Page 50 of Unbroken

“What’s got you in such a grumpy mood?” I whispered in Eli’s ear. I couldn’t help but relish the warm, spicy scent I caught as I leaned closer to him.

We were waiting in line at the Bite and Brew with Patrick, and Eli was barely talking to me, answering questions only in monosyllables. He’d been quiet all day at the ranch too, but we didn’t have any rides on the books, so he’d kept himself busy in the back fields, helping Josh with a fence repair. I’d been surprised when he’d invited me to join him and Patrick for dinner but was happy to accept, grumpiness or not. I loved spending time with the two of them, and I loved the restaurant, which rivaled some of the better places I’d eaten at in Denver.

“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“Liar,” I said, locking eyes with him. “Tell me.”

Patrick wandered away to the massive glass-front dessert display, giving us a few seconds of privacy. Eli glanced around the otherwaiting patrons and seemed to determine that none of them were eavesdropping on him.

“I had an argument with my dad last night. Talked to him about Patrick’s stomachaches.”

Suddenly his sour mood made sense. I could only imagine how heated the conversation must have gotten.

“How’d he take it?” I asked, frowning.

“He disagreed that he was at fault, of course, but he agreed to stop harassing Patrick about needing to be perfect, so that’s a start. Assuming it sticks.”

It looked like Eli was about to say something else, but he stopped talking abruptly when the hostess came over to tell us there was a table ready for us.

Twenty minutes later, we were up to our elbows in amazing appetizers while Patrick regaled us with stories about the frogs he’d found while at his grandmother’s house that day. I looked around the table and tried to focus on the happiness beaming from Patrick, because his father’s smiles seemed forced.

He’d said the conversation with his father went okay, so why did it seem as though he was still under a black cloud?

I glanced around the room and noticed that people were watching us. But of course they were! Even though it had been several weeks since word about our relationship had gotten out, the gossips were still in full swing. It’d be a while yet before talk moved on to other matters. If it was still before times, before we’d given in to the powerful attraction between us, I would’ve amped up the show for the room. Laughed a little louder and touched Eli a little more frequently. But now, in the sensitive after times when we both knew what happenedwhen our bodies connected, I felt a little unsure of how to act around him. Especially with him in such a funk.

“Grandma said we can raise tadpoles!” Patrick exclaimed in a loud voice, causing me to focus on his stream of consciousness chatter again.

“How fun, monkey,” I replied. “Soon enough, you’ll have frogs hopping around.”

Patrick reached for another mozzarella stick and froze with his arm outstretched, his eyes wide and staring ahead. I turned to see what he was looking at and saw none other than Samuel Carter striding toward us, his fake pastor smile plastered on his face.

“Incoming,” I said softly to Eli, flicking my chin toward the approaching drama. I watched Eli register what was about to happen and saw his face harden.

“Well, hello there, family!” Samuel boomed so that the entire restaurant could hear. “Isn’t this a wonderful surprise?”

Samuel looked around the table expectantly, as if he were waiting for us to match his level of enthusiasm, but Patrick had shrunk in his seat and was staring at his feet, while Eli glowered at the man silently. I realized that if we wanted to avoid making a scene and generating the next topic of gossip right here and now, it was up to me to carry the conversation. We were now the center of attention.

“Nice to see you, Mr. Carter,” I offered with a convincing smile.

“And you,” he replied in a tone that sounded far from sincere. “You’re looking lovely, as usual, Miss Cafferty.” He turned to Patrick. “And how’s my clever grandson doing? You filling up on appetizers so you won’t have enough room for your meal?”

“He can eat what he wants to eat,” Eli said in a strained voice that didn’t match the cold fury on this face.

“Is that how it works these days?” Samuel shook his head and smiled. “Times sure have changed. Back when I was a boy, you had to clean your plate, but I guess that’s old-fashioned now.”

I noticed that Patrick had shrunk even lower in his chair. I reached out and clasped his knee. “This kid is growing like a weed, and he’s always hungry! Right, monkey?”

Patrick nodded but didn’t look up.

Samuel turned his attention back to me. “You’ve been spending quite a bit of time with these two. Like a barnacle on a boat!” He laughed, but it didn’t take the sting from his words. “Can’t get rid of you.”

“Dad …” Eli said through gritted teeth.

“I’m just joking around, ‘barnacle’ isn’t accurate. Miss Cafferty is far too pretty to be a barnacle.” He paused and appraised me through narrowed eyes. “You’re natural. Not like Charlotte. That woman wore more makeup than a clown!”

Patrick’s eyes went wide, and he looked between Eli and me to see how we’d react.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Eli glowered. “Charlotte is Patrick’s mother and he loves her very much. You willnotdisparage her in front of him—or me. She’s a phenomenal woman and doesn’t deserve your scorn.”

---