Page 98 of Pistols and Plush Toys
“Awesome!” Xander grinned. “I’ll text you, and we can make some plans! And I’ll let you go back to your meal, the food here is super good and you don’t need me blabbing through it—”
He turned to go, but Elliot held out a hand to stop him. “Oh, um, I have a new phone. And new number.”
“Oh yeah? Okay sure, no problem,” Xander said. “I’ll give you mine and then you can text me. Sounds good?”
“Okay.” Elliot’s shoulders dropped, loosening, as he pulled out his phone. “What’s your number?”
Xander rattled it off as Elliot punched it into his phone. A second later there was a ding from Xander’s pocket.
“Awesome!” Xander said again, with the same amount of enthusiasm as the first time. “Man, this is so cool that I ran into you.” Then his eyes flickered up and he caught sight ofsomething. When Nikolai looked, it was their waitress coming with their soup and salad. “Okay your food is coming, so I’m going! Enjoy your meal—sonice to see you Elliot. And nice to meet you Nikolai!”
“Nice meeting you,” Nikolai said before the man zipped away.
The waitress delivered their food and left. Elliot was pink all the way through his ears, but he looked pleased.
“An old friend?” Nikolai asked.
For some reason, Elliot stiffened back up. “Yeah, sorry. I–he–” he bit his lip as if uncertain where to go from there.
“No biting,” Nikolai said softly. “And no being sorry. I’m glad you’re reconnecting. I’m guessing… Vitale was maybe not happy about friends?”
Elliot cringed. “Is it that obvious?”
“Men like him, all the same,” Nikolai said darkly. “They’re thinking people are toys they’re not wanting to share.”
Elliot was still looking down, fiddling with his salad fork. “Yeah. Um, yeah.” He sighed. “When we were together and I’d answer a text from Sam or Xander, Mattia would get so annoyed. He’d say I wasn’t appreciating his time. Or he’d question why it was important to answer them during ‘his time.’”
“Is not right,” Nikolai said.
Elliot shrugged. “It was easier just to do what he wanted sometimes. I didn’t want to fight. It’s… it’s why I ended up quitting Melrose. We were always fighting about my schedule. Mattia didn’t like that I was so busy. That’s how I lost touch with Xander.”
Nikolai frowned. Speaking of…
“I’m should have say before, but while you stay with me, you should have friends. I’m glad you’re reconnecting with Xander. I’m only asking you to be taking bodyguard if you go out. Is for safety, but will be discreet.”
Finally, Elliot lifted his head to look at him, face colored with surprise.
“I’m not controlling what you do,” Nikolai said, just to drive the point home. “You’re your own person.”
“Okay,” Elliot said after a long moment. “Then I’ll—I’ll text Xander.”
“Good,” Nikolai said. “He seems nice. Like puppy.”
That got a little laugh out of Elliot. “You know, he is a little kind of like a puppy. Like a golden retriever? Have you seen those videos where they trip over their own feet because they’re so excited?”
“I have not,” Nikolai said, picked up his soup spoon. “You show me later?”
Elliot smiled. “Okay.”
“For now, I’m check if American leek soup is good,” Nikolai said.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll make you a better one this week,” Elliot promised.
“Now I’m saying is bad just so you will make better soup,” Nikolai declared at once.
Elliot laughed again, and Nikolai was proud of himself. “You haven’t even tried it. The chef here is a big deal. I’m sure it’s good.”
“Maybe chef here big deal, but my chef best chef,” Nikolai said with a sniff. “I’m try so many, so I’m expert.”
