Read Online Again (Brandy Jeffus) by Brandy Jeffus - Free Book Online
Authors: Brandy Jeffus
Tags: english eBooks
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and apply some fresh make up. We start down the sidewalk and instinctively I take Eli's hand. Out of the corner of my eyes I see him smile while he opens the door for me.
I quiz Eli on all the gadgets in his patrol car. He laughs at my amazement of all the tech toys. All the tension from the previous hour has been completely erased.
"You live in your Pops lake house?" I ask once I recognize the direction we’re headed. Eli nods.
"Pops died a couple years ago and Gran said he had deeded the property to me while I was still in middle school. So I came out here, fixed it up a little and it's been home ever since," he looks sideways at me, "I hope its ok with you, going there. Since you know…" he trails off.
He proposed to me at that house. With petals on the bed that spelled out, marry me? We danced to Michael Bolton's love song. That day had been one of the best of my life.
"It’s ok. No worries," I assure him.
"Bonnie, I loved every minute of what just happened at Miss Cindy’s. But I don't want to rush you into anything. I don't want you to do anything you don’t want to do. I know you just got out of that relationship with that guy and everything…" his voice trails off and I reach for his hand.
“No worries, Elijah. You've always been such a worrier. I'm a grown ass woman and if I don't want to do something, please bet that I'll let you know," I take a breath and continue, "All those years with Mick were just empty. I cared about him, sure. But there was always something missing. Always something lacking and I never really found true happiness with him. Fun times, yes. Not real happiness though. You have always been a part of my life, even when we weren't together."
I take a shaky breath, it was so freeing being able to admit that. I’ve never been truthful about Mick to anyone, let alone to myself.
“I mean, you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but…I just don't know what we are right now, you know?" Eli says.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to describe the type of relationship we have. Let's quit being serious okay? I've had enough serious moments the last few weeks to last a lifetime."
At that instant, we pull up to the house. Eli really did fix it up; the roof, the porch everything. There’s an addition to side, as if an extra room has been built. A boat sits off to the side as well as the old gray '88 Chevy Eli used to drive in high school. It’s a bit more rusted than I remember.
"Gaw, you still have that Chevy? I'm surprised it hasn't bit the dust yet!" I exclaim, climbing out of the cruiser. We walk up the driveway onto the porch.
"Be nice, you'll hurt her feelings. She may be old, but she's reliable," Eli unlocks and opens the door and I step in. I’m blown away by how different everything looks. The place has been modernized with electronic gadgets and a big flat screen TV. The couches are different and the walls have been painted.
It looks and feels like home. It feels like Eli.
"Let me change quickly and we can go," Eli calls as he heads down the hallway to the back bedroom. "Make yourself at home. I'll be really quick."
I quietly walk down the hallway after him, looking at pictures on the wall. There are framed pictures of his family, some old that I recognize and some newer. At the very end of the hall, I recognize a piece of art hanging in a very expensive looking frame.
It’s the cover art I had drawn for Mick's band's CD. I reach up and trace my initials at the far left corner: BMJ. It’s surreal seeing it framed on Eli’s wall. He’s pass by this every day for the last few years. And I had no idea.
"Hey, if you want, and don't mind, I could pick some stuff up to cook dinner tonight. I'm not that bad of a cook," Eli interrupts my thoughts and comes out of his room. He stops suddenly to keep from running into me.
I look up and notice he isn't wearing a shirt, just a pair of shorts. My mind goes blank as I stare at his chest. It’s beautiful, a complete
I quiz Eli on all the gadgets in his patrol car. He laughs at my amazement of all the tech toys. All the tension from the previous hour has been completely erased.
"You live in your Pops lake house?" I ask once I recognize the direction we’re headed. Eli nods.
"Pops died a couple years ago and Gran said he had deeded the property to me while I was still in middle school. So I came out here, fixed it up a little and it's been home ever since," he looks sideways at me, "I hope its ok with you, going there. Since you know…" he trails off.
He proposed to me at that house. With petals on the bed that spelled out, marry me? We danced to Michael Bolton's love song. That day had been one of the best of my life.
"It’s ok. No worries," I assure him.
"Bonnie, I loved every minute of what just happened at Miss Cindy’s. But I don't want to rush you into anything. I don't want you to do anything you don’t want to do. I know you just got out of that relationship with that guy and everything…" his voice trails off and I reach for his hand.
“No worries, Elijah. You've always been such a worrier. I'm a grown ass woman and if I don't want to do something, please bet that I'll let you know," I take a breath and continue, "All those years with Mick were just empty. I cared about him, sure. But there was always something missing. Always something lacking and I never really found true happiness with him. Fun times, yes. Not real happiness though. You have always been a part of my life, even when we weren't together."
I take a shaky breath, it was so freeing being able to admit that. I’ve never been truthful about Mick to anyone, let alone to myself.
“I mean, you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but…I just don't know what we are right now, you know?" Eli says.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to describe the type of relationship we have. Let's quit being serious okay? I've had enough serious moments the last few weeks to last a lifetime."
At that instant, we pull up to the house. Eli really did fix it up; the roof, the porch everything. There’s an addition to side, as if an extra room has been built. A boat sits off to the side as well as the old gray '88 Chevy Eli used to drive in high school. It’s a bit more rusted than I remember.
"Gaw, you still have that Chevy? I'm surprised it hasn't bit the dust yet!" I exclaim, climbing out of the cruiser. We walk up the driveway onto the porch.
"Be nice, you'll hurt her feelings. She may be old, but she's reliable," Eli unlocks and opens the door and I step in. I’m blown away by how different everything looks. The place has been modernized with electronic gadgets and a big flat screen TV. The couches are different and the walls have been painted.
It looks and feels like home. It feels like Eli.
"Let me change quickly and we can go," Eli calls as he heads down the hallway to the back bedroom. "Make yourself at home. I'll be really quick."
I quietly walk down the hallway after him, looking at pictures on the wall. There are framed pictures of his family, some old that I recognize and some newer. At the very end of the hall, I recognize a piece of art hanging in a very expensive looking frame.
It’s the cover art I had drawn for Mick's band's CD. I reach up and trace my initials at the far left corner: BMJ. It’s surreal seeing it framed on Eli’s wall. He’s pass by this every day for the last few years. And I had no idea.
"Hey, if you want, and don't mind, I could pick some stuff up to cook dinner tonight. I'm not that bad of a cook," Eli interrupts my thoughts and comes out of his room. He stops suddenly to keep from running into me.
I look up and notice he isn't wearing a shirt, just a pair of shorts. My mind goes blank as I stare at his chest. It’s beautiful, a complete
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