Page 82 of Ruling Scar
She holds up an arm. “Come on, Abel, sit down with us and have a drink.”
“My name isn’t Abel.”
“Well, then what’s it short for?” She scrunches her nose in confusion.
“God, you’re cute,” Bennie says, but he’s shaking his head.
He’s got on a button-down shirt which means he went to court today. I have no idea how it works, but sometimes he helps Ren and other times he works alone at his law office.
“I’m not cute.” Isolde blinks in a bid to sober up.
“Take the compliment, babe.” Bennie wraps an arm around Abe when he sits down. It won’t be for long since he can’t keep still.
There’s a good crowd of usuals, with an air of festiveness. I changed into a pair of jeans and a sweater. Elijah’s annoyingly good-looking in his typical button-down.
“You’re eye fucking him,” Abe says.
“I am not!”
Ben tries to discreetly check behind him.
“Don’t!” I order.
“You’re clearly mad, though,” Abe states. I never took him as a relationship expert but he’s spot on. “I sense a hate fucking coming on.”
Okay, not that spot on.
It’s times like these I wish I never stopped wearing my hair down. It’s easier to hide my red hot cheeks when it’s not in a ponytail.
“What happened?” Isolde asks.
I shrug the question off. “Nothing. He’s just annoying.”
I can’t exactly explain to them that I’m annoyed because I missed out on a perfectly good opportunity to have sex for the first time.
Abe wags his eyebrows. “He’s coming this way.”
I kick his chair. “Don’t you have something to go cook?”
He mockingly gasps. “I can have a night off, Lennie.”
Isolde stands up, slapping his shoulder. “Come on, let’s go get those shots.”
“Shots?” Ben looks up in concern.
“Come on,” she urges and I know why.
Elijah’s standing beside my chair. “Happy birthday.” He holds out the gift for Isolde.
“Thanks, mate.” She grabs it with a nod and walks off. “Ben!” She calls behind her.
He stumbles over his chair as he gets up, leaving the two of us behind.
Great, we’re now that pair that brings their emotional baggage to parties.
Elijah takes Isolde’s chair, leaning in for a kiss.
I dodge. “Absolutely not.”
