Page 39 of Becoming His

I was going forhim.

I smiled as I remembered him carrying me to bed last night, kissing me on the forehead before he left, his scent lingering in the room and finding its way into my dreams. I couldn't believe so much had happened so quickly, but who was I to argue with destiny?

I pulled on my leather jacket and went downstairs to see Elijah lying on the sofa, his eyes widening upon seeing me. We hadn't spoken since the Ray episode last night, and I didn't want to have the conversation now. He gazed at me with curiosity, a smile playing on his lips.

"Do you want a ride?"

I knew this was his attempt at making amends, and seeing as I did need a ride, I nodded.

"That would be good. Do I look okay?"

I gestured down at myself, and he sat up as he smiled his approval.

"You do. So where is this party?"

We made our way to the car that sat on the drive, and I quickly sent a text to Bailey, letting him know I was on my way. Then, I mumbled the address to Elijah, who raised his eyebrows.

"Rich friends?"

I shrugged as he drove, not wanting to talk too much. My nerves were sky-high; a party was so far from my scene it was unreal. Elijah glanced at me, sighing.

"If you need me tonight, call me. I have no plans."

It was as close to brotherly protection as I was going to get, and I smiled gratefully.

"Thanks, Eli," I said, his seldom-used nickname foreign on my tongue. He nodded in response as we drove wordlessly, and I wondered if we would ever have the Ray conversation. As if on cue, he spoke suddenly.

"About Ray."

He cleared his throat, and I swallowed hard, not wanting to have any confrontation. My brother was certainly popular with the opposite sex, but his lack of interest in them led me to believe he was probably a-sexual or gay—so I was still surprised.

"It's fine," I said in a small voice.

"It's not a fling," he said, and I snapped my head towards him in shock. His eyes flickered over to me, and he smiled before turning his eyes back to the road. "I won't hurt her, Belle."

My heart softened at the childhood name he reserved for tender moments such as this, and I nodded as the car slowed outside the address I had given him earlier. The music was audible from inside the car; the shrieks of laughter and calls of 'chug, chug, chug' filled the air as my palms began to sweat.

"Rather you than me," Elijah remarked casually, and I groaned.

"I can't believe I'm doing this. I hate parties," I muttered as I unclipped my seatbelt.

"Yet here you are."

"It's a compromise, right?" I half asked as I looked at my brother‘s bemused expression, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"It's an experience. Be safe." I pushed open the door as the music grew louder, and I grimaced as I waved goodbye to Elijah. I turned to face the house, checking my phone to see a text from Bailey.

Come to the kitchen, can't wait to see you x

Wow, so I had to walk in on my own? I shook with nerves, and I almost wished Elijah was still there so I could go home. As I stood deliberating my next move, I saw someone lighting a cigarette from within the darkness of the trees that lined the lawn.

"If the choice is to go in there or go home and watch Netflix, I'd go home," he quipped, and I let out a nervous laugh.

"Is it that bad?"

"Well, it looks like it. I haven't decided if I'm going in or not yet."

He sucked on his cigarette as he gazed at the house, and I noticed he was around my age.