Page 32 of Tangled Hearts (Mended Hearts #4)

She shrugs. “I can’t if it’s true. We can’t help that you don’t know how to act.”

Liam looks at Eli. “I really am sorry.”

I give Eli’s hand a gentle squeeze and let go of him. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Molly taps the table. “Okay, so let’s… talk about something else. The fundraiser is coming up soon, right? Is there anything I should know about?”

Eli laughs, and Liam finally relaxes. “Yeah, someone donated a spa day, and it’s all mine.”

“Oh, that was my mom,” Liam says, grinning.

Eli gasps. “You’re joking. Dad wouldn’t tell me. What the—”

“I’m not single. I’m with Eli,” I blurt out, cutting Eli off and surprising even myself. The conversation around the table dies off into nothing as Eli gasps.

Liam opens and closes his mouth a few times before he finally manages to say, “Well, now I feel even worse.”

Eli is quiet. Too quiet, really, considering he seems to always have something to say. Molly nods slowly. “Yeah, I kind of figured.”

My heart’s pounding, inching its way up my throat and threatening to choke me when Eli clears his throat. “I thought we were supposed to keep it a secret?”

We were. We are. But… I reach out, gripping Eli’s thigh firmly in my hand. “We are, but I’m sure Molly and Liam will keep it quiet for now.”

“Of course,” Molly says smoothly, nodding along as she speaks.

I glance at Liam in time to see him swallow. “We definitely will. I really am sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I offer him a smile, then squeeze Eli’s leg. “I know you didn’t mean any harm.”

Eli’s hand covers mine under the table, and he gives my fingers a little squeeze. With a small sigh, he dives back into conversation with the two of them.

I sit back in my seat and listen to them talk, but really, I’m just watching Eli.

He’s so animated. So happy. The spark in his eyes is perfection, and I can’t help but feel like it’s there because his friends know.

Because I didn’t hide him. My heart swells at the sight of his joy.

He put on the barest hint of makeup today, a little bit of highlighter and his winged liner.

I’m not sure how he does it so well, but it’s perfect.

I watched him apply it this morning and was actually impressed by how easily he put it on.

“Nic?”

“Huh?” I ask, snapping back to reality.

Eli gives me a curious look. “I asked if you were ready to go.”

“Yeah, if you are.”

We both stand, and after Eli says his goodbyes, we wave at Mia and walk out the front door together. Molly and Liam are right behind us, and when we get to the front of the Jeep, Molly yells Eli’s name. “Hey, don’t disappear on us again.”

“I won’t. Sorry about that,” he calls back.

I climb in the Jeep after I help him up, and as soon as we hit the highway, I grab his hand. He smiles, but it only lasts for a second. “I’m sorry for acting like a brat. I’m sure that’s like—”

“I’d be the same way,” I say, cutting him off. “You don’t have any reason to be jealous. Trust me. I know what it looks like when your friend is trying to be sneaky behind your back.” Well, I do now, anyway. “Liam really didn’t mean any harm.”

He groans. “I know, but it just drives me crazy. Because he’s just openly hitting on you. Thank you for telling them. I—I know I don’t have any claim on you, but…” I laugh out loud at that, and he shoots me a look. “What?”

“You have all the claim on me, Eli. As far as I’m concerned, there’s not a man on this earth but you. So be as possessive and jealous as you want. As long as you know that I only want you. God knows I don’t want anyone else flirting with you.”

“Really?” he asks after a beat of silence. “You’re serious?”

“Uh, yes.” I glance at him. “You’re mine, doll. Even if you and I are the only ones who know it, it doesn’t change anything. You’re still fucking mine.”

The words come out a little harsher than I mean for them to, but Eli draws in a shaky breath, glancing at me with flushed cheeks and blown pupils. “I like that.”

“Well, it’s the truth.” I brush my thumb over the back of his hand. “You’re fucking mine, and I’ll be damned if anyone thinks they can take you from me.”

“You can’t just say stuff like that.”

I laugh. “And why not?”

“Because you’ll ruin me for anyone else.”

“Well, that’s good,” I growl. “Because no one else is getting you.”

He whimpers. A full-on breathy little whimper that goes straight to my fucking dick. “You can’t be making noises like that while I’m driving, doll.”

“Then pull over,” he whines.

“Tempting, but I want you spread out under me. And I can’t do that in here. ”

“Sure you can,” he says breathlessly. “I’m small. I can lie in the back seat.”

I let out a choked laugh, my dick throbbing.

“Yeah?” I glance over at him, and he nods, lower lip sticking out.

He’s gonna get his way entirely too much, but not right now.

“You can also wait until we get home. It’s like five minutes away.

Besides, I think I’m about to kill your mood.

” And mine. “Mia knows too by the way. She threatened me.”

His jaw drops. “You’re joking. How? We haven’t even been there.”

I shrug. “She said she wouldn’t say anything.”

“Aren’t you worried?” he whispers.

Kind of. Not really. Very. It’s all very fucked up in my head.

I sigh. “It wouldn’t be ideal if she told someone before we were ready to, but Eli.

” I pause, pulling into the driveway at home and unbuckling so I can look at him.

“It’s not the end of the world if she does, okay?

” He nods, wide eyes trained on me. “Let’s come up with a date to tell everyone. ”

He bites his bottom lip nervously. “Okay, like when?”

“Whenever you feel comfortable.”

“Me?” he asks, raising his eyebrows. “What about you?”

I’ve pretty much already resigned myself to the fact that if this ruins my relationship with Holden, it is what it is.

It would suck, but hey. Hiding makes me feel a little gross, though, like I’m no better than Silas and Leo, sneaking around.

At least Eli and I being together doesn’t hurt anyone.

I can’t see how it would, anyway. “Don’t worry about me. ”

Eli frowns. “Okay… what about after the fundraiser? That’s a month from now. And if you decide to change your mind about me within that time, then we don’t have to risk you ruining things with Holden.”

“What?” I ask, confused by that .

Eli looks at his lap. “I’m just saying, I don’t want you to feel trapped with me. So let’s give it a month, and if you still want me then, we’ll tell everyone. And if not, that’s okay. No hard feelings.”

I blink at him as my heart cracks open in my chest. I reach across the console and cup his face, forcing his gaze back to mine.

How can he even think that? “That’s not going to happen.

” I brush my thumb under his eye. “I was drowning before you, doll. Then you came storming in with your shy smiles and your sharp tone and your boba addiction and text messages about how jackets work, and I was pretty fucked.”

He laughs. “Oh my God. I’m still embarrassed about that.”

“No reason to be embarrassed. Just one of many things I find adorable about you.”

He rolls his eyes, but his little smile is pleased. “One of many, huh?”

I hum. “Yeah, how about we go inside and I show you all the many things? One by one. Real slow.”

His eyes widen, and he all but falls to the ground in his rush to get out of the car.