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Felicity sits a little farther away from me and crosses her legs at the ankles. My eyes fall on her smooth, flawless legs. I am awfully distracted by the sight of them.
"I didn't expect that kiss."
Felicity's words steal through my thoughts.
"Yes, I know we had not discussed that, but it's a natural thing couples do, I'd decided on the spur of the moment to do it."
"I'm sorry for reacting the way I did," Felicity says.
"I should apologize for the lack of notice. I will not spring something on you like that next time."
"I would really appreciate that," she tells me with a smile.
"Do you think I should go and talk him now?" I ask Felicity, and she gives a slow nod.
"I’m guessing he has had time to cool off."
"Yes. I will be back soon," I say, getting up and making my way up the stairs.
When I get to Eli's door, I knock tentatively on it. When Eli fails to answer, I begin to call out to him.
"Eli? Come on, we have to talk."
"Go away," his voice carries through to me.
I sigh.
"If you are not ready to talk, could you come down for dinner?"
"I would like Angelina to bring a plate to my room if you don't mind."
"Of course, I mind. Angelina won't do that."
"Then I am not hungry," he continues to answer through the door.
"Eli," I say, fully accepting that my patience for the young man is thinning. "If you don't get down stairs right now for dinner, I am going to take away your devices for a week, I mean that."
Some of the anger I have been trying to stave off has crept into my voice, I find myself resisting the urge to lean my head first against the door.
Eli and I have always been cool with each other. He'd adored me when he was a little kid, by then, the only time I visited was during major holidays. Whenever I came home, we would spend time together and he would bawl when I was about to leave again. I guess being called the best father in the world simply because of a few party tricks and a great time in the park does not equate to being here and witnessing the bad, the ugly, and the good.
I move away defeatedly and begin to make my way down the stairs, stopping when I hear Eli pull the door open. He is making his way toward me, but his expression is still thunderous. He sweeps past me and heads straight for the dining table.
When I reach the landing, I find Felicity staring at him with wide eyes. She thankfully does not say anything, I head to the kitchen to inform Rob that we are ready for dinner.
When I return to the living room, I glance at Eli, who is seated in his favorite chair, eyes narrowed at one spot. Well, even though Eli does see me standing there, he does not attempt to acknowledge me.
I return to Felicity to find her still on the sofa, wriggling her hands. I am suddenly tempted to take those long, slender fingers and kiss them reassuringly, to tell her that Eli is going to come around. I know that her being here and knowing that she's not welcome by Eli makes her uncomfortable, I wish that there was a way that I could make it up to her.
"Rob will be out with the food soon," I say to Felicity, who looks up at me, her eyes wide, shiny, and beautiful.
I'm hit with the memory of how soft her cheeks had felt against my lips, I'm filled with the need to do that again. But I don't; instead, I stretch my hands toward her, and she takes them. The feel of her hands against mine grounds me.
I am not doing the stupidest thing imaginable by wanting her to be my fake girlfriend. This isn't some tactless, selfish act. Except that it is. What I am doing is tactless and selfish. Felicity is a means to an end, the thought that maybe Eli can see past that fills me with dread and a burgeoning hatred for myself.
We move hand in hand to the dining room, when Eli catches sight of our enjoined hands, his expression turns sour. Thankfully, he does not say anything as Felicity takes the seat closest to me and, unfortunately, opposite Eli, who is seated right next to me on the left side of the oval table.
Felicity, despite Eli's ugly scowl, appears to be holding herself, seeming unperturbed by Eli's unwelcoming disposition. When the chef does arrive, she smiles at him as he deposits the glasses on the table and proceeds to arrange the plates.
