The Soldier's Roommate

Chapter 14: Here we go.

Alice

Life is so surreal sometimes.

Elijah is sitting next to me on the couch now, reaching for my hand and pulling me closer to his still drenching wet body.

"As you might have noticed..." He sighs, looking at our intertwined hands in his lap. "I'm not really good at this."

"Not good at expressing your feelings? Yeah, I noticed that..." I can't help but smirk, eliciting a deep chuckle from Elijah's throat, the sound echoing through the living room when he shakes his head in amusement.

"Yeah... Well, let me try." He clears his throat, sitting up straight and looking right at me, determination running over his features when he continues. "When my father said he wanted someone to move in with me, I felt like he wanted to babysit me. But when I realized you were the one who would live with me for the next six months... Fuck, that just changed the game."

"Because you're a force to be reckoned with, and your attitude completely caught me off guard. I didn't know what to think, what to make of this whole ordeal... And I know my father, I know the shady deals he's making, and I couldn't know if you were a part of that or not. I believed you when I accused you the first time, but I just wasn't sure... So when my father called yesterday, telling me that you kept him updated about my doctors' appointments I instantly thought you were a part of that. It was the only logical explanation. And I just... I snapped."

My eyes widen at his words, and I instantly want to defend myself, but Elijah just squeezes my hand, speaking up before I can. "Please. This is tough. Let me use the momentum..."

I nod my head, sending a smile on his lips before he looks back at our hands, playing with my fingers when he continues. "So, I freaked. I thought I might be able to get close to you, to actually get to know you. But then he called, and I hated myself for even thinking that far, for putting myself at risk like that." He sighs, running another hand through his damp hair.

"Yeah, well, and then I went to Mason's and he told me about the talk you had with him, and I just... God, I felt so stupid. Still feel so stupid. My father just always manages to control me, even without actively trying to. It's frustrating, and so stupid."

He suddenly looks up, those intense but desperate eyes meeting mine in an instant, both of his hands now wrapping around my own. "I'm sorry, Alice. For behaving the way I did, for not giving you the benefit of the doubt. And especially for driving you away from you and toward Dean..."

I nod my head, waiting for him to say anything else. But instead his eyes just dive into my soul, taking all of me in with one single glance.

"Can I say something now?" I ask, trying to lower the heat in this room before we combust again.

Elijah smirks, nodding his head as he whispers, "Yes, please."

"Alright. Believe it or not, I understand why you drew the conclusions you did." He looks actually surprised at my words, his eyes widened as he leans back a bit, studying me with curiosity. "But that doesn't mean it was okay. You should've talked to me. You were acting like a little child, and I absolutely can't stand that... I mean, I get it. There are things that are hard for you to talk about, and that's okay."

"But," I immediately continue, seeing that he wants to say something as well, "whatever this is, we can't just jump into it if I don't know anything about you. You already know a lot about me, while I only know that you served and that your parents are really damaged... You have to understand that I'm not the kind of woman that throws her principles overboard just to please a man. So if you're serious about this, you need to open up. I need to know who you are."