Page 62 of Rules to Love By

“I’m an idiot,” he muttered.

Tiffany smacked his arm lightly with the back of her hand. “No, you’re not an idiot. Awkward AF—” She grinned at him. “—but not an idiot. Go on.”

“You’re not going to put this in a book,” Marcus said.

She only raised an eyebrow at him, a sly smile on her face. “Names are always changed to protect the innocent. And the not-so-innocent.”

“Perfect.”

“I mean seriously. I can’t make this shit up.”

“Well, thank you for immortalizing my insanity.”

She shrugged and arranged her skirts over her propped-up legs. “It’s what I do.”

“Fantastic.”

“Go on.” She waved towards Eli. “You both deserve a nice guy for a change.”

“What do you know about—”

“I can guess. And anyway, everyone deserves someone nice.”

He couldn’t argue with that, and Marcus drifted towards Eli like a moth to flame.

“Hey,” Eli said.

“Hey.”

“So. Breakfast?” Eli asked. For what? The third time?

“I’m an idiot.”

Eli took his hand. “Sit.” He patted the cushion next to him. “Breakfast first.”

Marcus did, nudging his shoes and socks under the bench, out of sight, as he settled.

Lucky appeared a moment later with a plate of toast and fruit and huge mugs of coffee. He set Tiffany’s coffee on a side table next to her, followed by the plate. “Everyone good?” he asked, moving over to Marcus and Eli to deliver more coffee. Once he had, he straightened up, one hand on his hip, and glanced around the room with satisfaction. “I love this job.” He turned back to them. “Need anything?”

“Breakfast?” Eli said.

Marcus was beginning to think it was the only word he knew before he’d had the coffee he now greedily gulped down.

“Right.” Lucky snapped his fingers. “Pancakes. Coming up.” And he was gone, leaving them alone.

“Why’d you order pancakes? Tris tell you?”

Eli put his mug down. “Jake said so last night, so it must be true.”

“You remember that.” Marcus picked up his mug, using it much as Eli had and hiding behind it.

Eli squinted at him. “You weren’t kidding, were you.”

“About what?”

“About guys not sticking around. Have none of them ever even eaten breakfast with you?”

“A lot of them didn’t even bother with popcorn and a movie, Eli. Not sure how you’re not getting it.”

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