Page 345 of Ruthless Court

“Did he make you watch film?”

“Did she make him watch film?”

I hold up both hands.

“One at a time.”

Noah points at me.

“Did he behave?”

I glance toward the hallway.

“Yes.”

That quiets them more than I expect.

Eli’s grin softens.

“Good.”

Something in the simple response catches me.

These guys tease him relentlessly.

Still, they care.

“He took me to an open mic at a bookstore.”

Every face turns toward the hallway.

Jalen looks stunned.

“Haverhill?”

“Yes.”

“A bookstore?”

“Yes.”

“With books?”

I stare at him.

“No. The other kind.”

Noah starts laughing.

Eli shakes his head.

“Our boy is gone.”

“He is not gone.”

“He voluntarily attended poetry.”

“There was sourdough.”