One Percent of You

by Michelle Gross

It’s okay if you’re only 99% a mother, at least save 1% for yourself. Feeling honest, I quickly added. Elijah: I’ll still hang out with all percentages of you. Frankly, I think you’re pretty badass. Even Eli beams at you like you’re more than his milk supply.

Yeah, God bless America for letting me steal a bag of chips from a kid.

“Why? This has nothing to do with you.” “Fuck if it doesn’t.” His harsh words were oddly soothing.

“It’s needed,” he said plainly, heading toward the door. “So, I can take you guys where you have to go.”

“What’s not to get? I’ll be chauffeuring your ass around until you get a new ride.” “They won’t fit in your truck,” I argued. That only made him laugh. “Baby, have you seen the back seat of my truck? Baby? Baby? No, I hadn’t but I was suddenly very curious.

God knew I’d never do for anyone else what I did for Lucy and Hadley.

“You’re never a bother to me, Lucy. You or your mom. Call me whenever you want. If you need me, I’ll be there. No matter what.”

“Know what makes me happy?” I mumbled as we took our time walking down the steps. “What?” She blinked at me with sea-blue eyes like her mother’s. “When you smile.” And slowly, but surely, Lucy did just that, gripping my hand tightly.

“Don’t apologize. Never apologize to me. I want to be that shoulder you need to cry on.” He tapped it. “Go on, use me all you want.”

I couldn’t deny it anymore. I wanted that. I wanted them. With me. As my family. I wanted Hadley—all pieces of her.

“Stop it.” “Stop what?” “Complimenting me the odd way that you do. I don’t know how to react.” I chuckled. “React however the fuck you want, baby. I’m going to enjoy it, regardless.”

Hadley: Are you busy? He responded immediately. Elijah: Not for you. Everything okay?

Deep down, instead of princes, I thought maybe every woman wanted gentle monsters. Someone strong—scary enough to keep all the bad things away—and gentle only to those he loved.

“Lucy, your mother is blind,” Elijah told Lucy then turned to me. “You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

The two of them together. A giant, tattooed man holding my baby? Said man being Elijah. Ovaries exploded.

“You really are a pretty little thing, Hadley,” his voice was deeper, husky—purely sexual. “Instead of gorgeous, I was thinking more along the lines of how fucking edible you look in that dress.”

“I’ve never seen anyone more perfect. You’re perfect. And I’m going to spend the rest of the night worshipping every inch of you.”

I was wild about her, fully dedicated to her and Lucy and the chubby butterball between us.

I didn’t just want Hadley. I wanted all three of them.

That cute, messy bun wrapped atop her head was doing shit to my brain.

“How are you even more beautiful than when I dropped you off this morning?” I asked her seriously.

If what you need for me to do is take a step back, I will but I’m still going to come running every time Lucy calls, and I’m most certainly going to flirt with you every chance I get.

Well, I wanted more. I wanted to come home to them one day. I wanted to be always there Elijah… Never leaving Elijah… Husband Elijah… Stepdad Elijah… Forever Elijah…

“You’re trying to make me change how I feel.” I gripped her shoulders. “Baby, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t work that way. I want you no matter what.”

“One day, baby, when we’re old and gray, I’m going to look over at you while we’re sitting on the porch and tell you how these tears were wasted.” She cried harder as she opened her eyes. “God bless… You’re serious!” “One hundred percent.” I cupped her cheeks in my hands. “That one percent of you… I want it.”

“This is my favorite. Mom and Elijah taking me together,”

Crying

“I love you.” “I love you too, thief. I’m glad you dropped your chips that day. I got to know you guys because of that.”

Stop

“They have me. Whatever I can be, I’ll be for those two. I love all your pieces, especially the ones that call you mom. I hope one day they’ll come to me instead of just you when they need something because I’ll be here.”

“I love you.” “I’ve been in love with you. You’ve made me all domestic and shit.”