I gesture to the mountain of food in the middle of the table. “If you’re quick.”
She trudges over and drops into her seat opposite me. She doesn’t look at Alfie or Caden. She flashes me her usual scowl and then helps herself to some pastries.
You could slice through this tension with a damn machete. Guess it’s up to good old Fiz to break the ice once again.
“How did you sleep?”
She glares at me. “Wonderful. After being chased, assaulted and shackled.”
I bite down on my growing smile. “Seems like the end of all that made up for it, though.” I wink.
She rolls her eyes. I chuckle.
I turn to Caden. “You two lovebirds have fun in the woods, then?”
His eyes darken. “Absolutely not.”
I frown. “You didn’t fuck her?”
“God, no.”
I drop my fork. “Seriously?” I look between him and Alf and let my smirk grow. “So, you’re telling me I’m the only one who got their first nut in some glorious pussy last night?”
Elodie scoffs opposite me.
“Don’t,” Caden warns, “I’m not in the mood this morning.”
“Well, obviously.” I revel in this new knowledge. “This is wonderful news.”
Alf slaps my shoulder. “Come on, Fiz, not now.”
I look over to Elodie, who’s watching the other two, and I wonder if she can sense the separate tension between them,if she knows it’s because of her. If she could even begin to understand the enormity of achieving that.
“If not now, when?” I say in a whimsical tone, “If not her, who?” I reach a hand up as if calling to the skies, “If not pussy, why not ass?”
Alfie breaks out in a chuckle, Caden rolls his eyes. I swear I can see Elodie fighting off a grin, too.
She quickly sobers up, fiddles with a sausage on her plate, and sighs.
“What’s up, Sleeping Beauty?”
Her eyes flicker to Alfie, then Caden. Finally, she says, very quietly, “So, what does this change?”
Caden huffs impatiently. “It could change everything. It’s up to you where we go from here, Elodie, it’s in your hands now. Like I keep saying.”
I lick my teeth. Caden’s too stubborn to change his attitude towards Elodie without a little sign of change in her first. No doubt it’s the same vice versa.
Elodie drops the sausage. “If you’re nice, I’ll be nice.”
Caden gives a patronising snort. “I tried to be nice. You must show me some intention of behaving now before you get Mr Nice Guy again.”
“Nice?” Elodie shoots to her feet, rage steaming off her. I hold my breath. “I’m so sick of you acting as if there was a single moment where you werenice. If I’m staying here, you don’t touch me without permission, you don’t take anything from me. Only then will I consider beingniceto you.”
Caden’s on his feet now, too. Me and Alf stiffen in our seats. “You will not order me about in my own house.” He points a steady finger at her. “I will do with you as I please, when I please. You will be my wife, Elodie, don’t forget what the end goal is here. Or did you already block out what we did last night? I can happily remind you.” He sneers at her.
Elodie’s bottom lip only wobbles for a second before she sucks it in, eyes narrowing in on Cade. “Did you already forget what I said to you? I’d rather die. You won’t put a baby in me, Caden. I’ll make sure of it.”
Alfie’s leg’s bobbing wildly underneath the table. I look to him, but he doesn’t meet my gaze.
