I Loved You First

Chapter 29: Eloise

DECEMBER

Startled, I hear the GPS chime that we're fifteen minutes away from our first destination.

I look over at Will and let my eyes linger. He dozed off about thirty minutes ago, head leaned off to the side with my other earbud still in his ear. I watch his muscular chest move in a peaceful rhythm, up and down, with each breath that he takes.

My eyes move slowly, taking in every inch of him. When I make it to his face, I notice his jaw muscle tightening and releasing subconsciously and want nothing more than to reach over and run my fingers over it. Of course. I laugh to myself. He would be even more irresistible when he sleeps.

I gently run my finger along the line of his jaw. It's strong and defined, but his skin is soft to the touch like he just shaved this morning.

He's always looked older and more mature than me, especially over the last year and a half when all of a sudden he became this grown gorgeous man, but his boyish charm hasn't faded and I, for one, hope it never does.

I see his lips tip into a sleepy, dreamy half smile at my touch and have to resist my body's urge to kiss him before we get out of the car.

"Alright, let's do some shopping!" Mom says, handing me a card.

My brows quirk with curiosity. "What's this?"

"Someone's eighteenth birthday is next weekend. Shop til you drop, birthday girl!"

I open the card to see what's always my favorite gift - Cash. I give her and dad both a quick hug. "Thank you!"

We get inside, finally split from my parents and I feel Will's eyes on me.

"You seem more yourself today," he says delicately, reaching for my hand.

"Yeah, I feel it. Sorry if I was more quiet than usual this week."

He laughs and shakes his head. "You apologize too much, Elle. You're allowed to feel however you feel. Especially with me," he says and I'm taken back because he makes a good point.

"You're right, sor..." I scrunch my nose. "It may take some practice." I sigh a laugh and wrap both of my arms around his one like I do. "Thank you, though. For being so good to me this week and for coming with us today."

He shrugs. "It's selfish, really. I need to scope out the place, check out the competition in case you decide to go here." He plays it off like it might be a joke, but I get a nice ego boost sensing some truth in his voice.

He sits in the lounge outside the dressing room while I try on an armful of dresses, sweaters, and skirts, occasionally popping out to show him the keepers.

I slip on the final dress, a white A-line mini with black off the shoulder straps that come together in a bow at the chest. I look in the full length mirror and audibly gasp. It's not often that a dress doesn't gape in the chest or leave embarrassingly loose fabric at my hips, but this one? I take a step back and run my hands over the bow, it fits like it was made just for me.

"Okay, I don't know when or where I'm going to wear this, but what do you think?" I ask, stepping out into the lounge area where Will sits alone.

He looks up from his phone and does an immediate double take.

For a few seconds I think he may not speak at all, so I pop up on my bare toes imagining it with heels in the full length mirrors.

When he still hasn't spoken, I give a little twirl and pull my hair up in my hand to show off the back. "Thoughts?" I ask over my shoulder, starting to wonder if this is a good silence or a bad one.