Page 41 of Rules to Love By

Still. Eli felt distinctly outclassed in his polo shirt and khakis. He ran a hand down the front of his shirt, like that could magically make it over into something better.

Marcus’s face brightened when he saw Eli. He raised a hand in greeting, then stumbled on the corner of a rug three steps into his grand entrance.

“Hey. Sorry, hi,” he whispered as he slid into the seat across from Eli. “So much for style, huh?”

Eli smiled. “You look fantastic.”

“What, this old thing?” He tweaked the lapel of his jacket as colour crept into his cheeks. “You think?”

“You don’t?” Eli frowned, confused.

“Not sure. Maybe?” He glanced down at himself. “You get so used to wearing an apron or a tool belt, what’s underneath doesn’t matter much.”

“You have good taste,” Eli assured him.

Marcus leaned across the table slightly. “Actually, I literally bought this outfit yesterday, at some place… New Again? Or something.”

“New to You?” A queasy sensation rolled through Eli’s gut.

“Yes! That’s it, and the salesgirl was awesome. She actually put it together. Otherwise…” He shook his head. “She was great.”

Eli sank back with a groan. “What did she say?”

“What do you mean?” The look Marcus turned on him was so clearly false innocence, and even more clearly, he was enjoying Eli’s squirming.

“Jess.”

“Oh no.” Marcus picked up his utensils and unwrapped them. “She was very nice.”

Eli narrowed his eyes. “By ‘nice,’ you mean she made noises like a rabid chihuahua?”

“No. Not at all.” He spread his napkin over his lap. “She did mention she’s known you a long time.”

“And that’s it.” Somehow, the queasiness did not diminish.

“Pretty much. Hoped we had a nice time. That sort of thing.”

“That doesn’t seem like her.”

“She may have mentioned that you tell her everything.”

Eli snorted. “Not anymore,” he muttered.

Marcus grinned. “She made it sound like the two of you are close. She cares about you, is all. That’s nice.”

Eli nodded. It sounded, if Marcus was being truthful, like Jess had refrained from her usual third degree. Odd, but not bad if it was true.

“And she was very helpful with the clothes. Probably wouldn’t have found anything without her help.”

“Well, you look fantastic.”

“Thank Jess, then. If she’s the one you mentioned the other day, then I think you’re safe listening to her fashion advice.”

“I am never, ever telling her that.”

Marcus smiled, but something about the smile fell short. His gaze flitted around the room before landing back on Eli. “You look good, though.”

“Thanks.” The compliment skimmed over the surface and, like Marcus’s fluttering gaze, bounced away.

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