“And what about Elodie? You gonna introduce us to her tonight?”
“You guys could have walked over to us and said hello earlier.”
Elliot chuckles. “No way. My first order of business when I arrived was getting a drink in my hand.”
Rhonan and I share a look, debating between our silence if one of us should say something. Rhonan clears his throat first, so I let him take the reins. “Don’t you think it’s time to cut back a bit, man?”
Elliot tips his wine glass to his lips. “What do you mean?”
Rhonan sighs, pushing a hand through his thick hair before straightening his spine. “The drinking, Elliot. I know you’re hurting right now…”
“Look. You guys didn’t want me sulking at home, so now I’m sulking in public. Either way, the only way I choose to be around people right now is if I can do it with alcohol in my system,” he fires back, cutting off Rhonan. “If you don’t like it, then I’ll march my ass back to my house.”
“Having a few drinks is fine, man, but lately…” I start.
“Lately, what?” His jaw clenches.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Elodie says from behind me, and the three of us spin to face her.
“By all means, do,” Elliot says before reaching out to shake her hand, his signature grin spreading across his lips. “These two were just lecturing me.”
Elodie smiles, intrigued. She shakes Elliot’s hand with her free one, holding Remy on her hip with the other. “Well, I’m happy to help.”
Elliot’s eyes dip up and down Elodie’s body, causing an inferno of irritation to ignite in my body. “I’m sure you could help me in other ways too.”
I shove his shoulder. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
He puts his hands up, playing stupid. “What?”
Elodie plants her hand on my chest in an attempt to calm me down, but I’ve never had as strong of a desire to punch one of my best friends as I do right now. “Henley, it’s fine.”
I jab a finger at Elliot. “Fucking apologize.”
He snaps out of his annoying smirk, as if the reality of what he just said registered in his brain.
“I’m sorry,” he says, shaking his head. “You didn’t deserve that.”
“Thank you. No hard feelings, I promise. Laney and Dilynne told me what happened earlier this summer and I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
“Of course they fucking did,” he mutters before draining the rest of his wine glass, glancing around the crowd as if everyone was watching him. “Look, I’m fine.” Bracing myself for more of his attitude, I’m shocked when he turns away from us and heads to the nearest bar for a refill.
I let out the breath I was holding with a heavy sigh, facing Elodie now. “Sorry again.”
“You don’t need to apologize for him. He’s a grown man and he’s hurting. I don’t take it personally.”
Mumbling, I say, “I wish I could say the same.”
I’ve never felt rage like that in my life. But it wasn’t just anger. There was something else there too.
Fuck. Was I jealous?
The thought of Elliot with Elodie makes me want to vomit.
I turn my attention to Remy, taking her from Elodie and pouring my attention into her as a distraction. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I was just going to ask Rhonan what wine I should try.” She twists to introduce herself to my other best friend. “I’m Elodie, by the way. Nice to meet you.”
He reciprocates with a friendly smile that isn’t flirtatious in the slightest. “Likewise. I’m glad Henley found you.”
