She hugs her arm, rocks back on her feet once. “I was wondering… if I’m still welcome at the table.”
Alf waves her forward. “Of course you are.” He beams at her.
She glances at Caden, who watches her carefully. “Come on then,” he says, almost gently.
Elodie steps forward, going round the table to her normal seat.
She helps herself to the food, and I swear none of us move until she takes a bite.
Okay, this is good.
“So, how have you been?” I ask tentatively.
She presses her lips into a thin line. Takes a sip of her drink. Places the glass back down. “Bored.”
I chuckle and hold back all the comments that fly to my brain. Even I’m going to tread carefully right now. “Well, I’m glad to have you back.”
She gives me a tiny smile. “Thank you.”
This is really good. Perhaps she’ll be the bigger person in this after all.
The rest of the meal goes as smoothly as it can. We all eat, make painful small talk, Caden doesn’t participate, but it’s civil. It’s almost peaceful around this dining room.
When we’re nearly finished, Elodie clears her throat. “So, I’ve been thinking.”
“Uh-oh.”
She shoots me a hard look. I wink.
She fidgets around before speaking again. “If I’m staying here indefinitely, I was wondering if I could go and finally get some of my own clothes?” She doesn’t address this to any of us in particular, but it’s clear she’s asking Caden.
I look to him, so does Alfie.
Cade leans back in his seat, clearly savouring this request. It’s a good sign. She’s resigned to her defeat, accepted her fate. Perhaps this is a turning point. “I can take you.”
She bows her head. “I was hoping Alfie would take me.”
Shit. Turning point’s turned back around.
Caden’s fist tightens around his fork. “Alfie’s busy today.” His jaw goes taut.
Alf drops his fork onto the plate with a loud clatter and pinches the bridge of his nose. Elodie winces, and I know Cade is lapping it up. Alfie starts bobbing his leg under the table next to me.
When she doesn’t reply, Caden says, “So, I’ll happily take you.”
I resist the urge to offer myself, desperate to get this little fox alone again.
After a long moment of clear internal battle, Elodie finally says, “Fine.”
“Aw,” I say, “a man and his fiancé finally going on a date! I’m melting.”
Cade picks up a sausage and launches it at me with perfect aim, bonking me straight in the eye. I still laugh. How I wish I could be a fly on the wall for this outing.
***
Elodie goes upstairs to get ready. Cade’s already dressed to go, Sarge at his feet ready too. We all sit in the living room waiting, Bob and Bruiser also here, as if they’re anxious to see the pair off as well.
Alfie’s back on this Marvel tower, it seems now Elodie’s made her return he can focus a bit better. He’s consumed by his task while Caden fiddles with his lip piercing next to me.
