Page 134 of Knot That Serious

Eli’s thoughts returned to her and Raj’s conversation.

Were they really courting her and she didn’t even know it? Did they even know it?

How did this whole situation only keep getting more complicated?

Eli opened the fridge at the urging of her growling stomach and found a blue-lidded tupperware container on the shelf. From what she could tell, it was rice and veggies with some kind of sauce, and her mouth watered as she popped open the lid.

With a grin she shoved it in the microwave and started it, then skipped off to her room to change.

What did she even do if they were courting her? And why had they only decided to do it once she’d begun dating Raj? Were they jealous, or did they have real feelings for her? And if they did, why wouldn’t they just fucking confess?

Eli refused to be the only one putting herself out on a limb like that, baring her heart and soul if there was a chance, even a tiny one, that they didn’t reciprocate.

With a grumble, she pushed the thoughts away and passed her day as usual, eating lunch and sleeping through the boring afternoon.

She woke drowsy and unsure of her surroundings, locating the device that’d woken her.

The phone buzzed in her hand, and she shoved away the gut reaction dread of a phone call when she saw who it was doing the calling. Raj, followed by probably too many emojis. What even constituted too many emojis?

She swiped across the screen and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hi,” Eli greeted, cheeks flushing, which was silly, because Raj wasn’t even in the same room as her.

“Why hello there,” Raj said, voice low and smooth and melting over her senses.

Eli grinned at the ceiling, seconds away from twirling her hair around her finger and giggling. She blinked to clear the sleep from her eyes. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to hear your voice, of course,” he drawled, and her jaw fell open. How was this alpha real? “And wanted you to be able to hear the utter regret in mine, when I tell you I can’t see you tonight.”

Eli closed her mouth, pouting and hoping he heard it in her tone. “Well, that’s both the sweetest and worst thing I’ve heard today.”

“I’m so sorry, my sweet. I forgot I had prior commitments.”

“I love when you speak all proper,” she teased.

Raj’s chuckle was deep and warm and she was powerless but to smile. “I’d love to make it up to you tomorrow. Dinner?”

“Sounds great,” she said, splaying out on the bed. “I guess I’ll just stay home, all by my lonesome.”

“Will Jack not be home tonight?” he asked, voice light.

“I don’t know, actually. I haven’t checked to see if he’s here. I just woke up.”

“Still in bed, then? You tempt me,” he said, a playful whine to his voice. Eli shivered, wishing he was there to keep the chill away.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she lied, and then giggled at his groan. “I’m teasing. And looking forward to tomorrow.”

“Me too. I’ll text you.”

Eli yawned. “Alright, bye, lo—“ Her eyes went wide as the words almost slipped out, and she stretched out the O sound, morphing it. “—oser. Bye, loser,” she fumbled, wincing and wishing her bed would swallow her up. “Just pretend that didn’t happen. Bye!”

Eli hung up, shoving the phone beneath her covers instead of tossing it across the room like she wanted. A mortified moan spilled out, and she covered her face with her hands.

“Eli?” Jack’s voice came through her door, and she stilled, peeking through her fingers.

“Yeah?” she called out.

“Everything… alright?”

No, not really. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I’m up, I’ll be out in a bit.”

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