My Autumn with April

Twenty Three

~April~

"Wow." I lifted my head up to El who was leaning against his kitchen door frame, just watching me. His pajama pants low on his hips, hair still wet from the shower I didn't hear him get out of. I didn't want to get out of bed in all honesty. I wanted to stay right there, in his shirt, sipping the coffee he'd made me, feeling all warm and tingly and my legs a little fuzzy. But I wanted cookies and I thought it'd be a nice treat for us before we had to get dressed and head to the B&B for the plan of action after last nights trauma dump. It took a solid few hours of girl time for Maya to assure me she was alright and then I text El that I was going home. I wasn't even half way when the out of breath giant was running up the pavement. He tossed me over his shoulder, telling me to be quiet before dragging me off to his place. I wasn't complaining, nor was I going to fight it. Another night with him was a win in my book. 

"What?" 

"Just you." He smiled, pushing himself up and stalking across to me. Strong arms wrapped around my torso as I put the cookies onto a tray to cool down. "Have I told you lately how good you look in literally anything?" 

"I don't think so." 

"Well, I'm telling you now." He pulled my hair around onto one shoulder, delicately pressing a kiss to my neck and a shiver tickled down my spine. "Jeans, dresses, skirts, pajamas, trackies, nothing, my clothes. I don't know how you make everything look so good but you do. It's a talent really." My cheeks heated as an unfightable smile spread across my lips. "What you making?" 

"Fresh pasta. What does it look like I'm making you tit?"  He chuckled, hands moving under my shirt and around my bare stomach. "I wanted to make you cookies." 

"Me?"

"Mhm. I realized I haven't made you anything specifically just for baking for you." I shrugged and laid my head back onto him. "If I had ice cream I'd make you those cookie ice cream sandwich things with chocolate on that I made before I left." 

"You know what? There's an ice cream shop right down stairs! I could go get some." El gasped like it was a complete surprise, standing up and heading off to throw some shoes on before I could tell him I was joking. He came back a few minutes later, 3 boxes in hand and a beaming smile. "Are they cool yet?" 

"They need a little longer." Elliott almost pouted before putting the ice cream away, scooping me up and sitting me on the counter behind where I was stood. 

This had been the most amazing weekend. I was a little gutted that we had to leave here in a few hours and I couldn't have him this close again for a few days. Work weeks were so hectic and as the holiday season started to warm up, I could feel the amount of business I'd be pulling in. Christmas parties, birthdays, Christmas cakes, I was practically fully booked up until the big day and the few days leading up to Christmas were set to be extremely busy. 

I was beyond  glad for the boost in business, don't get me wrong. It was a confirmation that I was on the right path and that I'd picked a career in something people clearly thought I was good at. But the letters hadn't stopped. And I doubt that the judgey old women coming in and looking down their noses at everything was going to ease off anytime soon. 

I knew there was going to be some backlash from setting up here. I knew it would cause drama but sometimes I wonder if it is worth the toll it's taking on my mental health. 

I hope this week is different though. That whatever El said to Bridget pushes her and others to take a step back and just let me prove myself to them. I want to show them I'm not what they they think of me and as hard as it is, I want to be here. I don't want to up sticks and leave El and Autumn and Maya and everyone else here when other than other people's opinions, it's going really well. 

"What you thinking about beautiful?" 

"Just how good things are right now." I played with the hair at the back of El's neck, twisting his perfect curls around my finger tips. "Outside of like Bridget and everyone else. The bakery is booming, I might need to start looking into more help really, definitely before the tourist boom, that's for sure. Autumn has some shitty months up ahead but she seems happy that Jonah's back, my dad's sober and mum has never been happier." 

"And there's us." 

"And then there's us." I nodded, sighing slightly. A conversation we should probably have now that whatever this was had been going for a solid week. 

"How are you feeling about this?" 

"Uh-" I took in a slow breath. "Good? I don't know. It's like been the longest and shortest week of my life. I like us as we are right now though." 

"Good. Me too. What do you think about everyone knowing?" 

"Everyone as in-" 

"Noah, Autumn, Maya..." 

"Oh." I gave him a slow lift of my head in acknowledgement. "Truthfully?" 

"God honest truth. For me, I don't care either way. I don't see why we should hide it but I get if you want to keep this between us for a little while." 

"You do?" 

"Of course I do. This is new for us. It's a big change and it's bound to bring a lot of questions and prying eyes and gossip and I know you like your life private. So if you'd like to keep this just between us and well I guess your parents already know then we can. It's not a big deal." My heart tripped, got back up and stumbled, clinging to a railing to steady itself. "Whatever you're comfortable with." 

"Can we keep it between us?" El smiled, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. 

"Of course." 

"Just for now." 

"We can keep it private as long as you want babe. It literally doesn't make a single difference to me whatsoever. Now. Will these cookies be cool enough now because I think I might die if I don't eat something soon and I might resort to drastic actions." 

"What drastic-" Elliott smirked. "Again? You literally-" 

"You are my favourite thing to eat Love. Now either make the ice cream sandwiches or let me get down on my knees and help you see the stars again." 

"I do like seeing the stars." 

"Don't need to tell me twice." El started to get to his knees and I laughed, wriggling my hips and trying to get off the counter. 

"No no no no! I'll make the snack! I'll make the snack." 

"You are the snack."