The Last Night

Molly

While Ebony and Bryn have a girls day I decide to meet Eli for lunch. After Adam told me he was in town I reached out with ideas for the vigil. I enter the diner and sit in a booth to wait. The waitress I recognize that's been her forever beams and pours me coffee.

Eli enters in his police uniform and sits across from me. Eyes raking over me and grinning.

"What a pleasant surprise." He states.

I smile and lean back.

"You look all grown up." I state.

"Looks can be deceiving." He winks.

"You always were the wild one." I sigh.

"You wound me, Molly." He laughs before we order.

"Adam says you're the mastermind behind the vigil. Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Home team, remember?" He takes my hand in his and I swallow thickly.

"Pretty messed up home team now."

"Nah. I like it better this way."

"It's hard. Being back here." I admit.

He nods slowly.

"Do you remember when you were six and you were trying to learn to ride a bike? It was after my pop passed." He says looking at me intently.

"You told me that you wouldn't let me fall. You pinkie promised and then you did." I laugh shaking my head.

"And your dad said 'son, do you know the difference between a promise and a memory? We have a tendency to break our promises but our memories have a tendency to break us.' That's the best advice I've ever been given." He shrugs.

I clear my throat and pick at my food.

We eat in silence. Brewing over things both said and unsaid. Eli and Ebony knew about my pregnancy. Because Adam was right. They were my home team. And I needed people when I left home to raise a baby and finish school.

Eli was away at school and that's where I went. I lived with him until I graduated then he left to the police academy.

"I've missed you." I admit looking at him. He smiles again and sighs.

"You too." He whispers. A flush creeping up his neck.

He pays for our lunch before leading me outside. It's tourist season and the streets are crowded so he leads me closer to the beach.

"There's a house for sale on the beach. Two bedroom. I know you can't sleep in your room, Molly. Even out of it you barely managed." He murmurs as we sit on a bench.

"This isn't permanent." I sigh glancing at him.

"Just think about it." He whispers brushing my hair behind my ear.

"Okay." I breathe.

Smiling we turn and watch the people rushing around.