“You can call me Eli,” he decided.
“So, Eli… Are you visiting or do you live here?”
He wasn’t entirely sure. “I’m staying for the time being. But I can’t see myself getting a place and living here indefinitely.”
“That’s too bad. Maybe you’ll find someone special,” she said with a hopeful lift of her brows.
Elio knew she meant herself but he saw Milo, flustered in the bathroom stall, clutching his notebooks and reports. “Are we to assume this special person would be interested in someone like me?”
“I know you’re joking,” Felicity said with a loaded look. “Who isn’t into bad boys? Especially chivalrous ones that save damselson trains. I was hoping you would notice me and that we might exchange numbers before Todd killed the vibe.”
“Trust me, I am not a knight or a pri—” Elio recalled that he technically was a prince, but shrugged. “Either way, I am not likely to seek a…damsel, if you take my meaning,” he added apologetically and she bit back a giggle.
“That’s even better. I have a cousin who is way too fine and too sweet to be single. How do you feel about animals and do you have any allergies?” she asked, the gleam in her eyes switching from adoring to calculating as she went into matchmaking mode.
Elio grimaced and leaned away warily. “Why? Is he a cat?”
“No!” She laughed and gave him a shove before linking their arms. “He’s a veterinarian and has a practice in Brooklyn.”
“I see…” Elio paused and placed his hand on hers. “I do like animals but I’m going to stop you right there. I am cranky, self-absorbed, single-minded, and prone to mood swings and emotional outbursts. Nothing about me would be ideal for anyone decent and I have no interest in a romantic relationship. My workalwayscomes first and I don’twantto make time for anyone else,” he explained clearly and carefully.
Her lips pursed as she considered. “Alright, I respect a man who’s self-aware and a straight-shooter. Well, not astraight-shooter,” she said with a cheeky wink. “Just coffee,” she promised as they came to a stop in front of a coffee shop.
“Very well,” Elio said, reaching for the door. He suspected that getting coffee with Felicity would be entertaining and resolved to be less grumpy.
“At least look at a picture of Daniel.” She waved her phone at Elio. “When I tell you he isfine…”
“Don’t push your luck, Felicity.”
Eight
As a rule, Milo tended to skip birthday parties, especially when they were for someone who was well-liked. Too many people would be there and the odds of receiving a decent-sized piece of cake were low. He preferred to call or drop by and wish them a happy birthday at a quieter time.
That wasn’t an option when the party was at Briarwood Terrace and it was his Uncle Gavin’s birthday.Everyonewas there, including both of Milo’s dads and his mother and sister so he had taken his three-inch square of cake outside, and was enjoying the music and cheerful atmosphere from a safe distance on the back terrace.
Milo’s Uncle Morris had brought a guitar and Reid pulled out his keyboard. They convinced Gavin to play his clarinet, filling the apartment and the building with upbeat jazz and R&B. The music was always good and Milo was glad he hadn’t missed out when they played “September” and had even consented to dancing with the triplets. If you could call Milo’s flailing limbs and random kicks dancing…
“Come and sit with me!” June ordered, hooking her arm around Milo’s and dragging him to the bench at the back of the terrace.
“Too much second-hand embarrassment?” he guessed and his cousin cringed sheepishly.
“They’ve had enough dancing but Bea said I should save you. The von Hessens have arrived and we wanted to preserve your dignity. It looked like you were having a seizure or there were bugs under your shirt,” she said, causing them to burst into giggles.
“Thanks. They’ve seen my dancing before and once is more than enough,” Milo mused but she groaned and gave his arm a hug.
“I think it’s adorable, personally. You let the music move you and you don’t worry about looking silly.”
“No…” Milo shook his head. “I’ve accepted that I’m going to look like a fork in a garbage disposal so I just let it happen.”
They laughed and she straightened and her neck stretched. “Do you think one of them will come outside?”
“Them? Amy, Bea, and Charlie just went inside.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Not them! The von Hessens. Matteo and Elio are here with Truman Tennyson.”
“The von Hessens are pretty cool but I don’t know about Truman,” he confided in a whisper. “Mom says he’s lowkey a gangster and has almost every politician in the state in his pocket.”
“That’s what my mom said too but she likes him!” June whispered back, causing Milo to snort.
