Page 58 of Rules to Love By

“Excuse me.”

“No excuse for you.” He crawled up on the bed and put a hand on Marcus’s face. “Are you sick?”

“No. Just tired.”

“Why?” Tris’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you remember Darnell or Daniel or… I forget his—”

“Dillan. His name was ‘Dillan who’s lucky he didn’t get pushed in front of the subway,’ Dillan. Yes, I remember.”

Marcus didn’t think Tris’s hackles could have risen higher, but there they went. Full-on feral. “Eli’s—”

“If he’s like Dillan—” Tris hopped off the bed and pointed at the door. “I’ll push him down the stairs right now.”

Marcus laughed. “Stop it. Sit down.” He lowered his voice a bit. “Dillan was an idiot.”

“Dillan didn’t know what the fuck he was doing. It took me months to straighten that asshole out.” He sat back on the edge of the bed and scooped hair off Marcus’s forehead. “But I don’t do that kind of thing anymore.” He scowled. “Mostly because you used to kick my ass when I did. Even when it paid really, really well.”

“Not at all because it would break Ozzy’s heart.”

“That too. But you were hella bitchy when I went with guys like him.”

“Because Dillan was an ass and I didn’t want you to get hurt too.”

Tris’s frown went from deep and furious to so deadly calm it sent a shiver down Marcus’s spine. “Eli didn’t hurt you, did he?”

Marcus smiled, the calmness behind his own expression genuine. “No. He was kind. And weirdly scary. But also really not scary at all. I don’t know. I have to figure it out. But if he seriously wants to come back and just watch movies and eat porridge with me, he can.”

They both looked up as the door swung open wider.

Eli appeared there, looking hesitant. “I was actually going to eat that brownie. Not really a porridge guy.”

Marcus pushed himself upright. “Did you tell everyone—”

“He told us you weren’t feeling well,” Tris said, laying a hand on Marcus’s thigh. “He asked for some clean, more comfortable clothes for you. Which was enough explanation for Kreed and Lucky. When he asked for the oatmeal—”

“Tris got spiky,” Eli cut in. “I thought it best to let him come see for himself if you were okay. And that you wanted me back up here.”

Marcus nodded.

Footsteps sounded, hurrying up the stairs, and a moment later, Kreed knocked on the door frame at the same time he stuck his head in the room. “Everything okay up here?” he asked.

“Wow.” Marcus yanked the blankets up to his chest. “Really personalized service around here.”

Kreed scowled at him. “Are you okay?” he asked again.

“I’m fine.” He glanced from Kreed to Tris to Eli. “What did you say to them?”

Eli shrugged. “Said you didn’t feel well.”

“Well, I’m feeling better. Thank you.” He nodded to Kreed, who paused but then nodded back and turned to Tris. “Still need you down there.”

“Be right there.”

“Good deal.” And Kreed was gone.

“They’re helpful like that,” Tris muttered.

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