Page 24 of Psync
Kate looked surprised but smiled. “You’re very welcome.”
Alice sidled up to Eli, coming just shy of touching him. “Eliiiiii, can we join this club, please? I need to up my tea-making game.”
“What does Nate think?”
Alice pointed to Nate, still surrounded by women and chatting cheerfully. “I think he’s about three seconds from signing the paperwork with or without us.”
“Then I guess I’m in.”
The Tea and Calligraphy club. It sounded like the perfect stress-free club Eli had been hoping for.
Kate handed him a piece of paper to write his information on, so they could add him to the club register. “Can you put your number at the bottom? I know there isn’t a line for it, but it’s better to have more than just an email to get in contact with you.”
“Sure.”
“I’m hungry.” Haruka was standing so close to Eli he could feel his body heat.
Eli swayed a little. He must be getting hungry too.
“Hold on, I’m almost done.” Eli scribbled his number at the bottom of the page and handed it back to Kate.
“Welcome to the club! I think you guys will like it.”
“Thanks! I—”
“Food.”
Haruka was practically breathing down Eli’s neck. Goosebumps raced across his skin.
“I’ll see you later then. Nice to meet you.” Eli waved and stepped away from the table. “Do you guys want to eat? We’re gonna grab something.”
“No thanks, I want to stay here a little longer. They’re going to make me some tea. We can meet up later.” Nate made a shooing motion at Eli.
“I’m staying too, you two have fun!” Alice stared pointedly at the spot between Eli and Haruka for some reason.
“Okay then.”
Eli allowed himself to be herded away by Haruka. For someone who hadn’t shown any interest in the fair, he was oddly eager now.
“What do you want to eat?” Haruka asked.
Eli took in the line of food trucks. It was almost as long as the rows of club booths. How was he supposed to choose? “I have no idea. I didn’t even know I was hungry until you said something. Maybe an apple?” He pointed to an organic fruit truck.
“An apple? That’s all you want?” Haruka looked at Eli like he had suggested they eat mud. “You just lost the right to have input on food. Follow me.”
Eli followed Haruka to a falafel truck and watched as he ordered an obscene amount of food. Where was he planning on putting it all? The man didn’t have an ounce of fat on him—from what Eli had observed, anyway.
When Haruka finished, Eli stepped up to order, but Haruka waved him away. “I ordered for both of us.”
“Oh.” That made more sense. Though Eli thought Haruka was overestimating how much Eli could eat. “How much was my share?” Eli reached in his pocket for his wallet.
“Nothing.”
“But—”
“Put it away. You can owe me.”
“But I don’t want to owe you.”
