“We wouldnever,” Jane says, and Kate waggles a finger at Elliot, who is disappearing into the bathroom.
“He’s very sensitive,” Kate tells me as we move into the kitchen, and Jane pours us all large mimosas. Actually, it’s just Prosecco with a drop of orange juice for color. So basically, just straight alcohol. These are my type of ladies.
Elliot thinks we won’t mix well. Nah, we will mix just fine.
I swallow my drink in two gulps and hold my cup out for more. They examine me, and then Jane pours me four more glasses while we wait for Elliot to appear. He takes a long-ass time too. Probably combing his hair into submission.
Fuck, I’m thirsty. Gotta hydrate.
That’s when I start to feel it, the slight buzz. Nothing I haven’t had before. Could probably have a few more glasses before I pass out.
“Shouldn’t have drunk those so fast,” I say with a burp.
Elliot meanders in and sighs. “Don’t tell me he’s drunk already. It’s only nine-thirty.”
“I’m not drunk,” I grunt, leaning back in my bar chair, and I smirk at Elliot, who is freshly dressed and shaven. Well, his time in the bathroom was well spent because he looksgood.Really fucking good. It may be the alcohol talking, but I don’t think so.
“I can get drunk though if you want to take advantage of this.” I flex my bicep, and his sisters all stare at it for a moment and then start talking all at once until Elliot shouts at them to be quiet.
“Please do not egg him on. He won’t stop if you do,” Elliot says, glaring at me. “Eliza, Jane, and Kate, let’s just get on with the morning, so I can finish off my day in peace.”
I hold out my cup for another drink, and Jane refills it. I slurp at it, and Elliot sighs loudly again.
“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, eyeing his sisters. “What do you all normally do on a Sunday? Church?”
“Hell no. We’d burn. No, we usually go out to brunch. Well, actually, we drag Elliot kicking and screaming,” Eliza says.
“Because if we don’t do this, we’d never see him. He’d just disappear into the ether, never to be seen again,” Kate adds. “Plus, we’re nosy and we like to know what this naughty boy has been up to.”
“And he needs socialization, or he reverts back to being an unlikable caveman,” Jane adds.
“That’s because he doesn’t like people,” Eliza explains, taking a large gulp of orange juice.
“Yes, he hates them all,” Jane says.
“Except you,” Kate exclaims, and when I glance over at Elliot, he has his eyes closed. He’s so still that he looks like a vampire. Or a corpse. Like he just died on the spot. He probably expired from the stress of it all.
“Think he’s asleep?” Jane asks, and I reach over and poke his side.
His eyes open slowly, and he glowers at me.
“What. Do you. Want?” he drawls, and I smile at him.
“I’m starving. I need to eat like ten meals a day to remain alive. Can we go?”
“I’d rather if you didn’t join us,” Elliot says, and I clutch a hand over my heart.
“Don’t be an asshole. Your sisters love me.”
“We do,” they all say simultaneously, and Elliot’s chin hits his chest.
“Fine. Fine. Let’s go, but all of you need to behave. I’m serious.”
I throw my arm over his shoulders as we exit. “Ah, lover. You know us. We’ll be on our best behavior.”
* * *
ELLIOT