Page 66 of Rules to Love By

That got a nod from Eli, and the ghost of a smile. “Then I guess we wait and see tomorrow.”

“I guess we do.” He popped the jam-covered bit into his mouth and sighed.

“Good compote?” Eli asked.

“The best. Thank you.”

Eli shrugged, and if his smile was a bit on the smug side, Marcus was happy to let him have the win this time.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

He shouldn’t be so worried. It wasn’t like Eli had given him an ultimatum. It hadn’t been “eat your breakfast or else.” It had just been “eat your breakfast.” The part about accepting the inherent comfort in the demand had been implied, so it didn’t change anything about anything.

Eli was Eli. He was kind and calm and had a way of seeing through Marcus’s chaos.

Marcus was still Marcus. Chaos in a pretty package.

“Stop it.” He jogged up the front steps of the Cabin, wanting to double-check with Andre that he’d rewired the lamps properly. He’d left them there the night before so Andre could check when he had a chance.

“Hey.” Ozzy nodded to him as he passed through the front room. “Andre gave your lamps his stamp of approval.”

“He here?”

“Gone to pick up—” Ozzy waved a hand. “Stuff. I don’t know what.”

“Okay.” Marcus glanced around the kitchen, where he had followed Ozzy.

“In my office. Come through.”

“Thanks.”

“So Tris said you had a date with the barber’s kid…”

“Eli.

“Eli. Right.”

“I did.” He shouldn’t think about Eli and his ability to turn Marcus inside out, then not cringe away from the mess.

Ozzy hadn’t said anything, like he was waiting for Marcus to elaborate.

“What?”

With a shrug, Ozzy pushed into his office. “Nothing.”

“Nothing.” Marcus combed the curls off his face. “What’s that mean?”

“Nothing. Come in.” He waved into his office. “Just didn’t seem like he was the type not to stick around for breakfast.”

“He did!” And wow, wasn’t he quick to defend?

That seemed to amuse Ozzy, because he chuckled. “What are you doing here, then?”

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? That was, like, two days ago. Was I supposed to follow him back to the city?”Like a puppy? Waiting for his next command?His stomach flipped over at the thought. Because yes. Andhell no. And also… Maybe yes. Maybe…shit. “This is not your business,” he said, following Ozzy across the room.

“You’re right.” He held up both hands. “Sorry.

“Not Tris’s either,” Marcus said, suspecting he knew why Ozzy had brought it up in the first place.

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