Cold Secrets
-M. Lauren
Chapter Twenty-One
"You're going to be okay today?"
Elsa stood at the end of the bed. She was tucking her collared shirt into her black slacks. Honeymaren didn't respond immediately. She was too distracted watching Elsa slip her belt around her waist, and loving it almost as much as seeing her take it off.
Elsa's eyes lowered to her. "Don't look at me like that right now."
"I don't know what you're talking about..." Honeymaren sat up.
Seeing her sit at the edge of the mattress, she crawled to her. Elsa slid on her heels as Honeymaren's teeth sought out the soft skin of her ear.
Her breathing hitched. "Not. Fair." She lectured, and shrugged Honeymaren off of her.
"I'm just giving you something to remember me by… I wouldn't want you to go looking for a new lunch partner while I'm stuck home with Mister Sick."
Elsa's hands flattened to the mattress as she turned. Lowering to Honeymaren, she directed their lips together. Elsa felt fingers steal into her hair. They beckoned her closer and pulled her mouth flush against Honeymaren's.
When she was released, Elsa sighed. Her eyes were still closed. She leaned into Honeymaren's forehead. Her arms wrapped at her waist, and Elsa hugged herself tightly around her.
"You're silly…" she softly hummed. "I don't need to look for anyone else. I love what I have right here in front of me."
Honeymaren groaned. Her head fell to Elsa's shoulder. "Stay…" she whined.
"But alas, I cannot… I have classes and entirely too much work to finish, but-" she slid her hands up Honeymaren's chest and settled them beneath her jaw. Elsa pushed her back, smiling. "I'll come right back here when I'm done for the day."
Before Honeymaren could protest further, Elsa slid from the bed. She kissed her quickly and made her way toward the door.
"Let me know if you need me to pick anything up after work."
"Will do," Honeymaren returned the smile.
Elsa began walking away. She stopped short and spun around before her head popped back in through the door. "Oh… and I love you..."
Her cheeks flushed, but she managed a quick wink.
"I love you, too," Honeymaren yelled to Elsa as she walked away.
Elsa relished in the warmth spreading through her chest. She was in love, and that was a pretty great feeling.
It was just after noon. Elsa found herself seated in a booth at her favorite Japanese restaurant. Food had already been placed in front of her. She looked at the assortment of sushi and soups, but was stubbornly made to wait for the arrival of her lunch date.
"I'm here! I'm late, but I'm here!" Anna announced as she slid into the bench across from her. "I'm sorry! It was harder to wrap up that case than I expected…"
"No worries. Our food just got here." She took a delicate sip of her water.
Elsa's eyes turned briefly to Anna's before she forced herself to look away. She returned the glass to the table and pulled irritatingly at her shirt collar.
Folding her arms, Anna sat back in her seat. Elsa's skin was oddly flushed. She appeared sweaty and uncomfortable.
"Two seconds! It's been two seconds, and you're already acting weird! I knew something was up the minute you asked me to have lunch with you!"
"How am I acting weird?" She mimicked her sister's movements. "-and besides, we've had lunch together a million times! How is this any different?"
Anna nearly snorted. Her eyes rolled. "We haven't had lunch together since you met Maren…" she sang. "You've been too busy being held up in the library, making heart eyes at her- and that's not a dig! I swear! I'm really happy for you, but facts are facts, man. So, why are you having lunch with me instead of her?"
Elsa frowned. "Unfortunately... Ryder caught the flu. She had to stay home with him today."
"Aw…" Anna's lip fell. "Poor little guy- but that doesn't let you off the hook! So, out with it! You said you wanted to 'catch up', but I know you better than that!"
Elsa popped a sushi roll in her mouth. Her attention diverted and she eyed the paintings on the far wall.
Sensing her defiance, Anna groaned. "I am going to sit here and stare at you while I starve, or until you decide to get this over with! You know I can do this all day, sister... Don't you doubt me!"
Elsa nudged the sushi platter toward her. "Eat, and then we'll talk."
"How about… eat and talk…" Anna baited. "Because I don't actually have all day."
Her blue eyes raised to Anna's. Elsa sighed, "Fine, but I want you to know- I really hate that nothing ever gets past you."
She shrugged. "It's a gift! What can I say?"
"Well, you're in the right career field, then. That's for sure." Elsa smirked and turned down to her salad.
With a side glance, she watched Anna take a bite. As she swallowed, her arms folded sternly over the table.
"Now talk!" Anna demanded. "What's with the 'sister, I love you. Let's eat sushi together and catch up', charades bit? My gift doesn't work out all the fine details, you know? Wait! Is this about Helga? You weren't very upfront on the phone, but it sounded like you were doing better with that!"
Elsa shook her head. "This isn't about Helga. That's been sorted enough… for now, hopefully..."
"This is about Maren, then?" she picked up her spoon, mindlessly stirring her soup.
"It is…" Elsa released a breath. "-but I don't know where to start."
"Why don't you try the beginning?" Anna teased. She watched Elsa put down her fork, causing her to lean in more intently.
"Alright! I did something wrong… really wrong…" she refused Anna's eyes. Panic set in her chest.
"Okay…" Her voice rang with uncertainty. "Wrong, like what?"
Brows tensing, Elsa's hands lowered to her lap. "I picked up Ryder from school yesterday and his teacher handed me a letter to give to Maren, and I, um… I opened it."
Tentatively, she met Anna's stare. There was no hint of judgement in her expression. She appeared perfectly passive, but still; Elsa began to sweat.
"Well, what made you do that?" Anna asked evenly.
Her shoulders flinched. "It- the letter… it had 'Final Notice' stamped on the side. I don't know! It- I was stupid! I didn't mean to do it, it just happened!"
Anna slowly nodded. "I'm assuming this is financially related?" Elsa's lips dragged to the side in response. "I see… and did you tell her what you did?"
She shook her head. Elsa ran a hand through her hair. " I meant to, but I didn't even tell her I put the letter back in the bag… I was going to, but I wanted to figure out what I would say about reading it first… and then-"
Her words stopped short. Elsa's cheeks rapidly darkened and she looked away.
"-and then, what?" Anna's brow arched, eagerly baiting her sister.
"Maren… she- she told me she loved me…."
Anna's jaw dropped. She pulled forward to the edge of her seat. Elsa had spoken so quickly, she'd nearly missed it; but Anna was faster than Elsa gave her credit for.
"-and, I said it back…"
"What?" she breathed. Her hands came down on the table with a clang. "You love her!?"
Elsa's nose scrunched. "I do…"
"Oh my god! My sister's in love! I knew it!" she squealed. Anna's legs excitedly kicked beneath the table. "We need to go on a double date! Like, now! Like, right now!"
Elsa's cheeks continued to darken. "Alright, alright! Back on topic, please… so, now you see why I couldn't bring up the letter-"
"Yeah! Because you were too busy getting laid!"
"Anna!" Elsa scolded. Her eyes embarrassedly scanned the restaurant.
"Relax! No one's paying any attention to us!"
Smiling, Anna watched her sister sip her water. Her attention diverted entirely. She waited for Elsa to put back down her glass before she continued.
"Okay, so she said she loved you, and then you didn't tell Maren about the letter."
Elsa nodded, slowly pushing her salad around the bowl.
"I mean, you could lie… Tell her you'd forgotten, and then bring it up later tonight… but we both know you're a terrible liar."
Groaning, Elsa tipped back her head. "I can't lie! I've never been able to. I just, I don't want her to be mad at me for looking…"
Anna released a small sigh and pursed her lips. "She might be angry, but something tells me Maren will get over it. If she loves you, Elsa, this isn't going to be that 'make it or break it' moment in your relationship."
She met Anna's eyes. "You're probably right… If I come right out and tell her I messed up… we can work through it together."
Whether she was convincing herself of that or Anna, wasn't the point. Elsa had to believe it. That was the only way she and Maren would be able to overcome her mistake.
"That's my girl!" Anna cheered. "Look at you, tackling relationship issues like a champ! I'm so proud!"
Rolling her eyes, Elsa sank back into her food. Across from her, she watched Anna do the same.
"Oh!" she perked up. "-and before I forget… I still stand by my double date idea."
Elsa smirked and shook her head. "Maybe… We'll see..." she sang.
Bags in hand, Elsa stumbled through the door. She struggled to close it behind her, but managed to nudge it with her toes. With her heels still on, she made her way to the table. The groceries fell, and she softly sighed; feeling her shoulders relaxing instantly.
"You're one of those people who refuses to make multiple trips back to the car, aren't you?"
Elsa turned to find Honeymaren in the doorway. She was leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.
"On the contrary, I knew once I got inside I wouldn't want to leave again; and would you look at that… I was right..."
Smirking, Honeymaren slowly approached her. When she reached Elsa's front, her lips straightened and she grinned. "Happy friday!"
Elsa returned the sentiment as arms wrapped around her sides. "Happy friday," she whispered.
Honeymaren kissed her. It was short and sweet, however, Elsa still felt warmth stir below her waist. It had her holding on tight when Honeymaren went to pull away.
She laughed. "Someone's needy."
Elsa's eyes lowered. Her arms loosened, but Honeymaren responded by holding them in place.
"I was teasing you…" she boasted and kissed her again. "Now, how was your day?"
Shrugging, Elsa's hands moved to her lower back. "About average… and how's Ryder doing?"
"About the same."
Honeymaren's nose scrunched. She took Elsa's arm and led her into the living room. Ryder was on the couch. He laid on his side while watching cartoons with his stuffed reindeer snuggled up against his chest. His blue eyes slid toward Elsa. He didn't respond. Ryder's head remained heavy against his pillow, but he whimpered softly in greeting.
Elsa sat beside him. Her hand soothed along his back. "He doesn't feel nearly as warm as he did yesterday."
Honeymaren shook her head and came to stand above them. "I've been keeping up with the fever meds and the fluids. Unfortunately, anything solid is still a big no-no."
"Poor guy…" she brushed her fingers over his cheek. "Hopefully he can knock it over the weekend."
"-and speaking of the weekend… I talked to Rico today." Honeymaren's toes swirled idly into the carpet.
"Oh yeah?" Elsa hummed, her attention politely lifting.
"I told him, Ryder had the flu. He thought it was a ploy to have something else to use against him in court, but then I told him he was more than welcome to come and see for himself."
Elsa's eyes widened. "Did he?"
Honeymaren smirked and released a breathy laugh. "He said he couldn't afford to get sick, so even though I know I said we'd have the house to ourselves this weekend-"
She raised her hand, stopping Honeymaren short. "Say no more," Elsa stood.
When she returned to the room a minute later, she had one of the grocery bags in hand. Elsa led Honeymaren to the ottman. After she'd sat, Elsa handed her the bag and smiled.
"I figured you'd insist on him staying here anyway... I picked up a few kids movies and some paint. I figured we could have our own date-night tomorrow, and Ryder could join us if he was feeling up to it."
Pushing the bag aside, she pulled Elsa down on top of her.
Her knees straddled Honeymaren's waist and she felt hands splay against her back.
"You're perfect. Did you know that?"
Elsa's jaw wavered. She noticeably tensed. She wasn't perfect. She was far from it and feeling guilty. Elsa knew it was time to talk to Honeymaren, but she couldn't find the words. There were too many 'what ifs' floating around in her brain, and they'd rendered her completely speechless.
"What's that face for?" Honeymaren frowned.
Her lips sealed back together. Elsa feigned a grin and shook her head. "It's nothing- and listen! Speaking of dates… my sister thinks the four of us should go on one together soon."
Honeymaren's face slowly relaxed. "Sure," she shrugged. "Let me look at the calendar, but that sounds like fun!"
Elsa allowed herself to be kissed again. Yet, she found sinking into it in the way in which she wanted to was difficult. It was impossible to tell Honeymaren she'd messed up. She thought the world of her, and Elsa really didn't want to cause her more concern. Honeymaren had enough going on without her adding to the mix.
Her secret could wait another night. For now, she'd enjoy what she had while it was still right in front of her.
Cheers,
M.