Page 133 of Knot That Serious

Oh, here it is.

“We thinks Raj is an alright guy. Becket and I.” Jack shook his head. “Maybe that’s because of whatever reverse psychology he used on us last night, inviting us along. I’ll never know.”

“You were the ones stalking me,” she pointed out.

Jack rolled his eyes. “I know. And I’m sorry, for what it’s worth.”

Eli softened a little, felt herself practically swaying toward Jack. He rubbed a hand up the back of his neck, bicep flexing as he did so.

“We were sitting there and I felt so silly. We were gonna just head home until Raj invited us out.”

“Really?” Eli asked.

“Yeah, I mean, what good was it gonna do, you know? I just… I think a part of me wanted to make sure he was a perfect gentleman or whatever.”

Eli cleared her throat, suddenly glad Jack hadn’t been watching from afar when Raj had her spread out on that rooftop table like dessert.

“You could’ve just asked, like Beckett does.”

“I know! I know,” Jack said, shaking his head. “I’m sorry things have been so fucking weird.”

“It’s okay,” Eli said softly. “We’re learning as we go.”

“Learning how not to be a dick? Sorry, sweets.” Jack offered her a half-smile.

Eli shrugged. “Thanks, Jacky.”

Eli was moving before she even registered it, crossing the few feet between them. Instinctively, Jack opened his arms and Eli folded into his chest. She sucked in a breath and felt the tension melt from her shoulders as his scent surrounded her. Fresh cinnamon and childhood memories and home.

Squeezing him tight, Eli savored the moment, his arms around her, and she suddenly remembered the last time they were this close was probably during her heat, and he’d likely even been inside her.

A kick of heat landed in her gut and she cleared her throat, pulling away. “See you at home, then?”

He reached out a hand to ruffle her hair. “You’ll actually be home? Wow,” he teased.

“See you later,” she said and lifted her middle finger in his direction.

He chuckled, and his laughter followed her to the kitchen, dying down as she hung her apron and grabbed her backpack and jacket before leaving out the back.

The sun was bright and she was thankful for her visor, snapping it down over her eyes as she got on her bike. It purred to life and the ride home was too short, but she was too eager to see Beckett to bother looping the block. Maybe she could convince Jack to go on a ride soon.

She nodded politely at a few passing faces as she checked the mail in the lobby, sorting through it on the elevator up to their floor.

Her breath caught at a familiar scrawl, and she pulled it to the top of the stack as the doors opened.

Much to her dismay, she pushed in the door to her shared apartment to find no Beckett at the stove, no scent of food in the air.

She tried to shove the disappointment away, setting her bag and helmet down on the little hutch by the front door. She would wait to open that envelope with Jack, so she sat it up by the flowers on the breakfast bar, leaning forward to chase the scent of peonies and greenery.

As she opened her eyes, she caught sight of a note with her name on it sitting by the stove.

“Ooh,” she hummed, and rounded the corner to swipe it off the counter.

“Sorry I couldn’t be here for lunch. I got called into the office for some meeting that I’m sure could’ve been an email. Alas, you shouldn’t have to suffer with me, so lunch is in the fridge.”

Eli melted a little at the way Beckett signed his name, the little “xoxo” at the bottom.

Was it normal for your roommate’s boyfriend to make lunch and leave an apology note signed with hugs and kisses?

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