Chapter 31

Chapter 31Whatever that was
The room was quiet for a while, and Elijah studied Bryan’s eyes, wondering if he was someone he
wanted to risk the act of “mess around and find out” with at such a crucial moment in bis life
“Understandable, and I respect your decision… But if I am not involved in some deep shit?” Bryan asked,
arching a brow challengingly. Peeking at Matt again, Elijah hesitated, but when Matt twitched his brows
slightly, he faced Bryan and said, “Then you got yourself a deal.” “Well, I can drink to that,” Bryan said
with a small smile as he picked up Elijah’s glass and reached it out to him.
But Matt tried to grab the glass and accidentally spilled it all over Elijah’s coat, and when he noticed that,
he exclaimed, “Oh, fuck! Sorry, sir!” “It’s fine,” Elijah said, reaching over for a napkin, and patting down
his shirt and pants,
“I am sorry. I should have known better than to serve you a glass of wine that has been pulled without
your presence.” Bryan apologized quickly, feeling glad that it was a clear wine and it didn’t leave a nasty
stain on the jacket.
Scowling at Bryan, Matt narrowed his eyes at him and said, “I am glad you know… I am sorry, but for
security reasons, I can’t let you serve him anything not sealed or properly labeled, sir.”
Knowing exactly what Matt was talking about, Bryan nodded, understanding that the fact he knew
Elijah’s real identity made him a potential threat, and it was going to take time for that to change, and
things to ease between them.
That is why he didn’t want to be honest with Elijah at first because he feared that he would be less
trusted.But that didn’t bother Bryan because he knew nothing satisfactory happens without effort, lots of sweat,
tears, and blood, and that is why he had to be sincere. After all, in it all, trust is the most important
element.
“I should get home. I hate how I stink with the scent of alcohol.” Elijah mumbled after a few seconds of
awkward silence.
Then he stood from the leather couch and said, “Thank you for having me, Bryan. It’s somewhat a relief
to know your reason for wanting to help me.”
“Will this meeting be the last of its kind?” Bryan asked and leaned back in his seat, feeling worried.
Meeting his eyes, Elijah paused for several long moments before nodding slowly, saying, “I hope it won’t
be.”
“Trust me. Neither do 1,” Bryan told him sincerely, before standing from his chair and extending his hand
to Elijah, Without any hesitation, Elijah grabbed his hand and shook it, and said, “Goodbye for now.” With
her head resting on the counter, Peach looked at the wall clock in the motel lobby and then sigh,
mumbling, “What are you waiting for, huh, Peach?!”
Pouting, she closed her eyes, trying to stop thinking about Elijah and how it was getting dark outside, but
her mind was racing with thoughts of him, even though she waited for it to stop because it leads to
feelings that felt so wrong and yet right at the same time,
She had a crush on Elijah… A crushi… It started as a small and harmless one, but now it has
grown bigger and stronger every single day.
She couldn’t control it. It had taken a hold of her life, making her forget that he just got divorced… that
he’s her cousin’s ex-husband, that it had just been days since they met.How such a feeling could exist was beyond her, and that is something that scared her. She was afraid of
rejection. Her mother was right. Rushing into something would only leave her hurt,
“How do I make my heart understand that though?” Peach whispered, covering her face with her hands.
Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening got Peach’s attention, and she immediately raised her
head to see Elijah and Matt, walking into the lobby. Standing to her feet, Peach wiped her hands on her
pajama pants nervously and walked over to them, but then the smell of strong alcohol aroma on Elijah
made her frown and furrowed her eyebrows as she thought, “He’s drunk?” “Hey, Peach,” Matt said,
walking off, leaving the both of them alone. Pouting at Elijah, Peach hesitated before asking softly, “How
much did you have to drink?”
“None,” Elijah said with a weak smile.
Then he walked off, leaving Peach pouting after him as she mumbled, “Liar.”
After getting to his room, Elijah got undressed and headed to the shower to wash the smell of alcohol off
him before getting dressed into a pair of clean shorts and an oversized white t shirt.
As he was about to get in bed, a knock on his door made Elijah frown slightly, walking away from his
bedside and over to the door.
When he opened it, Peach was standing there looking at him, holding a bottle of water and pills in her
hands.
“You might suffer from a hangover tomorrow if you don’t take some pills to help with the headache,”
Peach informed him, handing him the bottle of water and the pills. But Elijah didn’t accept it and just
stared into her eyes for what felt like forever to Peach, and she nervously smiled awkwardly, mumbling,
“What? Do I have something on my face?” “How can you be a filthy rock, when when I look into your
eyes all I see is diamonds,” Elijah whispered, not taking his gaze off her as she blinked repeatedly,wondering what was happening ‘Is he drunk talking?’ Peach thought, shaking her head and smiling, but
she was still nervous. But her eyes suddenly widened when Elijah rested his palm on her cheek, his
gaze still locked onto hers, and he slowly leaned closer until their lips were only inches apart. Feeling his
breath touching her pinkish lips, Peach could feel her heart beating fast and her breathing getting heavier
and her palms becoming sweaty.
Then she realized the smell from his breath didn’t reek of alcohol, and she whispered, “You are not
drunk, are you?” When Elijah slowly shook his head, Peach subconsciously tiptoed to meet his lips and
claimed them, tasting his mouth with her tongue, and as she kissed him passionately, Elijah wrapped his
arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him, deepening their kiss.
Tempting, every inch of her body was aroused, and the bottom dropped from her hands along with the
pills, hitting the ground with a thud, breaking the intense kiss.
“I am sorry,” Peach whispered, realizing what she had done, and lowering her head as she avoided eye
contact with him.
But Elijah took her chin in his hand and lifted her head so they could meet each other’s eyes, and as
their gazes met, Elijah didn’t hold back and pulled her close by her hips, his eyes never leaving hers,
claiming her lips as he kissed her deeply, pressing himself harder against her body.
Her heart was thumping wildly as he pushed her against the wall. They were now in the hallway, and
anyone could see them at any second. But Peach wasn’t caring, because his kisses were making her
dizzy, and she could taste the faint traces of mint on his tongue, and she knew he had brushed his teeth
just now.
Her hands slowly went up to his hair and entangled her fingers in it, as he gently bit her lower lip, making
her moan softly.The sound echoed through the hallway and into her ears, making her cheeks burn, and Peach pulled
back, staring up into his eyes.
Their breath mingled together while they stared at each other inténtly, and Elijah’s eyes softened as he
mumbled, “I don’t know what this was, but just know that I wanted it too as you did.”
Then he brushed his fingertip against the bruise he left on her lip and said, “Good night, Little buddy.
Thanks for the water and pills.”
Speechless, Peach sluggishly rested her back against the wall, smiling, and watching him walk back to
his room door, picking up the bottle of water and pills before heading into his room.
“Whatever that was,” Peach whispered, brushing her palm against her arm nervously as she stared at
the ceiling. “I don’t even know what that was either.”
After a moment, Peach entered her room, shutting the door behind her and locking it.
Then she sighed heavily, running her hand through her curls as she sat down on her bed and looked out
of her window, watching the raindrops fall gently on the glass.
Then she grabbed a pillow, and screamed silently into it, falling backward onto the mattress, burying her
face in the pillow as she cried, “I kissed him. What is wrong with me?!”
‘But he kissed you back,’ Her subconscious argued. “Yeah, but then he referred to it as ‘whatever that
was.’Come on! It’s clear he isn’t into that or more than a kiss!”
‘Mama was right.’
I know! Don’t you think I know!! Tell my stupid heart that, though! It’s the reason why I’m acting like this!”
“”So, what now?” Curling her body into a ball, Peach hugged her pillow tighter against her chest as her
shoulders shuddered lightly and whispered, “I don’t know. Play pretend and act like it never happened orit doesn’t matter, I guess,”novelbin