Every choice she made revolved around Tyler. There really wasn’t room for anything else. She spent her days worrying about being able to pay for Tyler’s little league uniform or school lunches, not whether or not she could fit one more club in before she passed out. She was a mature adult with responsibilities Elliot would never understand. It wasn’t his fault. It was just the way it was. She wouldn’t regret their time together. In fact, it would probably end up as one of her most cherished memories. Something to take out and play with whenever life got too real and she needed a good escape. But it wasn’t reality.
Lena looked down at Elliot again, at the faint smile that still lingered on his lips. There was no need to wake him. The conversation going on in her head wasn’t one she needed to have with him. She was a vacation fling, and she was okay with that. So she’d do what flings did and slink away before things got all real and awkward.
She slipped quietly out of bed, quickly got dressed, and gathered up her binder and pack. She didn’t bother putting her shoes on. It was early enough there shouldn’t be too many people about yet, and she was only going back to her own hotel room. She did finally decide to leave a little note on the table by Elliot’s side of the bed. Despite the whole one-night stand aspect, she didn’t want him to think she’d ditched him. Then she pulled the door open and stepped into the hall, making sure the door closed quietly behind her.
She’d only taken a few steps when the door to the next suite opened. And Elliot’s parents stepped out. Lena’s face flamed bright red, the blood flooding her cheeks so quickly it made her lightheaded.
Mrs. Debusshere froze, her eyes taking in Lena’s rumpled appearance, her shoes in her hand. Elliot’s room was the only other one near them. There could be no doubt where she’d come from. His father’s gaze raked her up and down, and his face puckered in disapproval.
“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Debusshere.”
Neither one said anything for a second. His mother finally blinked and said, “Good morning,” in a tone so cold Lena wished she hadn’t spoken at all.
She needed to get out of there. “Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you later. If you’ll excuse me…”
She high-tailed it for the elevator and hit the down button. The doors dinged almost immediately, and Lena nearly sobbed in relief. She stepped inside, punched her floor and the close button five or six times, not relaxing until the doors slid shut.
What a perfectly shitty end to a perfectly wonderful night.
Chapter Nine
Elliot’s head pounded. He rolled over, his eyes squinting at the clock. Seven in the morning. Ugh. He dropped back down, burying his head into the pillows even while he reached out a hand to search for Lena.
The bed next to him was empty. He sat up, instantly wide awake.
“Lena?”
No answer. But there was a folded note on the table next to him. He flipped it open.
Went to pick up Tyler. Didn’t want to wake you. <3 L.
He put the note down. He wasn’t upset that she’d left. She had a son. Tyler, of course, took precedence, but he would have liked to have woken up with Lena still nestled beside him. Maybe next time Tyler could sleep over, too, so she wouldn’t have to leave in the morning.
Bang, bang, bang.
It wasn’t his head pounding; it was some inconsiderate idiot banging on his door. He sighed and swung his legs out of bed, grabbed a pair of jeans from the floor, and yanked them on. Halfway to the door it occurred to him what he’d just thought. That he wanted both Lena and Tyler to stay. Like some sort of happy little family campout. Where had that thought come from? If Tyler was there, Elliot and Lena certainly wouldn’t be able to do half, if any, of the deliciously amazing things they’d done the night before.
The realization that that didn’t bother him stopped him cold in his tracks. He wanted a repeat of his night with Lena. Hell, if he had his way, he and Lena would never leave his bed again. But the thought of her spending the night with no kinky hijinks involved appealed to him just as much. He’d really love to sit on the couch with her and Tyler and watch a movie or play some games and then curl up and do nothing but cuddle and sleep.
He snorted. Where the hell had the real Elliot gone?
More knocking.
“Elliot?”
He groaned. His mother. Perfect. Just who every man wanted to see after a night of mind-blowing sex.
He looked through the peephole to see if she was alone. Even better. His father was with her. So instead of spending the morning exploring Lena’s body in the sunlight, he got to deal with his parents. It was too fucking early. He needed coffee before he dealt with them. Not that that was going to be an option.
Elliot opened the door and plastered on a welcoming face. “Good morning, Mother. Dad. You guys are up early.”
He opened the door wide enough for them to enter and stood to the side. They both stalked past him, his mother looking around the room like she was expecting a cheerleading squad to be hiding behind the sofas. Sheesh, one little party gets out of hand, and she never forgets it.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you both so early?”
His mother grimaced at him. “Cut the crap, Elliot.”
Elliot’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. He’d never heard his mother use that word in his entire life. She must be seriously pissed about something.
“What have I done now?”
She set her purse on the coffee table with a little thump and then focused the full weight of her ice cold gaze on him.
“You mean who. We saw her leave, Elliot.”
He wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he reverted to his default setting. Dumb denial. “Who?”
“Don’t give us that,” his father said. “Lisa, Laura… Whatever her name is. Nathaniel’s sister.”
“He prefers to go by Oz. And his sister’s name is Lena,” Elliot said, trying to keep his tone controlled and respectful. It wouldn’t help his cause any to anger his parents. But it was painfully obvious they wouldn’t welcome a relationship between them, and that seriously pissed him off.
“I’m hardly surprised to find some random woman in your bed. There’s always a steady stream of them coming and going from your apartment,” his mother said.
Normally he’d have made some smart-ass remark or inappropriate joke. But she was referring to Lena, and he didn’t find it remotely funny.
“Lena is not some random woman.”
“I thought you’d have more sense than to get mixed up with that girl.”
Elliot focused on breathing. Yelling at his mother would get him nowhere. “That girl? What’s wrong with Lena? She’s smart, beautiful, independent, and hard working. What could you possibly have against her?”
His father snorted. “She must be incredible in bed for you to be wrapped around her little finger already.”
That’s it. “Don’t talk about her like that, Dad. She deserves some respect.”
“Respect? We just caught her slinking out of our son’s bedroom before the sun is barely up. You’ve known her what, three days? And she’s already spending the night in your bed.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Oh, yes it is. You are my son. It is most certainly my business who you let screw up your life.”
“Why do you think she’s going to screw up my life? You don’t even know her!”
“Neither do you! But I know enough to recognize a scheming little gold digger when I see one.”