Cold Secrets
-M. Lauren
Chapter Sixteen
"I think I'm getting a raise!"
As the door was thrown open, excitement barreled into the small office. Elsa barely turned from her desk when soft lips planted against her own. A coffee cup wedged itself between her fingers and the kiss quickly ended. Honeymaren dropped into the chair across from her, smiling like mad.
"-a raise?" Elsa returned her grin, feeling her elation spike. "How did that happen?"
"There's been some shuffling on the school board, I guess." Honeymaren explained. "Someone retired; someone new is taking their place- they made a massive donation to boost electronic resources in the library, and guess who they're interested in for the job?"
Elsa pretended to think. "You?" she teased, and passed Honeymaren a glass container and fork.
"That's right!" she popped the container open. "I'll be meeting with the literary head later this afternoon!"
Her smile hadn't faltered. It hurt as it continued to grow. "You deserve it, Honeymaren. I'm proud of you!"
Per usual, Honeymaren brushed off the compliment. She shrugged modestly and turned her attention to her lunch. As she looked down at it, Honeymaren shook her head.
"You know, for someone who was turning me down a month ago… you've taken to this girlfriend thing quite well."
Elsa's brow arched. Her fork suspended before her lips. "Oh yeah, how so?" she asked.
She took a bite of her salad and leaned back into her chair. Elsa's arms folded playfully as she watched Honeymaren mimic her movements.
"For starters, you're so domestic now… bringing lunch to go with our coffee…" winking, she took a sip for show. "-and second… a month ago you were turning me down, and now look at you- you're not even fighting it! You like me..."
Rolling her eyes, Elsa spun so her back faced Honeymaren. She took another bite of her salad before placing it on the desk. Her hand went to the computer mouse.
Honeymaren groaned as Elsa tossed her a glare over her shoulder.
"Come on!" she boasted. "I was being nice!"
"You were teasing me!" Elsa fought, bringing her attention back to the computer. "I can stop offering to make us lunch, you know- or stop inviting you here at all."
It was silent for a moment, but Elsa sensed her movement. Warm lips ghosted across her collar and up her neck.
"But then who would be here to keep you company?"
Honeymaren's words caused Elsa to shiver as they breezed against her ear. She shrugged her off and spun to face her. "I'm sure I could find someone."
"I never doubted that… the real trouble will be narrowing down your takers." Honeymaren moved away from her. She crossed her legs and contemplated her thoughts over another bite. "If you make food like this all the time- your line of suitors will lead all the way down the hall and across the courtyard."
Elsa hummed. "Well, I do have my standards."
"Of course," Honeymaren gleamed. "-so anyone with a penis is out."
"True, and that should narrow the list down to about half."
"Any other requests?"
Lips pursing, Elsa touched a finger to her chin. "I'm partial to brown hair and eyes…"
"Oh yeah?" Honeymaren asked. "What else?"
"They have to like books, of course."
"Well, you have to have things to talk about…" Honeymaren's tone rang thick with sarcasm. "-but go on… The line is still looking pretty long."
Elsa thought again. Her eyes circled the ceiling. "It'd be easier if they worked here… you know, so we can spend more time together… and if they had kids, I wouldn't mind that either…"
"Let me get this straight…" Honeymaren's expression grew stern. "You're looking for a new lunch partner who works here at the school, has a kid, likes books, and has brown hair and brown eyes…"
"You forgot the bit about the penis…" Elsa pointed with a short smirk.
Shaking her head, Honeymaren reeled in a deep breath. "That's a tall order…"
Her face playfully scrunched. "You don't think I can find someone like that?"
"Unfortunately, Snowflake, I think I'm the only one on campus who checks all of those boxes."
"Hmm, you might be right." Elsa shrugged. "Oh well, I guess you can stay, then."
Honeymaren caught her eye before she burst out laughing. "You are something else, I hope you know that!"
"Hopefully something good, at least."
Rolling towards her, Honeymaren snagged Elsa behind the neck. "-something very good, Snowflake." She arched over Elsa's lap and kissed her quickly. "-something very, very good."
Her cheeks burned beneath pink. When she was released, Elsa shied her face behind her salad, and distracted her erratic heart with another bite.
Watching her, Honeymaren was forced to grin at Elsa's fast transition from confident to shy. The effect she appeared to have on her was maddening. Honeymaren felt flattered, but also a little concerned. Knowing she was developing something with Elsa, beyond what she'd anticipated; it was both frightening and exciting.
"Do you have plans after work?" she found herself suddenly asking.
Elsa looked up from her salad. The edges of her lips began to curl. "That depends, why are you asking?"
Honeymaren nonchalantly shrugged. "I know it's a work night… but I usually do some baking on Thursdays so I have something to send to Ryder's school for their staffs' potluck. The two of us read stories while we eat a few snacks before bed…"
Her brow furrowed. "Baking Thursdays?" Elsa questioned.
"I know… it sounds strange, and maybe not all that much fun; but I do it as a thank you for the staff… you don't have to come. I just thought-"
"I didn't make either of those assumptions." Elsa interrupted as her eyes lowered. "I just wasn't aware that 'baking thursdays' were a thing…"
Honeymaren finished off her container before slipping it back into Elsa's bag. "They're not a 'thing', per say. It's something Ryder and I got in the habit of doing, and I thought you might like to join us?"
"I'd love to join you." Elsa smiled.
"Great!" Honeymaren returned the expression. "Why don't you meet us at the house around six? I'll get dinner squared away before then, so all you have to do is show up."
Her head titled a fraction to the side. "Sounds perfect," she whispered, and buried another bite of salad behind her lips.
"How is it that you always manage to look stunning no matter the occasion?" Honeymaren's eyes trailed up and over Elsa's thin, cotton pants and black shirt.
"I could ask you the same," she responded, despite her growing blush.
Honeymaren closed the door behind her. Her braided hair whipped over her shoulder, turning to her. As Elsa was kicking off her shoes, she was already taking her hand and drawing her toward the kitchen.
"Someone's excited…" Elsa teased. "It wasn't that long ago I saw you, you know?"
"Hurry up! There's something you need to see! It's kind of a surprise…" she gave Elsa a swift tug when her shoes were finally off.
Honeymaren pulled her into the kitchen. Taking Elsa's shoulders beneath her hands, she positioned her in front of Ryder. He looked up with wide eyes. A smile slowly started across his lips.
"Watch this!" Honeymaren lowered beside him. "Hey Ry, who's here?" she asked.
"El'a!" Ryder shouted.
"That's right, Elsa!" Honeymaren beamed and returned to Elsa's side. "We've been working on that…"
She couldn't fight her blush. Red coursed across her cheeks and settled along her nose. Honeymaren's hand rubbed at the back of her neck.
"I can tell!" Elsa's finger brushed Ryder's cheek affectionately. "That is the best surprise! Thank you."
"El'a!" he said again, knowing he'd receive more praise.
Elsa laughed when Ryder's hands extended toward her. "Oh no! It's a trap!" she feigned. "I've fallen right into it!"
"That you did, Snowflake… It looks like you're on Ryder duty now." Honeymaren quickly squeezed Elsa's hand on her way back to the counter.
"You're lucky you're cute." she made a face at Ryder as she pulled him onto her hip.
Ryder's hands playfully slapped against her cheeks. He giggled and bounced in her arms.
"So, what's for dinner?" Elsa and Ryder slid in at Honeymaren's side.
"Tacos… Ry's already had his. Our shells are baking now, and so are tomorrow's school snacks."
Turning to Ryder, Elsa's lips drew closer to his ear. "Do you hear that? Your mom spoils us… Homemade taco shells and snacks… If she's not careful, I might never leave!"
Ryder laughed again before babbling something incoherent.
"-but didn't you know, that was all part of my plan…" Honeymaren sang and spun to face them.
"Your plan?" Elsa's brow arched.
Honeymaren nodded, slowly. "Oh yeah… My plan to trick you and lure you in with food so I can hold you here forever against your will!"
Elsa's expression stiffened. "I think your mom's been watching too many horror movies…"
She tickled Ryder's hip. He squirmed and kicked his legs against Elsa's side as he tried to lean away from her. However, one moment he was in Elsa's arms and the next he was being stolen away from her. His eyes were wide. He turned to find his mother laughing at him. Lips buried against Ryder's neck, and Honeymaren blew him a quick raspberry.
"Hey! No fair!" Elsa playfully pouted.
"It is too fair," she held Ryder away from her. "I think you're starting to like him more than you like me!"
"Now, that's not true," Elsa crossed her arms. "I like you both the same."
Honeymaren placed Ryder on his feet. She ignored his whines as she stepped in at Elsa's front. Pinning her against the counter, Honeymaren's hands went to her hips. She felt Elsa shiver beneath her touch. Her blue eyes drove a little bit wider and Honeymaren couldn't help but smirk.
Her lips ascended on Elsa's in an instant. An eager hand shifted up her side and buried into blonde hair.
"I'm choosing to believe you." Honeymaren mumbled against Elsa's mouth.
Elsa smiled, pressing further into her. "You should know," her lips brushed Honeymaren's. "I think there's something between us."
Both women looked down to find Ryder wedged between their legs. His eyes and hands held up toward them as his face fell into a pout.
"Mama!" he feigned.
Honeymaren's gaze circled the ceiling. Her attention briefly caught Elsa's and she kissed her once more. "-a rock and a hard place…" she sighed. "-those lips and that face…" Honeymaren glanced down at Ryder again. "I've got my work cut out for me."
"I think that's called balance, Mare." Elsa teased.
She felt Honeymaren pull away. Ryder was lifted from the floor and replaced on her hip. He smiled bashfully at Elsa before hiding his face into his mother's chest.
Seeing it, Honeymaren groaned. "I'm not sure we should ever tell him that his first crush was on his mother's girlfriend…"
Elsa giggled. "It's sweet… It makes me feel welcomed."
"Well Snowflake, you're welcome to start pulling trays out of the fridge while I keep our food from burning."
It was a simple action, but one Elsa hadn't anticipated, nonetheless. Honeymaren had asked her for help. She accepted her in their home, and was decidingly meeting Elsa halfway.
Filled with admiration, she quickly brushed her lips against Honeymaren's cheek. Before she could respond, Elsa disappeared. She set the table and put out the trays while Honeymaren tended to the oven.
"This all looks delicious!" Elsa commended minutes later as they sat around the spread.
"I know taco Tuesdays are more traditional, but we like to make things a little more creative around here." she winked at Elsa, watching her throw together her meal.
Ryder sat between them, and was content to munch on his slices of cheese.
"By the way, how did that meeting go?" Elsa asked before taking her first bite. The crisp taco shell crunched beneath her teeth and she smiled around it.
Honeymaren rolled her eyes. "I take it they're good?" She watched Elsa merely nod and take another bite. "I'm glad…" Honeymaren began preparing her own. "The meeting went really well, actually… I was still a little surprised, though."
"Really? Why surprised?" Elsa hummed. Her attention stayed on Honeymaren as she worked through her meal.
Honeymaren shrugged. "I guess because I wasn't expecting this opportunity in the first place. My boss, Belle; she usually struggles to hand off the reins. She likes to do everything herself- make sure it gets done right, you know? But I think this is just too big a project for her to handle on top of everything else."
"You sound like the perfect person for the job, then. I think you could handle a little more responsibility, and you're definitely worth the raise." Elsa grinned. "So, what did Belle say you'd be doing?"
Ryder crawled along the bench and into Elsa's lap. His legs dangled over hers, feet kicking the underside of the table. She didn't mind. Elsa readjusted her position to keep food from falling in his hair. Ryder giggled and leaned back against her when Elsa's arm tucked around his waist.
"Well, seeing how Belle knows about as much as I do about this project, the new board-head was there to explain it to me. They seem pretty cool surprisingly, though, I'm not entirely sure why they're so invested in the library... They seem to understand next to nothing about our existing resources- just some Richie Rich type looking for somewhere to spend their money I guess."
"Another old white dude needing to write off some taxes?" Elsa's brow lifted.
Shaking her head, Honeymaren handed Ryder a taco shell to munch on. She was happy to see Elsa was unbothered by the crumbs that landed on her legs as he broke the shell into pieces.
"Old white lady- which might be better; who knows? Actually, you might know them. Ahtohallan University was your alma mater, right? They just transferred from there."
At that, Elsa's whole face lifted curiously to Honeymaren's. "Yeah, I went there." her head tilted. "Why?"
"The new board-head, she taught Marine Biology there; Doctor Helga Sinclair-"
"Isles…" Elsa breathed. "She was still married to Caleb Isles when I was there…"
"The hotel guy?" Honeymaren asked as she looked up.
Elsa dejectedly nodded. Blue eyes froze to her plate. Her hands had buried beneath the table and her tacos were pushed aside. Honeymaren noticed the slow curl of Elsa's shoulders. She couldn't be certain, but Honeymaren thought she might be shaking.
"You know her?" her brows lowered.
Elsa didn't respond. Her eyes moved with the wave of thoughts she kept to herself. Thin lips had parted and worry lines streaked across her pale forehead.
"Are you alright?" Honeymaren inched closer to her side.
The movement startled Elsa. Her attention snapped quickly to Honeymaren and she forced a small smile. "I'm fine!" Elsa slid Ryder from her lap. "I'm- I have to make a phone call really quick… I'll be back. I'm sorry..."
Elsa stood up before Honeymaren could question her more. Without a jacket, or her shoes, she took off out the front door. Honeymaren stayed behind. She and Ryder exchanged a brief glance.
"I've got no idea, bud…" she hummed.
Yet despite her confusion, Honeymaren couldn't fight the uncomfortable feeling that trickled in at her waist.
"Pick up, pick up, pick up!" Elsa pleaded.
She was pacing the driveway in front of Honeymaren's garage. Her toes were numb against the cold ground. The wind held a nasty chill, but Elsa remained unbothered.
"Hellooo…" Anna sang.
"Thank goodness!" Elsa's hand dragged through her hair. "I need you! I need you to, I don't know… Come get me or something!"
"Woah, woah, woah- slow down!" she coached. "What's going on? Where are you? I thought you were at Honeymaren's tonight?"
"I am!" Elsa's voice cracked. "I was- I'm outside.. I need you to come get me!"
Filtering through the shock, a small noise of confusion rattled in Anna's throat. "Uhh, I mean, I can do that... but what's going on? Are you running away? Did something happen between you and Honeymaren?"
"No!" Elsa shouted, and a bit too loud. "I need- I just need you to get me out of here!"
"Elsa, come on, talk to me! This isn't you anymore… You're panicking and I need you to tell me why!"
"She's here!" the explanation came fast, nearly cutting off Anna's words. "-not here at the house, but at the school! Anna, Helga is at the school!"
"What?!" Now panic stole through Anna's tone.
Elsa imagined her eyes wide and her hand against her chest as she was doing herself. "You see now? You have to come get me! Please!"
"-but what? How? Elsa, I don't understand!"
With a disgruntled groan, Elsa dropped to her rear. Her back leaned into the siding on the house. "I don't know, Anna, but she's Honeymaren's new boss! She's on the board for the school, and- I can't, I don't want to do this right now!"
"Did you explain; did you explain to Honeymaren what's going on?" Anna pushed back.
Her mouth dropped open, but Elsa was starving for air. "No, I- she can't know! Not now, Anna! Honeymaren needs that raise! She has Ryder to think about… I won't, I can't!"
"Elsa, Elsa! Relax!" Anna mimicked a deep breath, forcing Elsa to do the same. "Good, now, let's walk through this… Elsa, you have to tell her. You can't keep this from Honeymaren; especially now that she's there."
"I knew this was a bad idea…" Elsa ranted. "I should have never gotten involved here! I should have left Honeymaren alone, and god! Why does this keep happening to me? Why can't she leave well-enough alone?"
Anna hushed her soothingly. "You don't know that… You're spiralling! Maybe Helga has no idea you work for this school? It could be a freaky coincidence!"
"Of course she knows!" Elsa fought back. Her head pressed hard into the wall behind her. "Why else would she choose the library to dump all her money? She's a scientist for god's sake!"
"Elsa, you need to tell Honeymaren. You need to help her understand… You can't just run away from this again. You like Honeymaren, and you need to fight for your place at this school! Listen, it isn't as scary as it seems… I know it doesn't feel that way now, but trust me. You can get that restraining order you never filed, and we can talk to our lawyers, but you have to tell Honeymaren first so she understands…"
"I can't!" Elsa croaked. "-that raise and her job; Anna, it isn't fair!"
She hushed her sister again. "It's not fair, but she'll understand. Honeymaren cares about you and she's not going to want you to feel like this!"
Elsa's face tensed-over. "Anna, please… just come get me…"
Anna sighed. "Elsa, I can't… You know I shouldn't. You need to face this and stop letting her ruin your life."
Her head was shaking, or was it her hands? Elsa couldn't tell, but she tensed her whole body in response. "I've got to go." she forced herself to say.
"Talk to her, Elsa. Help her understand-"
Elsa hung up before Anna could say anything else. Her phone slammed onto the pavement, and she didn't appear to care. With a deep breath, Elsa dropped her head onto her knees. Her arms worked around her legs and she hugged them to her chest with a deep sigh.
Cheers,
-M.