Elliot’s grin grows. “Is that so? Then I definitely should have brought two bottles.”
“Keep up that sass and I’m gonna chuck this screwdriver at your head, Thorne.” His laughter rings out louder this time, prompting me to poke my head out of the driver’s seat so I can see him in real light, and not through the windshield. “What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t want to miss the completion,” he says. “You’ve worked really hard for this, and you deserve to commemorate the moment.”
Fuck. Is there something in my eye?
He really came down here just to watch me finish this car and celebrate with me?
I’m so screwed.
“I think that’s a perfect idea, Elliot,” Steven says, standing upright and moving the light he was holding with him. I groan as darkness descends upon the inside of the car now. “In fact, I’m going to let you two celebrate in private, and I’m going to go home and celebrate with my wife.”
I turn my attention to Steven. “What do you have to celebrate?”
“That she chose my dumb ass fifteen years ago,” he answers matter-of-factly, and then salutes us both as he heads out of the bay. “Have a good night!”
Elliot follows him, pulling the chain down to shut the door before turning back to me. “Are the gauges in?”
“I was just putting the dash back on when you interrupted me.”
“Well, get back to work, woman.”
My mouth parts in shock. “Don’t think that just because you show up here, you can start bossing me around. This is my domain, Elliot.”
His smirk is lethal as he crosses the garage and stops right in front of me, next to the Porsche. “Well, once you’re done with the car, can I bossyou around? Fold you into any position that I want and fuck some sense into you?”
Tapping my chin sarcastically, I reply, “Hmmm. Not sure that will help.”
“What will then? You know that’s why I’m here.”
“I know, Elliot. It’s just…I need to be able to know that no one else can take credit for this, okay?”
“I would never…”
Staring up at him, I say, “Yeah, well my last boyfriend said that too and look how that turned out.”
His brow furrows as he cups the side of my face. “I amnothim, I’m sure as fuck not the samekidyou spent years hating,andI’m not your parents. So, not sure how many times I’ll have to say this, but I’mnotleaving you, I’m here to support you, and I’m so fucking proud of everything you’ve done. The last thing I want is to take credit for any of it, especially when I’m part of the reason you ever doubted yourself in the first place.”
Moisture builds in my eyes again, but I turn away from him, wondering how I’m even supposed to respond to that.
Finding words has always been a strong suit of mine, but around Elliot lately, I struggle to find any that can articulate how he makes me feel.
Just you being here is helping repair everything he broke, I want to say, but I don’t. Instead, I glance back at the car.
He sighs in frustration, probably from my lack of response to his declaration, then asks, “You said you made lists of what needed to be done on the car, right?”
“Yes, but you don’t get it, Elliot—”
“You’re right, I don’t,” he says, cutting me off. “So, put the dash back on and then retrace every inch of the car until you feel better.”
Myeyes snap back to him. “What? That could take me hours.”
He shrugs before walking over to a stool next to my tool bench, setting the bottle of champagne on top and crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes still on me. “Then I’ll just wait here until you’re done.”
“Elliot, you don’t have to wait for me.”
His brows draw together. “I know I don’t, Dilynne. I’m here because I want to be. I thought I made that clear.”