Page 6 of Falling for Lucifer

P ure love. Ellodie didn’t think she had ever known it until Etta came into the world.

She stared down at her daughter with complete adoration filling her entire being.

She couldn’t understand how some women weren’t fit to be mothers.

How did they not take one look at their baby and want to give them the absolute world?

It made her sad for the little girl in her, and just that quickly, tears filled her eyes.

Postpartum depression was really kicking her ass and had her emotions swinging in a wide arc all day, every day.

Her phone vibrated on the bed next to her.

She snatched it up so it wouldn’t bother Etta.

Her tears were quickly forgotten when she saw who was calling her.

Her cousin Yasmine was her best friend, ride or die, and the only person truly in her corner.

It broke her heart that Yasmine wasn’t there to help her journey into motherhood.

Carefully, Ellodie got up from her spot on the bed.

Her bare feet touched the soft light pink rug underneath her bed before she placed Etta in the bassinet.

Etta stirred and looked like she was about to cry, but Ellodie rubbed her belly for a few seconds, and she calmed down enough for her to grab her phone from the bed and walk out of the room.

Her condo was on the eighteenth floor and overlooked the ocean.

She loved her hometown. Ellwood had everything she needed, including the beach, which she loved.

She was only a twenty-minute drive to downtown, and the building she lived in had everything she needed, from a cute café to a fully equipped gym to a spa.

Luxury wasn’t new to Ellodie, but she had started looking at things differently now that she was a mother.

As a wedding planner, she had a flourishing career without the help of her parents, but her trust fund was what really gave her such a luxurious life.

Her trust fund was the reason she was able to take as much time on maternity leave without worrying about a thing, which was a blessing.

But the things that were so important to her, even just a week ago, now seemed mundane.

Giving her daughter a good life was all that mattered to her now, and she knew that meant making some hard changes in her life, starting with Wes.

She had called and sent him pictures of their daughter with no response.

Ellodie had every reason to leave him before, but now, it was a no-brainer.

Her daughter deserved better. Ellodie grew up with a crappy mother and a father who she loved but felt light-years away from because her mother was as jealous as they came and didn’t allow her father to love any female more than her.

She would not allow Etta to grow up with a problematic parent.

If she had to play mommy and daddy, then that would be her destiny, and she welcomed it.

Money couldn’t buy her daughter the kind of life Ellodie wanted to give her. She wanted Etta to grow up knowing love and with good morals instilled in her. She wanted her daughter to thrive and learn the tools to keep herself happy and to never seek it from others.

As she sat down on her light gray sectional, she let out a long sigh before she FaceTimed her cousin back.

Yasmine answered right away with her pretty mahogany face all up in the camera. “Where my baby at?”

Ellodie giggled. “Hello to you too.”

“Come on, Ello,” Yasmine whined. “I already feel bad that I wasn’t there for the birth, and now you’re withholding my god daughter from me. Where is she?”

“Girl, ain’t nobody withholding that chile from you. She’s sleeping, and I would also like to point out that it’s her fault you weren’t at the birth. Didn’t nobody tell her to come six days late.”

Yasmine backed away from the screen and sucked her teeth. “Leave her alone. She’s absolutely perfect and innocent.”

“I can’t disagree with you there, Yas. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”

Yasmine sighed wistfully as she fell back onto the hotel bed. “Only a couple more days. I can’t wait to kiss on those chubby cheeks.”

Ellodie smiled sadly at her cousin because she wished she were there right now.

She’d been extremely lonely since she got back from the birthing center two days ago, and the transition hadn’t been easy, but she was so proud of her cousin.

She had her dream career and could travel all over the world to do what she loved.

Ellodie could never be mad at her for that.

She was disappointed, though, because she felt so alone, despite her daughter lighting up her world.

“I can’t wait either, Yas.”

Yasmine looked at her cousin for a moment before her smile faltered. “You okay?”

With a shrug, Ellodie did her best to smile, knowing it only looked like a forced grimace. “Just miss you is all. Hurry up and get back.”

Yasmine gazed at her a moment longer, as if she wanted Ellodie to keep talking and be honest about her feelings.

It stayed silent for a minute, and Ellodie was thankful that Yasmine decided to drop it instead of prying.

She felt like she would burst into tears at any moment, and the last thing she wanted to do was worry her cousin.

Besides, other than being lonely, there really wasn’t anything wrong with her.

She knew she was blessed. She had a healthy baby, her dream job, and a beautiful home.

Still, she felt a nagging in her heart, like something was missing.

“What are you up to since my baby is asleep?” Yasmine asked, and Ellodie loved her even more for changing the topic altogether.

Ellodie tapped on her screen and noted the time. “My midwife is actually about to come over so she can check on us.”

Her mind immediately drifted because thinking about Harley automatically made her think about Lucifer. It felt like a fever dream having him hold her hand and coach her through labor. She constantly had to remind herself that it had actually happened.

Absentmindedly, she clicked through her phone and went to their text thread. There weren’t many texts there, but the fact that he thought to actually check up on her and Etta meant everything to her.

“What you over there smiling about?” Yasmine asked. When Ellodie’s eyes found the small square with Yasmine’s face, she realized her cousin’s eyebrows had hiked damn near to her hairline.

“Nothing. I should get going. Harley will be here any moment.” Ellodie rushed her cousin off the phone because she wanted to keep Lucifer close to her heart for now.

She wasn’t even sure anything would come of their introduction, but he would for sure be a part of her story for the rest of her life. “Love you. I’ll call you later.”

Ellodie hung up the phone before Yasmine could respond.

She knew she would get an earful later about that stunt.

Just as she tossed her phone to the side, the doorbell rang.

She wanted to straighten up a bit before Harley got there, but it looked like that was no longer an option.

She looked around the open living room at all the baby things strewn about and shrugged.

She figured Harley had seen her vagina many times. A messy home shouldn’t embarrass her.

She shuffled to the door and opened it. Shock filled her as her eyes went completely over Harley’s head and landed on him .

“Lucifer.” She whispered his name without even realizing it.

A lopsided smirk formed on Lucifer’s face. “Ellodie.”

“My friends call me Ello,” she replied, still dazed that he stood at her front door. It was then that she realized she had a crush on Lucifer. She hadn’t had a crush since she was a damn teenager, but the giddiness that filled her just from the sight of him let her know exactly what was up.

“Everyone calls me Lu,” he reminded.

They gazed at each other for several long seconds before Harley cleared her throat. She stood at the same short ass height as Ellodie and right in front of her, but somehow, Ellodie forgot Harley was even there.

“I’m so sorry. I’m being rude. Come on in.” Ellodie stepped to the side to allow them entry into her home. “I didn’t have time to straighten up. Etta has made herself right at home, I swear. Her stuff is everywhere.”

Ellodie hurried behind them, picking up baby blankets, pacifiers, and baby wipes along the way.

“It’s all good. We aren’t here to judge your home, which is lovely, by the way,” Harley replied.

Ellodie watched as Harley stretched her back before rubbing her stomach and wincing slightly. She remembered how uncomfortable those last weeks in pregnancy were, and she wondered why Harley was even working still.

“Harley, sit down. Why are you even here? You should be at home relaxing.” Ellodie ushered her toward the couch as she spoke.

Harley waved her off as she sat down with a sigh. “You’re the last client I have. I wanted to make sure I followed up with you before officially starting maternity leave.”

Ellodie nodded. She didn’t quite understand because she stopped working two months ago.

It got to a point where being on her feet and continuing her busy career was too much for her.

Since she could afford to take plenty of time off, she did.

Her baby daddy stressed her out enough. She didn’t need her career adding to it.

When she was sure Harley was settled, Ellodie glanced over at Lucifer. “And what are you doing here, sir?”

“I told you I was gon’ check you out. Where baby girl at?”

Ellodie’s eyes swept over his hulking frame. He wore all black and looked comfortable in his joggers. It made her feel better about her black leggings and oversized graphic tee with the Rugrats on it.

Ellodie put her hands on her hips and arched her brow, but a sly smile covered her heart-shaped lips. “Did you come here to see me or her?”

Matching her energy, he crossed his arms and grinned at her. “Both y’all.”

“Ello, how are you feeling?” Harley asked, interrupting them.