Page 66 of Sizzle
“Hell if I know. It doesn’t make any sense.” I answer too quickly.
She smiles.
“He’s my best friend, you know? Has been for years. I’d hate to see him get run through like that again.” All of this is true, but it doesn’t explain the sickening burn simmering in my gut ever since I saw that vile message.
Joelle’s smiling for real now, so much tenderness in her eyes that it grips my heart and won’t let go. I don’t know what I’ve done to make her look at me like that, but I wish I did. I’d do it again every day for the rest of my life to make sure she never stops.
“Elliot,” she says softly. We don’t have a lot of time—it’s a fucking miracle we haven’t been discovered yet. But I lean into her anyway, catching a whiff of that sweet vanilla scent that seems to follow her everywhere. “Elliot, don’t you see? You’re jealous.”
That sets me back a bit.
“What? Jealous of what?”
“Jealous over Alex, of course.”
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” I say. “Diana is not even remotely my type.” Like, not even in the same species. I actually physically shudder at the thought.
“Not because of her,” says Joelle, laughing softly now. “I mean, you’re jealous because Alex might be talking to her again.”
That’s not it.
I mean, surely that’s not it.
“Why would you think that, sunshine?” My voice sounds like it’s coming from far away, and I can’t quite catch my breath.
“I’ve seen the way you look at him, Elliot,” she says, almost whispering now. “And I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And getting to share a part of that with you last night…”
She’s saying Alex and I… that I want…
She’s right.
We don’t have time for this, and the longer we keep riding that crazy train of thought, the further away it gets me from finding out what made my girl cry.
“Just think about it. For me?” she asks. I nod, because my voice is missing in action right this minute.
A beat passes, and she drops her gaze to the floor.
“My dad kicked me out this morning.”
“What?” It’s all I can do not to shout and bring the rest of the staff running back here. I never thought I’d be grateful for a slow day, but today’s turning out to be an exception to all kinds of rules.
Jealous over Alex. Jesus.
“What happened?”
“We argued,” she said, taking a deep breath. I’m still holding her hand, so I give it a squeeze. It’ll tide me over until I can hold her properly. “I suggested he think about being a little more independent, and… well, suffice it to say it didn’t go well.”
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I say, darting a look over my shoulder before bending to brush a kiss across her lips. A dumb move, because once I get my mouth on hers again, I don’t want to let go.
“Come stay with me.”
“What?” The question is breathless, all but silent as I kiss her softly over and over again.
“Stay with me,” I say, pulling back to rest my forehead on hers. “Or stay with Alex.”
“I’m pretty sure you have to ask him first before you offer up his couch,” she says, laughing.
“Who said anything about a couch?” I say without thinking. And shit, that sounds creepy as fuck. “I mean, we both have guest rooms. You don’t have to sleep on a couch. You don’t have to sleep in a guest room either, I just meant—”