I turn over, waving a hand with extra flair because if I'm going to be a disaster, might as well be fabulous about it. "Knock yourself out."
Shit.
Too bitchy.
Sweet boy’s just trying to help, and God knows I could use the distraction from my personal soap opera.
Eli immediately dives into the closest box and, of course, pulls out my nightlight. “What’s this for?”
“To keep the boogeyman away.” I snatch it from his hands, aiming for playful but probably landing closer to defensive.
Whatever.
Let him judge. After quality time in a freezer, darkness and I aren't exactly besties.
The outlet near my bed gets a new friend while Eli turns back to carefully unpacking, like finding a college freshman's nightlight is totally normal. So, I concentrate on putting my clothes away.
My phone buzzes with a text from Mom asking if I'm settled in. I send back a quick thumbs up emoji. She's been hovering like she's afraid I'll disappear again if she blinks too long.
Putting the phone down, I get back to unpacking. A few minutes later, someone knocks on the door to our suite.
“One second!” Eli puts down a pair of socks he is holding, leaving the room to answer it.
I stay, praying it’s someone delivering a pizza so I can beg for a slice.
“Hey, Feisty Mouse.”
That voice. Fuck me sideways.
I scramble into the common area, practically tripping over my feet. Zach’s leaning against the counter, looking like sex and danger in dark jeans and a fitted forest green Henley.
My brain short-circuits as I take in his smirking face, those steel-gray eyes locking onto mine like he owns the air I breathe.
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” I mutter, crossing my arms like they’re some flimsy shield against all six-foot-whatever of him.
Eli's gaze ping-pongs between us. “You two know each other?”
“Zach’s my stepbrother.”
Watching Eli try to glare at Zach is like watching a bunny threaten a wolf. It’s anything but threatening.
I roll my eyes and huff. “So, I take it you two know one another.”
Eli bites his bottom lip, shoving his hands into the pockets of his khakis as he nervously shuffles. “My boyfriend and Zach are friends. They were teammates on Crestwood’s hockey team . . . before Alexei got drafted to the NHL.”
I bark out a laugh. "Of course they were. Because, apparently, the universe thinks my life isn't fucked up enough already."
Zach's face might as well be carved from marble. Classic him, giving away nothing while I'm over here having a meltdown. “Eli’s family. We watch out for him, so when his roommate moved out, we figured you two could keep each other company.”
“We?”
“Alexei and I.”
My finger jabs into his chest, which is rock solid because, of course, it is. “This is sabotage. I’m so over you and your stupid friends.”
Eli's eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. "Okay, I'm just gonna . . . " He points to his room. "Yeah."
Once he's gone, I turn back to my stepbrother. "Mrs. Novotny might’ve cockblocked your murder plans, but that doesn't mean you get to fuck with my life."
