“My cousin’s fiancé. You’ll meet him one day,” I tell Elliot and then turn to Sem and Magnus. “So, what are you guys up to? We hangin’ or what?”
Magnus moves over to Sem and tucks himself into his side. “We were just leaving, actually. We’re meeting August and Emery for food and some laser tag.”
“Fuck,” I say and then smile widely. “Why didn’t I know about this? Elliot and I love laser tag.”
“You may, but I do not,” Elliot mumbles.
I don’t listen to his protests, I just nudge Elliot gently until he sighs and agrees to go with me. He pretends like I’m forcing him, but I see that gleam of excitement in his eyes. He’s probably never played laser tag in his entire life. He probably scoffs at it and mocks it, but secretly, deep down, he wants to smear paint on his face and howl at the moon.
“Never played a game in your life, huh? Is this going to be your first?” I ask Elliot as we move into his car.
He just eyes me. “I play games.”
I scoff, buckle up, and then reach out and tug on his earlobe. And that fucker presses into me, just enough that I take notice, so I move my hand around and cup the back of his neck.
“You’re going to love it, Eli. Laser tag is fun.”
“I think love is a strong word.”
I lean into him and say softly in his ear, “Just give it a chance, yeah? For me?”
Elliot shivers, it’s slight but I catch it. Biting at his lower lip, he gives a clipped nod. “Fine. For you.”
And damn, if that doesn’t make me light up inside, because Elliot doesn’t seem like the type to give in easily. Not to just anyone.
No, he seems stern and obstinate. God, I want to see him loosen up for me, to bend just a little.
My mind is straying down a very sexy path when my stomach rumbles loudly, and I rub at it. “Fuck, I’m hungry.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we’re eating first then; don’t want you to pass out from hunger,” Elliot replies, and I chuckle softly.
I squeeze his neck again, and he presses back into my palm. So, I just keep it there, massaging his tense muscles until we arrive at the small diner outside of town. What really makes me grin is that he doesn’t even huff and puff about how close I am.He’s usually such a prickly pear but I’m growing on him.
“Ready?” I ask when he parks the car.
He eyes the restaurant, and I squeeze his shoulder. “I eat here all the time. It’s totally sanitary.”
“It has nothing to do with that. I just…” he huffs. “I’m nervous.”
My eyes widen at that because…did Elliot just open up? To me?
I shift in my seat, so I can face him. “You’re nervous?”
“Forget I said anything,” Elliot says, and I clutch onto him tighter, forcing him to stay right where he is.
“Why you nervous, Eli?”
“I don’t do well with…people.”
“You’re a doctor. You’re with people all day long. They all seem to love you.”
“Yes, but that’s different. There’s a power imbalance in those types of interactions. I know what’s expected of me and I know I’m good at it. Here, I’m just Elliot.”
“Eli…”
“There is a good chance they won’t like me. I will say the wrong thing or come off as rude. I don’t have friends for a reason.”
“Nah,” I say and tilt his chin toward me. “They’ll like you. Hell, I like you, and you’re a grumpy bitch who ran me over with his car.”