Page 50 of Pin-up Girl

Elise slid into the center with Jules and Emmett taking up either side, leaving the outside for me. That was perfect, allowing me to run interference if anyone had a death wish.

“How was your day, Emmett?” Elise rearranged the napkin holder and condiments, moving them to the other side of the table.

He smirked and leaned forward to plant a quick kiss on her lips. “Aw, honey, we’re really killing this domestic thing.”

She laughed and shoved him away, pulling a small smile from Jules.

“Shut the fuck up. It was just a question.”

Emmett leaned back, stretching his arms across the back of the booth. “It was fine. Got all my homework turned in, took notes like a good little boy, and even held the door open for a handicapped student.”

I exhaled a long breath. This was everything to me. Emmett, Jules, and now Elise enjoying a meal together. How soon before we could do this everyday without the threat of Infinity over us?

“How’s it going?” A young, African-American girl with smooth, deep brown skin placed paper napkin wrapped silverware in front of each of us.

“Great.” Elise shifted in her seat, smiling bright at the waitress.

“I bet itisgreat for you, sweetie.” She winked at Elise after sending each of us a knowing look. “My name is Amber, and I’ll be your waitress tonight. Do you need a few minutes, or do you know what you want?”

I pulled the napkin free to place it in my lap—some things were too ingrained to stop, even when our options were paper—and arranged the fork and knife on the slick tabletop. “We’ll do two orders of the buffalo wings, one order of jalapeno bread, and one of fried pickles. We’ll let you know after the apps come out if we’re still hungry.”

“Sure thing, anything besides water to drink?”

I glanced around, everyone shook their head no.

The waitress smiled and strutted away, more than a few guys watching her leave. Pop country music blared out of the speaker over our heads, but it didn’t hinder our conversation. It was easy and fun, and so addictive because we knew too soon, we’d have to break out of our little world.

Within a few minutes, the waitress brought back both the drinks and the appetizers, not unusual service for Rooster’s.

What I want to know is, when are we taking Elise out to the fire tower?Jules showed his phone around the table.

“Well, well. I’d almost forgotten about that place.” Emmett tore off a piece of bread to pop it in his mouth. “What do you say, Milo? This weekend?”

Now I was going to be the bad guy. “No. I have to call my father back. And he’s going to want to see me, he always does. I’ve already decided we’ll go back home for the weekend, introduce him to Elise.”

The wing halfway to Jules’ mouth fell onto his plate.Seriously?

Elise gulped. “It’s only been a few weeks since we decided to try a relationship out. It’s been great, amazing even. But I’m not a girl you take home to Daddy. Why do I feel like you taking me home is more about a slap in your father’s face, rather than a heartfelt introduction?”

My cheeks reddened under the glares of Emmett and Jules. “That is not my intent. I do have to go home, and I want you all with me. Elise, it’s not unusual for the three of us to go together. With the way things are right now, I’d also rather not leave you alone.”

She pushed herself as far back from the table as she could, shaking her head. “No, that still doesn’t mean we take the next step. This is going too fast. Did you know I hate families?Loathethem. Not only are family gatherings uncomfortable for me, they make me angry on an irrational level, leaving me to wonder what the hell I did in a past life to be born into mine.”

The three of us were struck speechless.

The way her throat quivered, the slight tremor in her hand, this was no joke. What the hell kind of family did she grow up in? Emmett had mentioned something random about a lowlife mother, but that was it. She reacted like she had some kind of phobia against family gatherings. Was that even a real medical condition?

“I can stay here with Elise. Take Jules and do the song and dance, make your Dad happy and then come back. Don’t even stay the night.” Emmett placed a hand over Elise’s, hiding any show of emotion from strangers walking by.

I’d rather stay. Take Emmett. No offense, Milo, but your dad’s a dick.

There wasn’t any reason why Elise couldn’t stay behind with either Emmett or Jules, but I didn’t like that, not at all. And not for the logical reasons, although they were the ones I listed. “They’ve been quiet, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t on to us in some way. Are you really comfortable sending me to the heart of Infinity alone, or with one of you? I have a bad feeling about separating.”

Rooster’s was beyond crowded now, people standing in the aisles, almost within touching distance of our booth. I bent forward, lowering my voice. “Elise, my family is beyond fucked up. You spend any amount of time with them, and you’ll probably think you won the genetic jackpot.”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, staring down at Emmett’s hand over hers. When she finally looked up at me, her heart was in her eyes, but I had no experience with how to read it. Frustration welled in me as I tried to.

“Please, Elise? I would never ask you to do something you were uncomfortable with, but this is important to me. Wouldn’t you like us all to stay together?”

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