Chapter 20

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Finley’s P.O.V

I kept walking, not even looking back as I fumed. How dare she just assume something about Eli when she didn’t even know him?  Just thinking about her words made my blood boil and strengthen my resolve to keep moving.

As I walked, a park came into view, full of kids trying to get their last days of warmth in before the snow came and made it too cold to go to a park. There were piles of melted snow, but it was virtually snowless and I had a feeling it would be a green Christmas if it didn’t snow soon.

Not that I’m complaining, I hated the snow and considering it was the beginning of December and there was no snow, I didn’t have a reason to complain.

I sat on a bench and watched the kids play, shouting at each other and awkwardly avoiding the older kids that had taken refuge on the top of the play set.  I smiled at their cuteness before sighing deeply. I was musing about my mother when a little girl came up to me and paused in front of me, her thumb in her mouth.

“You look sad,” she commented.

I managed a small smile. “I a-am.”

“Why?” she asked the one question that kids always seemed to be asking.

“My mom is being a m-meanie,” I said, making sure to use words she would understand.  “She d-doesn’t like my boyfriend.”

She screwed up her nose. “Boys have cooties.”

I laughed at that. “Well, th-there’s always one boy who d-doesn’t.”

“Like Jake,” her smiled brightened.

“Yeah, l-like Jake,” I agreed. “And Jake is c-cute?”

“Really cute,” she confirmed. “And he draws me pictures and said that we can play together at school!” she added, a smile lighting up her features.

“Yeah?” I asked, her own enthusiasm making my mood lift. “Do y-you hold hands?”

“Yup,” she nodded excitedly. “And he said he was going to give me a Christmas present!”

“That’s n-nice,” I smiled. “Are you going to get h-him a Christmas p-present?”

She nodded rapidly. “I’m drawing him a picture!”

“Suzi!” a voice yelled and the girl’s head whipped around.

“Yes Mommy?!” she yelled across the playground.

“Where are you?”

“Bench!” Suzi shouted.

Suzi still smiled at me and we watched as her mother came marching over to us.

“Suzi, what did I tell you about going where I can’t see you?” she scolded and then she saw me and her frown deepened. “And talking to strangers? Suzi, you are seven years old, you know better!”

Suzi dropped her head in shame and I decided to intervene. “Excuse m-me, but it’s alright. I’m F-Finley,” I introduced myself and stood up, holding my hand out for the mother to shake.

She seemed surprised at that, blinking as she shook my hand. “Cindy and this is Suzi, my daughter. Was she bothering you?”

“N-No,” I said.

“She looked sad!” Suzi chimed in. “So I thought I’d cheer her up!”

Cindy looked tired. “Suzi, maybe Finley didn’t want you to meddle in her business.”

“What’s meddle?” Suzi asked while I said, “No, i-it’s all right, s-she made me feel b-better.”

“Oh,” Cindy said, clearly now out of reasons to scold her daughter. “Well then, Suzi, we better go pick up your brother, he’s at tutoring, you know.”

“Reed’s a meanie,” Suzi whined.

“Don’t say that about your brother,” Cindy said firmly.

“But he doesn’t like me!” Suzi exclaimed, glancing up.

“I’m sure Reed l-likes you,” I said soothingly. “He’s probably just in a b-bad mood.”

“For years?” Suzi pouted.

“How o-old is he?” I asked.

“Twelve.”

“Then yes, w-when you’re twelve you’ll b-be in a bad mood for y-years,” I answered, knowing full well that at age twelve you try to be cool and that means ignoring your family. Trust me, Luke went through that phase.

“Suzi, let’s go,” Cindy said sharply and then glanced at me. “Thank you Finley, for watching my daughter.”

“No p-problem,” I answered.

“Bye Fin-lee,” Suzi waved at me as she took her mom’s hand and left the park.

I smiled and waved until I couldn’t see her anymore then I pulled out my phone and dialed Eli’s number.

He answered with, “Hello this is the incredible Eli speaking, and how may I help you?”

“You’re an idiot,” I told him in response, sitting back down on the bench and smiling.

“That’s not how you greet people,” he told me.

“My bad,” I said sarcastically.

“I don’t appreciate your sass,” he sniffed, sounding offended.

“I’m sorry, the incredible Eli, how are you?” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Wonderful,” he said. “Now that I’m talking to you.”

His words brought another smile to my lips, and I said, “Can you come visit me?”

“Where are you?” Eli asked.

“The park,” I answered.

“Be there in five,” he informed me then hung up.

Rolling my eyes, I put my phone back in my pocket and waited for my idiot of a boyfriend to show up. he was such a goofball, but true to his word, he showed up in five minutes, greeting me by pulling me into a long and sloppy kiss.

“Eli!” I squealed, pushing him away from me. “You can’t just go around kissing people!”

“But you’re my girlfriend,” he pointed out. “Shouldn’t I be able to kiss you whenever I want?”

“In that case, you’re welcome to kiss me whenever you feel like it,” I told him.

Eli’s face broke out in a grin and he ducked down to press another kiss to my lips before sitting next to me and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “What’s up?” he asked.

“My mom doesn’t approve of us,” I deadpanned, not wanting to mince words.

Eli’s face immediately dropped. “What?”

“My mom told me you were just going to break my heart,” I told him. “She said that you only would stick around for sex and then leave me.”

Eli frowned before placing both hands on my shoulders and making me look him in the eyes. “If I ever hurt you or break your heart, I give you full permission to have Luke kill me and Allie castrate me, but I promise you, that will never happen, okay?”

“Okay,” I whispered.  

“Good,” Eli released me before searching my eyes and kissing me. He made to pull away but I put my hands around his neck and pulled him closer to me, kissing him deeply, closing my eyes and sending a huge fuck you to my mom as I did so, imagining her face as I kissed my boyfriend. Nothing she said was going to change my mind about dating Eli, and I was going to keep doing so.

I pulled back and Eli’s eyes were a little brighter then what they were before. “What was that for?” he asked, a little breathless.

I tried to smile cockily. “Aren’t I allowed to kiss my boyfriend?” I teased.

“Not if you’re going to kiss me like that all the time, holy shit,” Eli breathed, putting a hand over his heart. “My poor little heart can’t take it.”

I laughed and punched him gently in the arm. “Can’t handle my kisses?” I teased him.

“No,” Eli said firmly. “You make me dizzy.”

“Dizzy?” I questioned.

“Dizzy,” Eli nodded. “Like, I get this swooping feeling in my gut and whenever I’m near you all I can think of is you and how it feels to kiss you and hear your voice.”

“Aww,” I cooed, scooting closer to him. “Eli, that was so sweet.”

“Yeah yeah,” he grumbled good-naturedly. “I’m still sexy though, right?” he asked, as if anxious that his levels of testosterone wouldn’t suddenly drop.

“Yes, you are,” I promised, pecking him on the cheek. “You’ve always been sexy.”

“Really?” Eli asked, wiggling his eyebrows. “You thought I was sexy?”

“I-I… um, I,” I stuttered.

Eli smiled and he bumped my knee with his own. “You’ve always been beautiful,” he told me.

I blushed and I swear, I could have died right then and there.

“Must be the lip ring,” Eli said randomly, musing.

“What?” I asked, not quite catching what he said.

“My lip ring,” he repeated himself, pointing to it. “Must be why she doesn’t like me. Thinks I’m a bad boy.”

“That’s what everyone thinks you are,” I said confused.

At that, Eli burst into laughter. “Really? That’s great. That’s what I was going for.”

“What?” I asked, and I was completely confused.

“Oh, right, I didn’t tell you,” Eli remembered, snapping his fingers.

“No you didn’t,” I said, brow furrowed as I sat there in complete confusion and curiosity. “What did you have to tell me?”

“I think,” Eli paused dramatically. “It’s time I tell you why I got my lip ring.”

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i updated woohoo and all i gotta say is #mysteryofthelipring is back baby comment that up and get ready 'cause Eli's got a story guys you ain't prepared 

love ya!

-T A Y L O R

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