Page 87 of New Growth
He smirked again, unbothered. “Oh, well.”
I leaned forward slightly, trying to make my point, but he didn’t budge. “I’m being serious.”
“I was serious earlier today, too.” His eyes locked on mine, intense, challenging.
“That was different.”
“No, it wasn’t.” He was calm, but there was something dangerous underneath. “We’re both in places we shouldn’t be. This is what you wanted, right?”
No fucking way.
“Are youreallygonna be this petty?”
“Yep. Ireallyam.” He leaned back into his chair, looking far too pleased with himself for my liking as he sipped his drink. “You look really nice, by the way.”
His eyes scanned me slowly, from head to toe, taking in every detail like I was some sort of prized cattle. The way he looked at me made my skin feel exposed. Then he leaned in just a little, his voice dropping. “Are you not wearing panties?”
I froze for a split second, caught off guard by his bluntness. But, knowing him, I shouldn’t have been.
How the hell could he even tell?
“I never wear panties with dresses,” I explained.
His eyes widened slightly, his breath catching for just a moment, but he quickly masked it with that cool, calculating look I was so used to by now. Then he leaned back, eyes still on me.
“Go tell them we’re leaving.”
“What?”
There was no playful smile or hint of him joking, just that intense look that made my stomach flip. “Go back to the table, thank them for the evening, and tell them I’m taking you home.”
“Absolutely not, Elliot.”
He eyed me. “Want me to do it?”
I crossed my arms. “I’m not leaving with you.”
Chuckling briefly, finishing the last sip of his drink before placing the glass down and standing up. He was already stepping forward, closing the distance, and I barely had time to react before his hand wrapped around my wrist. He wasn’t gentle, either. He didn’t give me a chance to argue.
Without another word, he dragged me back to the table, and I didn’t put up much of a fight.
“Goodnight, everyone. My name’s also Elliot. I’m one of this Elliot’s friends.”
He pointed toward me, and I was so stunned I couldn’t respond. His boldness coupled with the stares from the table made everything feel ten times more intense than it needed to be.
“I paid for your dinner tonight because I will be taking Elliot home with me. My apologies if it ruined any of your plans. Say goodnight, Elliot.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. My mouth was dry, and I couldn’t even process what he had just said. Esther’s jaw dropped so low it was practically hitting the table. Her date looked overly entertained, and Ethan—oh God, Ethan—looked like he’d just seen a ghost.
“Wait, are you like her boyfriend or something?”
El grinned, that damn smug smile on his face as he looked over at Ethan.
“Just a friend.”
Ethan wasn’t done. He glanced at me before turning to El. “She doesn’t have to go with you if she doesn’t want to.”
El chuckled at his ignorance, then repeated. “Saygoodnight, Elliot.”
