If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
“Is that a question or do you actually want two beers?” Shawn asks with a grin.
“Yes. Little Creatures Pale Ale, please.” I pick the local boutique beer because that seems classy.
“I’ll bring them over,” Shawn says, nodding at the table behind me where Erik and Jaxon were sitting. I blink at it. The decision has been made again. I wasn’t a part of it, but that is okay. It isn’t like I was going to sit at a different table, was I? That’s so rude and weird.
We walk to the booth.
Erik touches my back to guide me into the booth seat, and my mind blasts static. He sits beside me, while Jax slides in opposite, pulls out his wallet, and starts shuffling through cards as if he’s lost or misplaced something.
Erik leans back, laying his arm over the top of the seat, and looks around the lounge, appraising the area with a satisfied nod. “This is a great spot,” he says. “Honestly. You should make this your usual hangout, Blesk. I don’t know why we don’t hang here more.”
Jaxon looks up from his cards, brows furrowing. His eyes flick to me, then back to his cards.
“So,” Erik begins, “Tell me?—”
“I’m here!” Elise walks into the underground lounge like a small, determined storm, eyes darting around.
As I excuse myself, Erik moves so I can slide out and retrieve my friend.Myfriend. She sees me, and before I know it, I’m engulfed in her arms.
“Want me to cut him?” she whispers into my ear.
I laugh. “God, I hope you’re joking.”
“Just a little maiming?”
When we separate, she notices Erik standing by the table I left and freezes. Jaxon shuffles in the booth, making room for her. “Hey, I’m Jaxon!”
Elise looks at him wide-eyed. “Hi.” That’s it. Just hi. No rattling on about her mum or cutting people. Just Hi. The smallest of English greetings.
An awkward moment passes as Jaxon realises she isn’t going to sit beside him.
Erik stays standing. He extends his hand and smiles. That smile—the one that makes whoever he's talking to feel like the only person in the room. “I apologise that we didn’t get to officially meet the other day. I’m Erik. Blesk’s brother.” He shakes her hand warmly. “I’m so glad she has you. Seriously. Blesk doesn’t make friends easily, so I appreciate it.”
Elise blinks at him.
I watch her soften slightly.
No quips?
No running mouth?
“Afraid of boys Elise is,” I whisper to her in my best Yoda impression—like the one she’d used on me earlier.
She adjusts her glasses. “Not all boys,” she mutters back. “Just the ones that look like they’ve walked out of a Hugo Boss magazine. So, yeah, all the ones you seem to know.”
I guide her into the booth seat. Erik moves to the position next to Jaxon. So girls on one side; boys on the other, and that seems so fucking perfect—I have a friend.
My knee touches hers.
I feel nothing but ease with her. Old squeamish thoughts surface, reminding me how few people in my life I feel comfortable touching. Erik was thefirstafter I was adopted. Which is why it’s strange to feel so comfortable with Konnor—so quickly. Almosturgently.
I shove that thought down.
He has a girlfriend, Blesk.
“Your mum is an alumnus, right?” Erik says to Elise.
