Willa Okati And Call Me In the Morning

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ear.
The blonde waitress who'd slipped Eli his coffee interpreted. Your order's almost up. Give
him five to make the shakes and you're good to go.
Eli gave Richie the thumbs-up.
Isn't he great? She didn't bother being discreet. Eli figured Pearson and his crew prob-
ably annoyed her as much as him, and more often. And his boyfriend is adorable. You
should see the two of them together.
I've had the privilege. Eli made sure Pearson was distracted. So he's really out?
The waitress nodded.
And that's not a problem?
She shrugged. For some people, I guess. That's their problem.
Huh. Eli absorbed that, lost in thought until paper take-out bags were coming his way and
he'd started to make a path to the till. Then Pearson followed him. Son of a bitch.
Can I help you with something? he asked, a curter approach than he'd normally take with
a colleague but not in the mood for nonsense.
Don't take this the wrong way, okay? Pearson propped his elbows on the counter next to
Eli.
In Eli's experience, those words invariably meant, I'm going to insult you now. Uh-huh,
he said as he handed the waitress his credit card. She made a sympathetic face. Richie stood
at the back of the grill, quiet again, listening.
It's not just you anymore, Eli heard echoing in his head.
You spend a lot of time with Novia, Pearson said. A lot of time. Maybe more than you
should with one guy. If you don't want people to get the wrong idea, that is.
Do they? Eli did not look at Pearson.
I guess some, yeah.
Like who?
I don't know. People.
Aggravation, divided attention, and eagerness to get home to Zane made Eli's tongue
sharper and coarser than usual. Honesty tasted as good as the diner's blue plate special
smelled. Like you, who I barely fucking know and don't really give a shit about?
Hey, don't get your back up. I'm just trying to give you some advice. So who's the food
for? Pearson eyed the soup containers and greaseproof bags. Fuck, you've got enough for
an army.
I have a man-sized appetite, Eli said dryly.
Richie's lips twitched, the kid doing his damnedest not to grin. He winked at Eli.
Maybe it was that which gave Eli the courage, or maybe it was being sick and tired of this
bullshit. Looking at Pearson and listening to him, a guy Eli probably would have liked in pre-
Zane days plain and simple, a man who said what he thought it was like looking through a
dirty mirror. Smudged and smeared. Who he'd been.
Not who he was becoming. Frankly, he liked the new him better.
No, seriously. Pearson rattled a bag, then laughed at the two tall milkshakes in Styro-
foam cups the waitress added to his pile of loot. Got a hot date while your wife's out of the
country?
Bite me was what Eli wanted to say. What he chose to say was, Nope. She and I are di-
vorced. Dr. Novia and I are spending the night in together. Fuck, I cannot believe I just said
that.
No. No excuses. No explanations, either. No losing his cool until he was out the door,
please God. What was done was done. Excuse me, gentlemen.
Well, he'd hoped he could make Taye proud of him. Looked like he'd made a start.
Chapter Eighteen
By the time Eli got back home, he was chilled to the bone and couldn't feel his fingers. So
good to get into the warmth, and even better to see Zane up and at 'em, busy poking around
in his kitchen for plates and silverware.
Finally. I was about to resort to eating my own arm. Zane's stomach rumbled audibly as
he rounded the kitchen island with his arms loaded. He cracked up at the sight of what Eli
held. You've got icicles in your hair, and you bring me a milkshake?
Funny guy. Richie made them.
Zane hastily shed his load of flatware on the coffee table and made a grab. That's a dif-
ferent story. Bring that over here.
My pleasure. Emboldened by& whatever it was that had happened at the diner, Eli put
his double armful on the coffee table and caught Zane by the bicep. Pulled him in for a quick
kiss, one that went a hell of a lot further toward warming Eli clear down to his toes than the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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