“Watch me,” I smirk and she rolls her eyes.
“It’s okay,” El Jefe says, “Beth can come.”
“Really?” I ask, not expecting him to agree so quickly.
He nods. “Yeah, you made a promise, that’s important.”
“Can I bring a girl?” Pretty Boy asks.
“No,” El Jefe says, before striding out the door without saying another word.
“What’s softened him up?” Tank asks.
“Personal stuff,” Tipo says, “so none of your fucking business. Beth can come, but no other girls. You got it?”
Everyone nods and I grin at Elizabeth, but she just shakes her head at me.
As soon as Tipo is gone, she leans in, “You can’t ask for special treatment just because of a promise, it’s not fair on everyone else.”
“But I don’t care about everyone else, I care about you.”
I claim her lips in a kiss and the guys all groan.
“Is this the kind of shit we can be expecting from now on?” Pretty Boy asks.
I don’t break the kiss but stick my middle finger up at him instead.
“How many spare rooms do you have, Slim?” Tank asks, “They were loud enough when they were trying to be quiet, I dread to think what it will be like now.”
Elizabeth pulls away from the kiss and buries her face in my neck; she’s cute when she gets embarrassed.
“We weren’t loud,” I say.
Pretty Boy chuckles. “You were pretty fucking loud.”
“I can’t believe you all knew this whole time,” Elizabeth says.
“Please, it was obvious,” Tank says, “and it was fun playing puppet master.”
“Puppet master?” I say, “No way, this wasn’t because of you.”
“Evidence from the prosecution, please,” Pretty Boy says, nodding at Tank.
“El Jefe decided you should both go into the closet,” Tank says, lifting one finger on his hand. “I shoved you into the closet and locked the door.” He lifts another finger. “I took us to the diner where Donovan told us Beth worked, and he then set you up to go and get Beth at the bar. And, oh yeah, I was the one who sent you to Miguel’s place when you were moping around because Beth was gone for the weekend.”
“He has a point,” Elizabeth says, nudging me. “And we both admitted that this wouldn’t have happened on its own.”
“Yeah yeah, whatever,” I say, “it doesn’t matter anyway, we’re together now.”
I kiss her again and the guys all get up and move to a table further away from us.
“You’ve scared your friends away,” she giggles.
“Good.” I lean my forehead against hers. “So you’ll come with us?”
“Hmm?”
“To Diablos Rojos?”
