Page 5 of Sizzle

During our three years together, I don’t think my ex-fiancée and I ever sat here together at all, not once. Just another one of the signs I’d missed. I shake off the thought and sit down, propping my feet on the cooler. Elliot and I sat out here a lot this past year, at least whenever we had time. He works crazy hours keeping the restaurant afloat. My job keeps me busy enough that some weeks, he’s the only person I see outside of the office.

It’s hard to care that much. Diana made it clear I’m better off this way.

I tip back the beer, downing half the bottle. I’m not completely alone. It’s not like I’m a hermit. Mom and Dad call or text every couple of days and I see them when I can. I have friends… Well, a friend. Elliot still counts as my friend.

Technically he’s been my roommate for the last year. Or tenant. Whatever he is, he lives with me. And he seems to think it’s his job to check up on me, which is nice. I can’t think too much about why it’s nice or I’ll start to think about other things, and me and Elliot and Other Things don’t mix so I shut down that train of thought before it gets any further out of hand.

It takes a minute to drag myself back from the Other Things and when I do, Elliot’s standing in front of me.

“So I’m probably getting evicted,” he says.

“You are not,” I say, lifting my feet off the cooler as he goes for a beer. “I told you already, I don’t care if you’re late on the rent.”

“I don’t mean you, dummy,” he says, popping the top and taking the chair across from my swing like he always does. I feel better now—a little less dark, now that he’s home. Elliot stretches his legs out and takes a drink.

He’s tall enough our feet almost touch, though he’s not quite as tall as me. Shoulders for miles. He could carry the world on those shoulders, and often he tries to. I can’t remember what it’s like to have that much drive.

I think maybe I used to, before.

Elliot, though, he’s always been Mr. Conquer the World by Dawn. The day I met him freshman year of college, he practically ran me over trying to get through the same door to class. At eighteen, I’d been ready to yank him back and knock him out for getting in my face, but we were both already late and as fate would have it, we were randomly paired as lab partners that semester. We barely spoke to each other at first, but after a couple of weeks he apologized and we’ve been tight ever since.

“Mrs. Miller?”

Elliot rubs the back of his neck and takes a long drink before he answers.

“Yeah. I’ve been a little behind on my lease payments.”

“How far behind?” This is new. Elliot doesn’t keep things like this from me, not about Duckbill.

“Three months.” He won’t meet my eyes when he says it.

“For Christ’s sake, Elliot. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m working on it, okay? I thought things would get better, especially with the holidays coming up. But she called today. They’re raising the rent.”

Making rent before had already been a stretch for him. If they’re raising it on him now, it means they want him out.

Goddamn it.

“I wish you’d told me sooner. I could have helped.”

“Well, now, I’m glad to hear you say that, because as it happens, I could use your eyes on something.” He sets his beer down and grabs his laptop from the case propped up at his feet.

“Have you told your family?” I ask as he powers up the computer.

“Shit, they don’t care. They’ve been waiting for me to go bust since I left the firm. I talked to Steve though. He’s the one who gave me this idea.”

“What idea?”

“Have you eaten yet?” he says, eyeing me as I grab another beer.

“Not hungry,” I say because it’s mostly true. I’m never hungry anymore, which is a shame because I really enjoy cooking.

Elliot snorts but lets it go, focusing on the machine in his lap.

A lock of dark blonde hair falls across his forehead as he squints at the screen and I suck in a breath, bracing myself against the urge to touch him. The urge is stronger than usual, which means I need to get the hell out of here.

But he needs me first. At least, he needs my help. And if that’s all Elliot will let me give him, then so be it. It’ll be enough. It has to be.

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