C.A.K.E

After hanging up with Casper, Arden spends another few minutes in the solitude of the bedroom. This end of the house is used a few times out of the year when her extended family comes to stay for holidays. It's not likely that she will be found here. But on the off chance that someone wanders in, Arden is in no mood to explain the reason she's sitting alone in a dark room.

She heads back downstairs to where the twins are sprawled on the sofa. The slight elevation in their voices suggests that an argument is in the works.

Before things can escalate, Ardi positions herself between the two. They're a lot less prone to fight when she's around. And tonight, she knows neither is ready to be on her bad side. Sure enough, they settle on giving each other a couple of sideways glances without another word.

By the time the others have had enough of the humid night air, Arden and the twins are asleep on the large sectional. She's lying lengthwise on the attached chaise lounge with the children strewn across her like overgrown rag dolls.

Teagan is cuddled into the crook of her mother's arm with her head nestled against Ardi's chest. Rowan is resting his shock of red hair on Arden's stomach. Her arm is tucked across his shoulders. His mouth is half-open and he's holding onto her like a security blanket.

“Look at them,” Diane whispers from somewhere behind them. “They still want to be wherever their mother is. Elliott wouldn’t even let me drop him off at school at that age.”

“As I recall mom, you wanted to drop me off at school while singing Material Girl at the top of your lungs,” Elliott adds.

“Will you two quiet down,” John says, shushing them both. “You’ll wake them up.”

John and Diane say their goodnights to everyone. Arden hears their voices recede down the hallway as her father walks them out front. As Adam and his wife, Perry, head upstairs for the night, she listens for her husband’s movement.

Elliott stands at the edge of the sofa near Ardi's feet. She can feel his presence in front of her. There's a shift in the glow from the floor lamp across the room when he steps in its path. Still brooding over his sarcastic tone with her at dinner, she allows him to believe that she's still asleep.

Truth is, she's been sitting here with her eyes closed, trying to shut down her mind. It’s not working. So she's made herself content with the soft sounds of her kids snoring and the comfort of their closeness. Elliott could leave them like this all night.

She doesn't mind their occupation of her personal space. If she were ready to speak with him, she would save him the trouble of trying to wake the twins.

He gives Ro and Tea a gentle nudge, trying his best not to bother Arden. The kids open their eyes and glance up at him like they haven't the slightest inkling as to who he is, and snuggle further into their mother's warmth. Eli tries one more time to rouse the twins.

"Rowan," he whispers. "Wake up."

"Ugh, Dad." The boy grumbles and turns away from him. "Go away."

"Come on, get up guys." He attempts to move Tea, who also groans and ignores his whispered requests. "I don't want to wake your mother."

He might as well be talking to the throw pillows because these two shall not be moved. Rather than continue to listen to his futile attempts at keeping his voice low enough not to disturb her, yet stern enough for the kids, she decides to grant him the privilege of her words.

"It's all right, Elliott." Arden opens her eyes and focuses on him like a hawk sussing out her prey. "Leave them alone."

"Sorry." He gives her an apologetic smile which disappears in seconds. The irritation in her demeanor must be apparent. Instead of meeting her eyes, he glances down at his feet. "Didn't mean to wake you."

"I wasn't sleeping," she admits. Arden runs her hand over Rowan's hair and gives Teagan's cheek a kiss. "Just resting my eyes."

Elliott takes a seat on the edge of the sofa and places his hand on her leg. She pulls away from his touch, crossing her feet one over the other as far from him as possible.

"Rowan, Teagan, could you give us a minute, please?" he asks the kids.

Arden gently nudges them. “Go on.”

The two make it apparent they're not thrilled about leaving her side with a few mumbled complaints. But they still get up to do as their father asked, saying goodnight to both their parents. They head upstairs to the couple of bedrooms that are reserved for the nights when a walk over hot coals is more favorable than the drive back to Birmingham.

Once the twins have disappeared from the room, Arden and Elliott sit in silence. They spend several minutes avoiding each other's gaze.

do something?" When her answer doesn't come

you tonight."

form above his brow

so much about his behavior in a few words.

sofa, sliding back against the cushions and farther from him.

"You killed it."

He shrugs.

of the supposed good luck bugs has landed on him before, and

her affect

up onto the chaise with her so they're facing each other.

Elliott." Her frustration with him begins to exhaust her voice, making it sound strained. "Be angry. But don't lose yourself in

the first name on your shit list this morning." He throws his hands into the air and then lets them thump against his legs. "I

never shown in his interaction with her. What occurred today has gotten

occasions, both can get rather passionate about their positions. But

with

interjects with a sarcastic smirk.

hands curl into fists. As she takes a deep breath, she spreads her fingers and shakes them, resisting that same urge from earlier in the evening. If he keeps talking, she might have to pop him

gritted teeth. "I am trying to have a conversation with

room. When he comes back he tosses a pen and notepad onto her lap. Then he stands above

don't you write down exactly who you want me to be today, and

the floor, and gets within an eyelash of his face. The heat radiating off her is enough to ignite the entire house. He looks down at her, making the most of

your shit tonight,"

he retorts, matching

she can unleash every combination of curse words that she can fathom, someone clears their throat

my book in peace?" Warren

of his study down the hallway. They were so absorbed in each other, neither of them noticed

away from him like two embarrassed children and apologize for the disturbance. She bends to grab her heels. Eli retrieves the discarded notepad and pen, placing them back on the nearby console table. They mutter a goodnight to her father and take their misplaced

before he does, and deliberately throws the heavy slab of wood back in

the door. Either ignoring or forgetting that there are other people on this floor of the house, Eli stomps into the bedroom and slams

than most one-bedroom apartments. But with the addition of all their volatile energy, it's more cramped than

California king bed and shift their weight from foot to foot like prizefighters ready to prove they're worth the pay-per-view

to break

I find some holy water?" he asks, smirking at her. A dark glimmer passes over his eyes. He's

she reaches for one of the heels lying next to her feet and sends it flying

ducks the shoe. There’s

one more crack at her target, he makes another observation about her

have managed to go completely crazy. Now that is remarkable."

with anger. Her expression is stoic aside from the

her eyes trained on the floor as she speaks. "Let me know

of her wounded pride. As Arden sweeps past the man who has become a sudden stranger to her, he catches

and buries his head in the

but doesn't turn to face him. Grasping his hands, she sighs in relief that this power struggle is nearing its end. The outside world brings enough problems to their

space around them like the tension in the room can

twenty-four hours. For newbies, we sure took to it like

a small laugh from her. She slowly turns to him, still snug