Chapter 9: Lies and Speaking
I've established countless times my awe at how well Elena had adjusted into Mini's life. I don't know, maybe it was a girl thing, but Elena really knew how to cater to Mini's needs instinctively.
Except when it came to clothing.
Elena liked for Nellie to wear these ridiculous hats and skirts and frills and I knew my Mini hated it. She'd always throw the things all over the room and she absolutely despised wearing shoes. It was actually quite hysterical to watch them interact.
"Fine," Elena humphed finally, after the last tennis shoe flew at her head. "You can go barefoot." Mini visibly brightened at the word and I reached my hand out to give her a high five. I almost thought she had it, but instead of slapping my hand, she grabbed it into her vice grip and brought my hands to her head. She clenches her jaw and shakes her body around so that her tiny ribbon in her hair falls out. I chuckle as Elena watches it flutter pitifully to the ground.
I watch as Elena moves fluidly toward the other end of the couch. "She's going to catch a cold because she won't put on her stupid sweater." I hide my grin with my hand and stare at the television screen to distract myself. Soon I feel the pressure of a pillow against the side of my head, which releases my smile.
"It's not funny, Jacob."
I roll over and look up at her. "She doesn't want to wear that sweater. So what? I wouldn't want to either." She looks away from me, pretending to be upset because, let's be honest, who could ever be angry at a face like this? I scoot up and reach out a hand for her.
"Come here."
She glares playfully at me before moving closer to me until she's planted firmly in my lap. I kiss her cheek softly as she lays back into me and I attempt to hold her close in the slightly awkward position.
"What time do you leave to meet Nik?"
I sigh as the deep stirring in my gut rears it's ugly head. I swallow it down and deepen my smile, rubbing her arm softly. "I should leave in the next fifteen minutes."
She sighs and leans in closer to me. "I preferred you courting me to actually dating."
I accept her admission and place a kiss on the back of her neck distractedly. She had curly hair naturally, so most times at the root you could see the wispy waves that decorated her neck. It was a small thing that you didn't notice if you weren't looking, but once you spotted them they were all you could see. Kind of like her tiny freckles I'd find scattered around her body.
"Actually," she pipes up, not bothering to wait for a response from me, "We haven't even gone on a date yet. So technically, this," she motions between us, "doesn't constitute as dating.
I frown and lay another kiss on her neck. "We'll go tonight." She looked dubiously at me. "After my meeting."
She looks pointedly at Nellie. "Sitter."
"Bonnie or something." She accepts my idea with a shrug and leans back further into me with a heavy sigh. "I promise we'll have a great time and you'll see how wrong you were to ignore your feelings for me."
She hits me playfully once, but that was all I needed to be in immense pain.
I relish the silence and simplicity of my stay with my two girls. The soft hum of the tv and Nellies soft snores are what makes me want to go back on everything I said I'd do. I almost do it, too. But I know I owe him and he reminds me of that when he calls me from his cell.
I don't pick up, instead, my eyes just roll across the screen to read his name. I regretfully stand, letting Elena settle into my spot. I look at Nellie who fell asleep with her fist tucked into her mouth.
