’t matter if King heard, because Mary’s big trap would probably be spilling the minute she and King were on their way home. Ember slumped in her seat. How humiliating. Facing King was mortifying enough. But if Eli heard, she’d be devastated.

The door behind the driver’s seat opened and Eli put something on the floor. She didn’t get a look at what it was, still lost in her own thoughts when he came out of the house. He shut the door, opened his, and settled into his seat.

“Ready?”

Ember flattened her lips. “I don’t know. What am I supposed to be ready for?”

Eli just smiled, put the truck in gear, and they were off.

* * *

“The barn?” Ember scrunched her nose and threw the question at Eli, “Really?”

He mimicked her face but said nothing, coming to a stop outside the barn doors, then shut the engine down.

She repeated her question. “Why are we at the barn?”

“You ask too many questions.” Eli opened his door then turned back to her. “Sit.”

She rolled her eyes. “Again, not a dog!” She knew the drill. Stay in the truck until he opens your door. The whole thing was silly. She could open her own damn door. She’d fought in war for shit’s sake, so a door was no feat. But secretly, she loved it. Her dad had the same chivalry with her mom and that was probably where Eli had learned it.

Her door opened and he held out a hand to help her down. A pure gentleman. Just like her daddy.

“Can you tell me why we're here?”

“Don’t you know patience is a virtue?”

“Don’t you know the not-knowing is killing me?”

“In that case, if you keel over, I know CPR. You're in good hands.” He shot her a wink, laced their fingers together and headed back around the truck. Never dropping her hand, he opened the rear door, grabbed a large blanket from the seat, and threw it over his shoulder. Then he picked up a picnic basket from the floorboard, shut the door with his hip, and they set off for the barn with long strides.

She eyed the basket. “You have this all planned?”

“Mom helped. Told her we needed supper and she had it covered.”

Ember smiled at the thought of her mom packing them a picnic. It was such a Susan Hayes thing to do. Mom loved Eli, so Ember knew he didn’t have to twist her arm. Knowing her mom, there was most likely a seven-course meal in the basket. Susan Hayes, always giving the most to her children. The thought made her smile.

Eli slid the large door open and what awaited them was nothing short of a wonderland. There were strings of white lights hanging across the rafters, setting the barn in a dimly-lit glow. To the side atop a few hay bales was a five-gallon bucket of ice chilling what she assumed were about a dozen or so juice boxes. There was a platter of cheese and crackers, and another with an assortment of cut-up fruit. Beside that sat a Bluetooth speaker.

Ember laughed at the memory. It was their makeshift prom night all over again. Hopefully, this evening wouldn’t end in disaster like last time. There would be no kissing beneath the stars. She vowed to herself that wouldn’t be happening. With last night's dreams and her body zinging the way it had today, kissing Eli would be deadly.

Eli motioned for her to proceed and he slid the door shut behind them. The strings of lights shimmered in the darkness of the barn.

“You do this?” She pointed to the lights.

“Ah...no.” Eli rubbed his neck, looking up at the rafters and the lights in question. She shot him a look only to see the surprise on his face. “Pops must’ve done it. I did everything else, though.”

“This looks familiar.” Ember walked over to the bucket, smiling at the juice boxes. “And, look, fine hors d’oeuvres also...minus the paper plates this time.”

“Hey, I was on a teenager’s budget back then. I couldn’t afford silver platters, so paper plates had to do.” He laughed as he set the basket down and started to unfold the blanket. Ember grabbed the opposite end, helping him lay it over the hay-littered dirt floor.

* * *

Eli couldn’t keep his eyes off her. His nerves were on a hair trigger. He just had to get through the evening, and tomorrow everything would be different.

Better?

Worse?

He didn’t know, but if it was the latter, he’d already put a plan in motion and discussed Ember’s safety with Pops. Pops would join her at the range each day while Susan ran the store. It would be tough, but Pops told him they’d make it work. If she turned him down, he’d have to sever ties. He loved her too much for it to be any other way. If you love something, set it free... It would be the death of everything that made him whole, but for her sake, for her future happiness, he’d do right by her. She may not see it in that light at first, but over time, the truth would make itself known. He couldn’t stay in the friend zone any longer. She held his heartstrings and, hopefully, she wouldn’t be tearing them out.

“Whoa! How huge is this thing?” Ember’s amazement drew him back. She was looking at the pillowy blanket, which was more of a monstrosity than what was usually a small picnic throw. “Guess we’ll dine in comfort. It’s so cushioned, our butts won’t know there’s hay and dirt beneath us.”

Ember kicked off her sandals and knelt on the blanket, making sure to be lady-like and keeping her knees together. She ran her hand over the pillowy softness of the blanket as her eyes widened. Goosebumps broke out all over her skin.

“You cold?” Eli sat beside her, pushing a straw into a juice box and handed it to her.

“Cold?”

“You got goosebumps.” He grazed his fingers over the erected flesh and the feeling went straight to his dick. Zing!

She flinched, then rubbed her arm, brushing his fingers aside. “That’s weird. Guess it’s cooler in here compared to outside.” She took a sip of her juice box and he unwrapped the platters of cheese and fruit.

“Mom sure went all out.” Ember popped a few grapes in her mouth.

Yeah, ’cuz this could be my last meal.The thought ran through his mind, as he started to unpack the basket.

“So, what’cha want to talk about?” Ember mumbled around a bite of cheese and crackers, “Gotta be something big if you went through all...this.” She motioned around the barn.

“Eat first.” Eli set a paper plate in front of her and then himself. He continued pulling things out of the basket until it was empty. A smorgasbord laid out before them: sandwiches, sides, salads, desserts; Susan didn’t skimp.

“How long does mom think we’re going to talk? There’s enough food here for a family of five...” Ember looked over the feast, “...for a week!”

Ember must have caught something that unsettled her in Eli’s gaze. “You okay?” Her voice broke his stare and he started unwrapping a sandwich, taking a bite without completely removing the wax paper.

“Eat, Emmy.” He pushed her plate towards her and they ate in awkward silence.

* * *

Both done eating, Eli packed the leftovers back in the basket and gathered the garbage in a trash bag. Ember sat with her legs curled to the side, fiddling with the hem of her dress; the flouncy skirt lay lazily around her. The contrast of the scarlet blanket beneath her ivory thighs made him audibly swallow.

Stunning.

She was gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. Her head dipped slightly, staring blindly at her fingertips as she incessantly fingered the sheer material between her thumb and forefinger. What was she thinking about? He could see her mind working, concentrating on what, he wasn’t sure. Probably obsessing and guessing what he wanted to discuss with her. Her curiosity was getting the best of her. She was nervous and so was he, though he didn’t outwardly show it. Years of conditioning by the military had taught him to stow his emotions, but he was all nerves beneath his laid back, relaxed facade.

This was Ember. The girl next door. The girl in his dreams who lay beneath him with a mane of fiery curls cascading over her shoulders. Ends of her red hair curling beneath the curves and swells of her breasts...

“Eli?”

...for endless nights he dreamt of her writhing beneath him as he made passionate love to the girl of his dreams...

“Elijah?”

Ember’s voice broke his reverie of last night and so many nights before. Hearing his given name pour from her lips sent chills over him and his cock twitched, but he controlled himself. From the lengths of her ivory thighs his eyes roamed up her body and met her sky blue eyes. How many nights have I stared into those eyes?

“Elijah, is everything alright? You haven't said anything in a while, and you’re strangling that trash bag like it’s going to get away.”

He looked at his hands, and yes, he was gripping the trash bag mercilessly. Relaxing, the bag fell loose.

“Where’d you go?”

Eli drank in her eyes, looked to a place so deep within her, and answered, “To a place only you live.”

She creased her brows and pulled her lips flat. Confusion guarded her eyes. “Where do I live, Eli?”

He spoke from deep within as his words poured out of his soul. “My dreams. My nights. My days. My heart, mind and soul. You’re in me so deep, Emmy. You’re with me everywhere. Every day. Every night.” He took a deep breath and continued, “I’m so drunk on you, Red, that I can’t exist without you.

“My body screams for you. You’re my drug. My passion. My grounding rod. You’ve been with me in the sandy deserts of Afghanistan. You’re my constant companion on lonely nights. You stand sentry on the starless nights as I lie awake and dream of you. You’ve been with me in the sweltering heat of Iraq and Somalia. I’ve taken you to places no sane person ever wants to see. And, because you were with me, I knew I had to bring you home safely.” He paused. “I needed to see you in the flesh again, Red. The thought of never seeing you again pushed me to survive those shitholes and carried me back to you. Every. Time.”

Ember was speechless. Eli had never been so poetic. Never so raw and open to her. She’d never seen the depths of his soul like this and she knew he meant every word he spoke.

“If you need the words, Em...I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I go to sleep each night with you in my mind. I see you in my dreams and I wake up with you in my memories. I brought you here, Red, to tell you I love you. I don’t know where that will lead me...us...but I can’t hide it any longer. I don’t know how not to love you.”

There. He’d said it. He loved her. He meant the words with every breath, every beat of his heart. It was simple. And, it was true. She was the one. His One. He put himself out there and laid himself bare. The moment was hers. Fight or flight. His hands trembled, which never happened. He’d seen war and his nerves were always steel. For a moment, fear gripped him. Would this be the moment he’d look back on and know he’d lost everything? Or, would it be the moment he gained everything, the world, his Red?

Time hung between them. Ember sat motionless, her eyes wide and mouth agape.

“Please, say something.”