Chapter 11: Too Close for Comfort


    Though Eli asked her to stay put, he''s so d she ignored him.


    Arden glides past Melinda and Armando, and into Eli''s eager embrace. She''s let her hair down, and her


    Nikes have been swapped for a pair of ck ts.


    With her back to the enemy, she surveys her husband. She puts her arms around his torso and


    whispers to him.


    "Are you okay?"


    Elliott cradles her chin in one hand and slips his other into her hair. Her wrinkled brow and the tears


    clouding her almond eyes, remind him of the reason he loves her.


    He smiles at Arden. "I am perfect."


    Then he bends his head and kisses his wife. He closes his eyes and slips his tongue between her lips.


    She follows his lead and folds her arms around his neck. They both rx into the space that belongs to


    them alone, a home that exists in their every kiss. Somewhere safe.


    Elliott rests his forehead against hers, and she notices the singed spot on his shirt. Arden''s jaw


    tightens, and she asks again if he''s all right. He nods and pulls her against his chest.


    Melinda clears her throat behind them.


    Elliott watches Arden roll her eyes, before turning to face Mel and Armando. A pageant grin worthy of


    the crown reces the disgust that turned down her lips just seconds earlier.


    "Melinda." Arden gives her the same stale greeting as Elliott did.


    "Arden, so nice to see you," Melinda says, eyeballing her.


    "Mm-hmm. Is this the boyfriend?" Ardi asks, ncing at Armando.


    "Fiancé."


    "Semantics, Melinda." Arden shrugs.


    "Armando." He offers his hand to her.


    Arden stares at his outstretched palm. She gives him a quick wave of her hand, before folding her arms


    across her middle.


    He grins. "Another fiery one, I see."


    Arden shifts her focus back to Melinda. "Why are you here?"


    "You kidnapped my kids."


    "I did no such thing. They left of their own volition."


    "I find that very hard to believe."


    "Believe what you will, Melinda. Neither Elliott nor I knew they wereing back to Birmingham."


    "Fine. We can all pretend you didn''t lure them back here." She pauses to re at Arden. "I''m taking


    them home."


    "They are home," Elliott says.


    "Their home is with me."


    "Not tonight, it isn''t. It''ste. They''re staying here," Arden asserts.


    "Don''t you think that''s a decision they have to make for themselves?"


    Ardi nods. "You''re absolutely right. Let''s go upstairs and you can ask them yourself."


    Arden and Elliott apologize to Edward for Melinda''s oundish behavior and ask him to have


    management send them a bill for the damages.


    They also ask him to make sure that after tonight she is not allowed inside the building under any


    circumstances ever again.


    "Shall we?" Eli leads the way to the elevator and they all step inside the small space.


    None of them are too thrilled about sharing the close quarters, even for this short duration. All except


    one, that is. Armando leers at Arden. Elliott notices the other man''s eyes on her. He switches ces


    with her, eyeballing the model.


    Melinda nudges Armando''s arm. "Like what you see?"


    "You know I appreciate beauty in any form." He smiles at Arden, who groans.


    "Yes, she''s very pretty. But you might want to check under the hood first. Sometimes that new Ferrari


    turns out to be a lemon ... Right, Fin?" She raises her eyebrow at Elliott.


    "Don''t start, Melinda," he warns.


    She sets her sights on her real prey. "Still barren, Arden?"


    "For thest time ..." Elliott''s response is cut short by Arden''s hand on his arm.


    "Yeah, not much has changed with me." Ardi tilts her head and smiles at Melinda. "But I see you''ve


    managed to be even more of a bitch."


    "You still think that''s an insult. That''s cute."


    "I didn''t think it would be fair to point out that dime store dye job, and those crow''s feet." Arden sighs at


    Melinda''s bottle-blonde locks. "I was raised to respect my elders."


    "At least the sound of my broken biological clock doesn''t keep me awake at night."


    Ardenughs. "Oh, I''m sure yours stopped ticking twenty years ago."


    "Maybe. But I''m not the one still sporting scars from twenty years ago." She gestures to Arden''s cheek.


    "You know there are procedures for that now. There''s no need to walk around looking like a patchwork


    quilt."


    "I don''t see why not." Ardi shrugs. "You''re allowed to look like the crypt keeper in front of millions of


    people every week."


    Melinda is silent a moment, pretending to be too engrossed in her freshly manicured nails.


    "Speaking of my show, you would be perfect for a segment we''re doing next month. It''s called When


    Gics Goes Wrong." She looks Arden over from head to toe and sighs. "Guess, some people just


    never get past that ugly duckling phase."


    Arden bites the inside of her cheek. Then she kind of chuckles and nces down at her feet, before


    making eye contact with Melinda again.


    "I used to think you were just an insecure, fame whore." Ardi smirks. "But now I see that was a


    Mel res back at Arden. "I''d rather be a fame whore than a motherless one any day."


    The air in the elevator is set aze, sucking all of the oxygen out of the cramped space.


    "All right, that''s enough. Give it a rest, Melinda." Eli takes Arden''s trembling hand.


    Melinda raises her palms. "Wasn''t me."


    Elliott gives Arden''s hand a gentle squeeze, and she does the same. She''s okay.


    Finally, they reach their floor and walk down the long hallway that leads into the penthouse.


    Melinda takes a moment to study the artwork on the walls. A portrait of Arden, Elliott, and the twins is of


    particr interest to her all of a sudden.


    "I let you two live in rtive peace with my children." She''s all but snarling at the photo. "Bet everyone


    around here thinks ya''ll are a regr Brady Bunch."


    "Who gives a fuck what people think. We''re a family." Elliott takes a breath, keeping himself from


    saying more.


    "I do care about my kids." Melinda''s expression softens. It almost seems genuine. Almost.


    "There aren''t any cameras or press here, Melinda," Elliott smirks. “Do me a favor, and drop the


    bullshit."


    "What are you talking about?" Mel asks.


    "Give your other face a rest. I''m sure it gets enough airtime on your show."


    "Well, which is it, Fin?" She turns to him. "Do you want me to behave, or not?"


    "I want you to be a slightly better version of yourself. One who doesn''t exact pleasure from crawling


    underneath other people''s skin and defecating on their internal organs. One who isn''t such a spiteful


    bitch."


    "You''re out of line, asshole. You can''t talk to her like that." Armando makes a half-hearted attempt at


    defending his woman.


    "Do you really wanna go there with me again?" Elliott charges up to him. "I can''t even understand why


    you''re doing so much talking."


    "Why not, Finley?" Melinda asks. "Your little mouthpiece has had plenty to say tonight."


    She narrows her eyes at Arden.


    "Everybody just take it down a notch. Fighting with each other all night isn''t going to solve anything."


    Arden steps into the middle of the fray and urges Eli away from Mel''s glorified escort.


    In less than three hours, she needs to be at the bakery. So it''s time for everyone to put the bullshit to


    bed.


    "Pardon me little Miss Muffet. But I''m not in the mood to hold hands and sing an old negro spiritual."


    "Let''s get one thing straight, father time." Arden addresses her. "None of your passive-aggressive shit


    in front of the kids. Whatever animosity there is between us, stays between us. Got it?"


    Melinda gasps and ces a hand over her chest.


    "Really, Arden. You''re so confrontational. Try to keep that ghetto girl attitude in check. This isn''t the


    hood."


    Melinda struts past Arden toward the door of the apartment.


    Elliott takes his wife''s hand again. She squeezes it, much harder this time. They share a quick look,


    before following the other two.


    Once inside the apartment, Elliott deposits Armando on the sofa and Arden heads up to the twins''


    bedrooms. Melinda calls after her before she can make it up the first step.


    "I''d like to talk to my kids alone if you don''t mind."


    Arden pauses with her left foot on the stairs, resting her weight on her right. She hangs her head and


    sighs. Then she throws up her hands and ushers Mel ahead of her.


    "It''s your world, Melinda."


    "d you can see that." She res at Arden like she''s the hired help, making sure to bump into her


    elbow as she passes.


    Arden''s hand reaches toward Melinda''s over-processed locks, as she starts up after her. Elliott catches


    her arm, hugging her body close to his.


    "Don''t do it," he whispers.


    "But I really want to," she whines, like a bratty kid in the middle of a toy store.


    "I know." He nces up the stairs. "And I wouldn''t me you. But you are not cut out for prison."


    "I''ll adapt," she says, still staring after Melinda''s shadow.


    "But you know how I feel about conjugal visits." Elliott kisses her cheek, and they share augh. She


    faces him and drapes her arms around his neck. "I need more than a few minutes with you."


    "What is it that you need more than a few minutes to do?"


    "It''s not really something I can put into words." He settles his hands at her waist and shrugs. "I''m more


    of a performance artist."


    "Uh-huh ... When can I see the master at work?"


    "As soon as these people get out of our house." He grabs her ass, then lifts her onto a nearby side


    table. "But I might be persuaded to give you a little preview. All I need to hear is that magic word."


    She wraps her legs around his back and pulls him closer by the waistband of his jeans. "Now."


    "Nope, try again."


    She undoes a couple of buttons on his shirt. "Right now."


    He grins, wagging a finger at her. "You are a delinquent."


    "You have no idea." Sheughs, and a mischievous smile lights up her face.


    Arden tilts her head, and Elliott meets her lips halfway. They''re lost in each other again when Elliott


    gets the feeling they have an audience.


    He pulls away from her kiss and turns to find Armando has joined them in the hallway. His lithe build is


    leaned against the wall, staring at Arden like she''s the newest installment on the Cinemax after-dark


    lineup.


    "Do you mind?" Eli steps in front of his wife, blocking the other man''s view.


    Armando chuckles and removes another cigarette from the slender silver case hidden in his breast


    pocket. He regards Elliott through his thickshes, as he lights up his imported west-coast weed.


    "I do hate to interrupt your little United Nations makeout session. But may I use your bathroom?"


    "You can shit in the street like any dog."


    Arden rests her head against Elliott''s shoulder. She can''t help but giggle.


    "Eli." She nudges him.


    Elliott nces back at her, and she shakes her head.


    "Down the hall,st door on the right."


    Armando struts past them in the direction of the bathroom.


    "Armando," Arden calls as he passes. He stops and turns on his heels. "You can''t smoke in my house."


    "Forgive me, beautiful. Won''t happen again." He smiles and disappears down the hallway.


    "Bastard," Elliott mutters.


    Arden gently rubs his back. "If I can''t kill Melinda, you can''t be an asshole to the underwear model."


    "That''s not the ..." He turns to her. "How do you know he''s an underwear model?"


    "I''ve seen a few of his ads." Eli smirks at her, and she shrugs. "I read the asional magazine. Sue


    me."


    "First Casper. Now Armando. I''m starting to feel threatened."


    There''s a slight flush in her cheeks. She takes a shallow breath and takes his hands on hers.


    "You have nothing to worry about. They''re not my type."


    "Then what is your type?"


    Arden closes her eyes for a second.


    "Hmm ... Smart. A genius intellect, actually. Devilishly handsome with a hint of boyish charm." She


    smiles at him. "Irresistible blue eyes."


    "I might know someone like that."


    "Have him call me sometime." She sighs. "Until then, guess I''ll settle for you."


    "Good ... Since I''m just a ceholder, that means I don''t have to be a gentleman."


    Eli pulls her forward and kisses her. He slips a hand into her shirt, manhandling her delicate curves.


    Arden whimpers but doesn''t object.


    "Think you two can tear yourselves away from each other for a moment?"


    Melinda is perched at the bottom of the stairs, staring daggers at them both.


    Eli helps Ardi from the table. They wait for Melinda to continue with their arms crossed over their


    chests.


    Mel leans against the banister, sping and unsping her hands. Then she looks Arden dead in the


    eyes.


    "They ... don''t want to leave," Melinda utters each word through gritted teeth. Like every syble is


    another knife tearing into her.


    "Melinda, I''m sorry you came all the way down here. I should have called you."


    "It was my fault. I should have said something the second they showed up here," Arden says, a look of


    pity on her face.


    "Save it. The teamwork thing is just ... nauseating." She ys with a thread on the sleeve of her dress.


    "They can stay here until Thursday, and then we''re leaving first thing Friday morning."


    "Melinda ..." Arden starts to object, but Eli touches her arm.


    "That''s more than fair, Melinda." He nods at her, ncing over at Arden. She shakes her head and


    looks away.


    "I know." Melinda struts past Elliott and Arden, and makes her way to the living room. She stands in the


    middle of the expansive room, looking around with her hands on her hips. "What did you two do with


    Armando?"


    "Nothing yet," Eli says.


    "He''s in the bathroom, Melinda." Arden nods her head down the hallway.


    Melinda wanders off in search of her convenient fiance, leaving Ardi and Eli alone in the darkened


    room.


    Elliott reaches for Arden''s hand. But she wraps her arms around herself and res at him. A bit


    uneasy, heughs and reaches for her again. She backs away from his touch.


    Melinda emerges with a more rxed Armando at her side before Elliott can ask what''s going on with


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    her. Ardi and Eli do the polite thing and show them out.


    In the hallway, Armando gives Arden one more lingering look, before stepping onto the elevator with


    Mel. She flips him the bird. He pouts his lips at her, as the steel doors put an end to that sideshow.


    "Thank God, that''s over." Elliott sighs and tries once again to hug his wife.


    She takes a couple of quick steps to her left, and sails past him back into the apartment. Elliott follows,


    with the confusion of a first-time parent putting together a piece of baby furniture riddling his face.


    He calls her name, but she doesn''t answer. She continues up to Rowan and Teagan''s bedrooms.


    Somehow, Elliott knows it might be best not to follow her upstairs. She''s already expressed a desire to


    throw someone down those same stairs tonight.


    Eli waits for her to appear at the foot of the staircase. A few minutester, she jogs down the stairs


    again and into the living room.


    "Ardi." He matches her steps into the room.


    Arden switches on a nearby floormp and asks Elliott to face her. She asks him to follow her finger,


    and repeat a quick phrase back to her.


    He does as she asks, with an amused smile.


    Then she walks over to a bookshelf, picks up a vase, and tosses it at him.


    "What are you doing?" he exims, barely saving it from a shattered fate.


    "Just wondering, if Melinda''s hand being shoved up your ass has affected any of your other faculties.”


    Elliott''s shoulders sink, and he groans like he wants to cry. "Arden, give me a break."


    "No—you give me one, Elliott." She plucks another fragile knick-knack from the shelf. "Every single


    time that woman shows up, your backbone . . . disintegrates. And you just let her run all over our lives."


    She toys with the object''s weight in her hands for a moment beforeunching it at Eli. The miniature


    y elephant hurtles through the air on a collision course with his chest. He shuffles the first missile


    into the crook of his arm just in time to catch the flying pachyderm.


    Before he can set the items on the end table, she fires another evenrger porcin dish at him. This


    onees within inches of making contact with the hardwood floor. He snatches the te from certain


    destruction in the nick of time.


    "Arden ..."


    "I was almost convinced this time would be different. For a moment, I thought you were going to put our


    rtionship before your irrational fear of angering her. But yet again, you did theplete opposite."


    Ardi picks up a couple of hardbound books and hurls one at Elliott. The volume is moving so fast, his


    best option is to duck. As he rebounds, she sends another soaring his way. This time he catches it ...


    with his forehead.


    "Jesus, Arden. Stop throwing stuff at me." He rubs the afflicted spot on his head.


    Arden puts down her stack of 300-page projectiles and storms off to their bedroom. If she can''t throw


    shit at him, then she''s done talking. She flings the door of the master closed as she enters. Elliott


    catches it mid-swing with his forearm before it ms shut.


    "Ardi, wait a minute."


    Elliott chases her into the walk-in. Arden unbuttons her shirt and yanks off her jeans, before slipping out


    of her underwear. She throws the clothes into a hamper and brushes past him.


    "Are we going to talk about this, or are you going to charge around the house like a two-year-old all


    night?"


    Arden res at him with a bobby pin clenched between her teeth, as she secures her hair into a loose


    bun on the top of her head.


    "Arden, seriously? You''re actually upset with me?"


    She ignores him, stomping into the bathroom and closing the door behind her.


    Elliott considers letting her be, but then he decides against it. If she''s upset, he has to find some way to


    resolve the issue. But he has to get her to talk to him first.


    He turns the door handle and realizes she didn''t lock it. She wants him toe after her.


    Eli enters the already foggy room with caution. As mad as she is, she could be waiting behind the door


    with another blunt object. He peeks his head around the door. No baseball bats or crowbars jump out to


    greet him.


    Arden''s in the shower, letting water that is almost as hot as her anger soak into her pores. Elliott opens


    the ss door. A rush of cooler air strikes her damp skin, making her shiver.


    "Arden."


    "Leave me alone, Elliott." She pulls the shower door shut.


    Eli opens the thick ss once more, and steps inside the tiled shower with her without stopping to


    undress. The downpour from the various jets and showerheads in the steamy enclosure drenches his


    clothes.


    "I can''t do that."


    "Get out," she demands.


    "No."


    "Elliott."


    "Arden." He stands firm and stares back at her.


    He''s not leaving, and she doesn''t have time to waste trying to convince him to do so. Arden groans,


    and turns her back on him. She has to be showered and dressed in less than an hour.


    As shethers her body with a vani and almond oil body wash, Elliott''s lips find her skin. He works


    his way from her ear down to her shoulder, softly biting and sucking as he goes. She dips her shoulder


    and moves away from him. But she''s not getting away that easy.


    Eli slips his arms underneath hers, letting his hands cup her breasts. He massages them in his gentle


    hands, while he continues to kiss her neck.


    After a moment, Arden turns and presses her lips to his. Their same desperate exchange from earlier


    returns. She helps him peel the wet clothes from his body, tearing the fabric from his form like she''s


    shredding the wrapping paper off a present.


    Elliott urges her over to the shower bench and makes her sit. He gets down on his knees in front of her.


    Then he starts to plead for her forgiveness, praising her body with his soft lips like his sole salvation


    lies right here between her thighs.


    Eli works his magic until she''s shuddering and tugging at his dirty blonde curls. Just when she''s ready


    to scream for her savior, he pulls back.


    He moves quickly before she can question him. Eli gets to his feet and lifts her. Ardi wraps her legs


    around his back. With one swift movement, he slips into her warmth. She melts like sugar in his arms,


    uttering his name over and over like it''s her new mantra.


    He makes his strokes slow and steady, relieving the rage and frustration that''s polluting her system.


    They chase that much-needed release, kissing and groping each other in a feverish rhythm. Elliott feels


    Arden tense around him and moves faster and deeper.


    He prides himself on knowing what she needs, without her having to ask. Sometimes he knows before


    she does. Her satisfied moans are confirmation of his acquired talent''s effectiveness.


    Their hurried motions reach a heated crescendo. Arden throws her head back and digs her nails into


    Elliott''s arms. He grips her tighter, as they both reach new heights where pleasure and pain exist on the


    same teau.


    A bit weak now, he settles onto the shower bench with Ardi still straddling him.


    While she tries to find her breath again, he kisses her. "Still mad at me?"


    "Of course," she says between gasps.


    "Round two, then."


    "Nope." She puts her hand on his chest. "I gotta go."


    He kisses her again, longer this time. "Stay home and y hooky with me."


    "Don''t you have an eight o''clock ss?"


    "Cancelled all my sses for the day." He looks at her, smug.


    "Well, look at you."


    "I''d rather spend the day looking at you." He leans back to better admire all of her naked glory.


    "As much fun as that sounds, I have to work."


    "Please." He dips his head and takes her breast in his mouth.


    "Eli ..." She runs her fingers through his hair.


    He nces up at her. Then switches his attention to her other breast. Eli alternates sucking and


    caressing, relentless in his effort to change her mind.


    His diligence begins to wear her down. "Okay ... maybe I can sneak out early."


    "Thank you." Elliott plunges his lips into hers.


    Arden pulls away from his eager kiss. They could be in here until next week if she continues to let him


    lead.


    "Now get out of here, so I can actually take a shower. You''re quite the distraction."


    "Let me stay. I promise I''ll be good."


    She smiles. "I already know how good you are."


    "Yes, you do."


    Elliott manages to behave long enough for both of them to use the shower for its designated purpose.


    Though he does steal a kiss here and there.


    Still looking for any excuse to touch Arden before she leaves, he insists upon making himself apart of


    her usual beauty routine. She''s swathed in a terry cloth robe, sitting on the edge of a white leather


    ottoman. He''s kneeling in front of her, rubbing a body butter into her toasted skin. He has such careful


    hands. Eli has to put real effort into being rough.


    Arden gazes down at him and smiles. They''ve had several arguments over the years, too numerous


    and often too trivial to count. What couple hasn''t?


    But their disagreements neverst for long. It''s difficult to be upset with a man like Elliott. He may say


    or do things that are insensitive. But Arden never gets the impression that his aim is to cause harm.


    Arden pushes a handful of thick curls off his face and leans in to ce a soft kiss just shy of his


    hairline. She lets her lips linger for a moment.


    Then she smooths over the small red mark on Eli''s forehead with her thumb.


    "I''m sorry about your head. It wasn''t my intent to hurt you."


    "I know." He kisses her palm. "But I deserved it ... You''re right."


    "Elliott, I was out of line to interfere with the kids the way I did." She sighs. "I put you in an unfair


    position and ..."


    "Arden, you have every right to intervene on their behalf. Everything that makes them the wonderful


    kids they are, is a product of you." He squeezes her hands. "Make no mistake, you are Teagan and


    Rowan''s mother."


    "When we met ... I never meant to step on Melinda''s toes. I didn''t want to take her ce in their lives."


    Elliott takes a seat next to Arden, then pulls her into hisp.


    "You can''t take what''s always been yours. They were waiting for you. We all were."


    Arden rests her head against his chest and puts her arms around him. He hooks his hand underneath


    her knees, bringing her body closer to his.


    She closes her eyes and listens to the beating of his heart. The muffled thumping in her ear is a


    soothing monotone symphony.


    Her anger for him has disappeared as suddenly as it manifested. All that''s left is the familiar anxiety


    she feels whenever Mel is anywhere near the twins.


    She still needs Eli to understand the reasoning behind her outburst.


    "We have got to have each other''s back where the kids are concerned. Ro and Tea aren''t babies


    anymore. But they''re still very impressionable. And Melinda''s ..."


    "Definitely not kid-friendly."


    Arden nods. "What are we going to do?"


    "We have two options. The first, sit down with Melinda and attempt to reason with her."


    "That''ll be the day." She scoffs.


    Elliott mutters his agreement and continues.


    "The second, and possibly the most difficult ... Let them go and hope that they remember everything we


    taught them."


    "I''m not ready for that."


    "Me either. But in less than a year, it won''t matter what any of us says. They''ll be eighteen and free to


    make their own mistakes."


    "Why couldn''t they stay toddlers forever?"


    "If they did, we''d never get to experience the empty nest syndrome. And I am very excited about that."


    Eli lifts her head and kisses her. Damn, he''s missed her lips. There hasn''t been much time in his


    schedule these days to spend with her. And now, he can''t get enough of her.


    "You are going to make mete."


    "But for a very good reason."


    "Elliott, please ..." Her protests are growing weaker with every kiss he ces on her neck. "I have to ...


    get dressed."


    Though very reluctant to do so, he eases up.


    "All right. But as soon as you walk in that door tonight—you''re mine."


    "Agreed."


    After sneaking in onest taste of her lips, he helps her tuck the tail of a sheer pleated blouse into the


    waist of her pink floral skirt. She decides to leave her hair in the high bun, and keep her face simple. A


    little liquid eyeliner, mascara, some blush, and soft berry lipstick, is all the makeup she needs. A pair of


    nude Valentino studded ts and she''s ready.


    Eli stands back and admires her like a dainty doll he isn''t allowed to touch.


    "You look sweeter than sugar, as usual."


    She curtsies and winks at him. "Thank you."


    Ardi turns to pull a pair of studs and a gold bracelet from her jewelry drawer.


    "Ardi, I''ve been meaning to ask. Where''s your car?"


    Arden fumbles with the sp on her bracelet. Elliott walks over and takes the piece of jewelry from her.


    He fastens the bracelet around her wrist and gives it a gentle squeeze.


    "Did you hear me, sweetheart?"


    "Uh ... yeah, I did ... It should still be parked at the Birmingham Museum of Art."


    She walks out of the closet and back into the bedroom.


    "What''s it doing there? How did you get home?"


    "I started to feel a bit under the weather. And Casper didn''t think it was a good idea for me to drive."


    "What happened?"


    "I just got a little light-headed, and maybe fainted. That''s all."


    "When were you going to mention this to me?"


    "Guess it just slipped my mind. It''s not a big deal, really."


    "It slipped your mind?"


    Her mobile rings. She asks Eli to hold that thought and rushes to the nightstand to catch the call before


    her voicemail does.


    "Come on, buttercup. The engine''s running and I''m all hopped up on a five-hour energy shot." Adam''s


    voice sings through the device.


    "Wow, that''s scary."


    "I''m totally fine to drive. The energy shot doesn''t make me jumpy at all." She can hear him fumbling


    with something in the car.


    "Not that. You just called me buttercup."


    "Well, if you''d prefer Elmer ..."


    "Nope. Buttercup is fine."


    "Good. Now saddle up, sugar britches. I gotta go see a woman about a monkey."


    "You have to do what?"


    "I don''t know, man. I''m tired."


    "I do love the ramblings of the sleep-deprived. Be down in a minute." Sheughs and tucks her phone


    into the side pocket of her handbag.


    Arden turns and is almost jolted out of her skin. Elliott is standing right behind her.


    "You fainted yesterday, and it slipped your mind?"


    "Yes, honey." She gives him a quick peck on the lips. "Adam''s downstairs. I gotta go."


    "You asked Adam to pick you up?"


    "He''sing off an odd shift at Children''s in the trauma unit and agreed to swing by on his way home.


    And he''s barely lucid. So I''d better get down there before his caffeine buzz wears off."


    "I can take you to your car. Call Adam back."


    "It''s already settled, Eli. Besides, you should stay here and get some rest. Spend some time with Ro


    and Tea."


    Ardi dashes around the room, throwing essentials into her bag and dodging Eli''s questions about her


    welfare. She grabs a mint green sweater from the closet, tosses it over her arm, and heads out of the


    bedroom. Eli catches her hand, halting her rushed steps.


    "Arden,e here. Just stop for a second." He touches her cheek and makes her look at him. "Are you


    alright?"


    "It was hot, and I was probably just dehydrated. I''m fine." She smiles, anxious to get out of the house


    and away from this discussion.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes, I''m good."


    He holds her closer, searching her frame for any signs of wear. She seems fine, but he still feels there''s


    something she''s not telling him.


    "And nothing else happened yesterday?"


    Arden takes a breath before answering. "Nothing."


    "Don''t overdo it today. Promise you''ll call me if you start to feel funny at work."


    "I promise. Don''t waste your day worrying about me."


    "I do that anyway. And it''s never a waste." He hugs her like he''s afraid she might disappear and kisses


    her cheek. "I love you."


    Arden holds onto him even tighter. "I love you, too."


    He releases her and slumps down on the edge of the bed. "Now get outta here, so I can miss you."


    She smiles and leans down to kiss him. "Back before you know it."


    He lies back, rxing into theforter. Just as he''s closing his eyes, his wife yells his name from the


    other room.


    He rushes out of the bedroom and down the hallway, finding her in the half bathroom.


    "What is it?" He looks her over, thinking she might have hurt herself.


    "I''m fine. I''m fine." She directs his attention to the trashcan. "Look."


    Elliott leans over it and sees what has her so upset.


    "You have got to be kidding me." He ms his fist into the vanity''s white quartz countertop.


    Arden meets Elliott''s enraged reflection in the mirror. "Can I kill her now?"


    "Not if I get to her first," he mutters.