Page 55 of Across the Boards

“How nice for you both,” Elliot says, her smile never faltering though I catch the slight edge in her voice. “Please give him my regards when you inevitably text him about seeing me tonight.”

He has the grace to look momentarily abashed at being called out. “Just making conversation.”

“Of course you are,” she agrees, tone making it clear she doesn’t believe him for a second. “If you’ll excuse us, I believe they’re announcing the auction winners soon.”

She places her hand on my arm, a clear signal for us to exit this conversation. I follow her lead, nodding curtly to Matthews as we walk away.

“Well, that was subtle,” I mutter once we’re out of earshot.

“About as subtle as a slap shot to the face,” she agrees with a sigh. “I’d forgotten how exhausting this all is.”

“We can leave,” I offer again. “Say the word and we’re gone.”

She considers this for a moment, then shakes her head. “No. I’m not giving them the satisfaction of running me off.” She squares her shoulders. “Besides, I really want to know if I won that book collection.”

“That’s my girl,” I say without thinking, then freeze, worried I’ve overstepped.

But Elliot just gives me a small, warm smile. “Your girl, huh?”

“Figure of speech,” I backtrack quickly.

“Mmm-hmm.” Her eyes are twinkling now. “Very convincing.”

Before I can dig myself any deeper, the event coordinator announces that the auction is closing in five minutes. Elliot and I make our way back to the bidding tables, where Sarah is efficiently organizing the bid sheets.

“Any last bids?” she asks briskly. “The cooking class is neck-and-neck.”

I check my bid and see someone has outbid me by a hundred dollars. “Damn.”

“Last chance to assert your culinary dominance,” Elliot teases.

“You’re a bad influence,” I tell her, but I grab the pen and add another bid anyway.

As we wait for the final auction results, Tommy joins us, champagne in hand. “Having fun?”

“Defining ‘fun’ pretty loosely there, Harrington,” Elliot replies, but she’s smiling.

“That’s the spirit.” He glances around the room. “I see the Matthews-Kelly surveillance team has been active.”

“Very,” I confirm. “Subtle as a freight train.”

“Jason loyalists till the end,” Tommy says with a grimace. “Never understood why. The guy’s a tool.”

“Charming tool,” Elliot corrects. “That’s his superpower. When he wants something from you, he makes you feel like the most important person in the room.”

“And when he doesn’t want something from you?” I ask, curious about this insight into her ex.

“Then you cease to exist,” she says simply.

The matter-of-fact way she says this makes something in my chest tighten. Before I can respond, the event coordinator begins announcing auction winners. I’m surprised and pleased to learn I’ve won the cooking class—apparently my final bid went unchallenged.

“Looks like you’ll be perfecting that bolognese after all,” Elliot comments as I collect my certificate.

“The risotto I supposedly made for you last week set a high bar,” I remind her with a grin.

“Oh right. My fictional endorsement.” She laughs. “I should be more careful with my fabrications.”

“I don’t know, I thought it was pretty effective. Karen’s face when you said I cook was priceless.”

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