Me: Can you meet me somewhere?
Then, like a chick, I sat back in my chair and waited. Unable to concentrate on anything, I paced my office, cleared some papers off my desk, then stared at my phone screen. It was just as I was about to head out and go meet up with my old man at the nursing home when my phone buzzed.
Elle: Yes. We just finished eating. Where?
Dinner was out of the question since she’d already eaten, but that was okay because I had something better in mind. I wanted to take her on a real date, but it would be dark if I went to go pick her up first, so I settled on a pseudo date.
Me: At the George Washington Statue in the Public Garden.
Her response came in the way of a smiley face: “:)”
I’d never texted nor written a heart, smiley face, or anything like that in my life. My fingers hovered over the keypad until finally I just did it: “:)”
Lame.
I felt incredibly lame.
I almost looked around and wondered if this was me sitting here. Shaking off what James would surely call the secret Romeo within me, I grabbed my keys and got ready to go.
The Internet had notified me that today was opening day at the Swan Boats, and I’d always seen people riding in them during the spring and summer months but never thought about going on one myself. It was like the carriage rides in Central Park; I’d always seen people taking them but had never actually ridden in one of the carriages myself.
With Elle, I wanted to do things I’d never wanted to do before.
Stupid, dumb things. Things couples did.
Chances were small that anyone would see us together there but just in case, I shoved my hat on my head and slid my sunglasses onto my face. It was still slightly cool outside, so the knit hat didn’t look that out of place. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to worry about being seen with Elle for much longer. I’d put in a request to meet with Tommy and although my request had been denied, Miles was working on a way around that.
The area of the park where the statue was located was under construction, as was almost everything in the Garden this time of year. Winter damage was harsh, but I was certain by the end of April there would be no sign of it.
I leaned back against some of the scaffolding that surrounded the at least forty-foot height of the eerily lifelike bronze George Washington on his horse. With my tie removed and sleeves rolled up, I looked like a resident out for a stroll after work.
A text from Miles told me Elle had arrived and he was off for the night. Miles and a crew of hired security men had been watching out for her since we’d gotten the note from Tommy in the hotel. Surprisingly, she’d never objected.
Scanning the area, I spotted her before she saw me. She was rolling some of that lip balm in a small silver tin that she seemed to have in multiples on her lips. She’d changed since I’d seen her this morning. No longer in a black skirt and blouse, she was wearing black skinny jeans, a gray sweater, her red hat, and a pair of boots.
I was practically frozen in place she was so beautiful.
It was hard to believe there was ever a moment when I thought being apart was the best choice for us.
This stupid fucking situation we were in wasn’t going to be easy to navigate, but I knew if I could just keep my shit together and think clearly, I’d get through it. I had two things to do—eliminate Tommy as a threat for good and figure out what O’Shea had or hadn’t done.
Maybe it was jealousy that had sparked the change of mind.
Maybe it was the fact that no one was safe.
Maybe it was because this wasn’t just about me anymore.
But I now felt confident I could accomplish those two things while keeping Elle safe and in my life at the same time.
She put the tin back in the purse that she wore strapped across her body and scanned the area with an almost blank expression on her face.
I pushed myself up just as she spotted me and I saw her entire face light up.
My legs moved fast and I smiled at her the entire distance it took to reach her. “Hey,” I said.
“Hi,” she said, smiling.
“Everything go okay today?”
She half nodded. “Only a handful of people showed up and none seemed to know my sister at all. It was sad, really.”
“Who were they, then?”
She shrugged. “I think they were people Michael knows from the courthouse. I’m not entirely certain. I saw one or two of them at the fundraiser. At least Michael’s sister stopped by for a few minutes. It was strange, though, that no one else from his family came.”
My hands went to her waist. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”
“Thank you. I know you wanted to be but it’s not possible right now,” she said, and to lessen the burn, she placed her hands on my chest.
“Is everything all set for tomorrow?”
She sighed. “It is. Michael is going to keep it small.”