Page 20 of Line of Resistance

“Normally I would agree, but you were planning to take out future generations with that thing.” He continued to hold the bigger of the two weapons in front of his crotch, just in case she managed to get her hands on yet another weapon. “And you can’t really ask me to leave you alone and then shoot me between the eyes.”

Eloise’s chin lifted the tiniest bit. “That was payback. For last night.”

“That’s funny. I assumed the payback was you puking on my shoes.”

Her face flushed, turning a pretty pink that crept over her cheeks and down her neck to disappear under the high neckline of her hoodie. “That was your fault.”

“You’re right. It was.” He could feel eyes burning into his back, the weight of them reminding him this needed to get wrapped up before someone got the wrong impression. “Truce?”

Eloise studied him as the seconds ticked past. Finally she lifted one shoulder and let it drop. “Sure. Why not.”

“That doesn’t sound convincing.” He couldn’t resist goading her a little more, especially since her response was so vague.

“I can’t promise I won’t take another shot at you if I have the opportunity.”

His laugh was loud and immediate, tipping his head back. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He turned away, taking the guns with him as he strode back across the room, slamming the yellow and blue plastic against Tyson’s chest as he passed. “I think I might take a rain check. I’d like to be a father someday.” He didn’t stop on his way out the door and down the steps.

There was nothing he wanted more than to spend the evening with his family. But as much as he wanted to believe he could keep his hands and his mind off Eloise, she seemed hell-bent on making that more and more difficult every time their paths crossed.

First it was the awful karaoke at the Christmas party. She’d belted out ‘I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’,completely off key and shamelessly, shaking her ass through the whole number.

Then she bumped into him under the mistletoe and made what he now believed was a tequila-fueled suggestion they should follow the rules of the holiday. As much as he wanted to take advantage, the last thing he wanted was to make the people he loved see him differently, and kissing Naomi’s drunk friend at a Christmas party would absolutely have done just that. So instead he asked her out.

Then got cold feet and canceled.

Without Eloise there to tempt him, it was easier to realize that if things didn’t go well, Naomi and Tyson could easily turn their backs on him.

Which should’ve been the end of it.

But it wasn’t. Because Eloise kept showing up at parties and gatherings. Kept smiling and laughing. Kept spreading sunshine and happiness all around. Kept reminding him what a fucking coward he was. How badly he fucked up by pushing her away.

And then she started dating a fucking prick. One who didn’t appreciate her light. Her warmth. Her kindness.

Who didn’t appreciateher.

When they split up, he was happier than he should have been. And it led to yet another bad decision. One that made Eloise mark him as a repeat offender and led her to write him off completely, ending any interest she might have had in him.

But his fascination with her continued.

Every time she was around it was impossible to stay away. To ignore her the way he knew he should.

So once again, he had to remove himself from the situation. Do exactly what she accused him of doing so many times before.

There was no denying he’d sent her every mixed-signal possible at this point and, honestly, he probably should’ve let her get that last shot in.

It might’ve made them both feel better.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ELOISE

ELOISE TOPPED OFF her coffee cup, lingering at the machine in the middle of the main office as the minutes ticked by. She checked her watch, frowning as she scanned the vestibule leading to the main entrance.

The first bell was set to ring any second and there was still no sign of Bryson. If it was any other kid she might not be as concerned but, while Bryson’s father frequently forgot to pick him up, he rarely missed an opportunity to rid himself of his son. It was probably the only reason Bryson was at Emmett’s birthday party. The man would sure as soup never go out of his way to do something for Bryson’s benefit.

She sipped at the steaming hot liquid in her cup, tapping one Mary Jane against the floor while she waited, getting more and more impatient as the seconds passed.

“You look grumpy.” Becky, the school secretary looked her up and down, confusion pinching her dark brows together.

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