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“My mom has been hounding me about asking you over for dinner. I keep forgetting to ask.”
Eloise looked at Emmett and Leona. “I’d love to come over for dinner. Thank you.”
“That’s settled.” Leona stepped forward and surprised Eloise with a hug. “My son will tell you when,” she said, laughing.
They said their goodbyes, and once they were out of earshot, Eloise muttered, “Geez, I hope I didn’t come off like some grubby starving artist who never showers.”
Kiel put a reassuring arm around her. “You didn’t. My parents understand hard work, craft, and all that. Remember, my dad is in the Navy and my mom teaches little kids. Believe me, she’s used to snot running down faces and who knows what on some little kid’s hands. You were perfect.”
“You know I’m going to keep you around for motivation. If not as my muse, but someone to tell me how perfect I am all the time. You’re good for my ego.” She rose on her toes and kissed him. “So, they invited me to dinner, and you forgot?”
“Not in the way you’re probably thinking. I wanted to try and convince them the four of us should go out to dinner because my sister Skyla can be a bit much.”
“Oh,” Eloise said. She didn’t have any experience with siblings, only a few cousins.
“Yeah, she’s a prima donna, diva, brat, spoiled.” Kiel sighed. “She’s the baby of the family and milks it.”
“Isn’t she a twin?”
“Yep, but Ciara is older, so Skyla makes sure everyone knows she’s the baby.”
“Oh, my cousin is the same way. I can handle her and all the questions she’s bound to throw at me.”
“Yes, the most important being—do you have any friends for her?”
Eloise choked and her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Do I look serious?”
“Oh, okay. Consider me prepared.”
Kiel helped her pack up and carry everything to her scooter. She locked away her case with all her paints and strapped the rest down. “Do you want to hang out with some friends of mine tonight or go back home?” She said home, as if he lived with her. He sort of did. Ever since their first night together, he’d spent every night in her bed, making love to her.
“I wouldn’t mind going out.”
“All right.” Eloise used the side mirror of her scooter to fix her hair and make sure she didn’t have paint splotches anywhere. Once she was satisfied, she took Kiel’s hand and led him across the street to a bar.
As soon as she stepped inside, someone shouted her name.
“Damn, you’re popular.”
Eloise led Kiel to the table where Tidal and Fraser sat, along with some others she couldn’t remember the names of. After a round of introductions, they sat down.
“So, where are you from?” Tidal asked.
“Albany.”
“Tourist?” Fraser asked, with a bit of bite to his words.
“I am,” Kiel said. Eloise leaned into Kiel as if doing so was the most natural thing in the world. Fraser glared at her or was it at Kiel. She couldn’t be sure. What she was sure of was his attitude. He was pissed, but why? She’d been clear from the day she arrived—she wasn’t interested in him. Maybe he assumed she wasn’t interested in anyone, and at that point, she probably meant what she’d said, but then she met Kiel and things changed. She was entitled to change her mind, and she had about Kiel.
fourteen
The night hadn’t gone the way he planned, and he suspected it was the same for Eloise. They went to meet her friends at a local bar, which had a cool vibe. Kiel was ready to chill, kick back and have a few with Eloise’s friends. When they sat down at the table, Kiel knew everyone, except one. The icy reception he received from Fraser put him on edge. It was clear Fraser had a thing for Eloise and Kiel was certain it wasn’t reciprocated.
Throughout the night, Fraser made comment after comment about tourists invading privileged space. At first, the others laughed, but after a while, it was clear he had a problem with Kiel being there. Everyone ignored Fraser’s snarky comments and Tidal told him to shut the fuck up once. Kiel bought him a beer for that. It was clear, by the expression on Eloise’s face and her tense posture, she was pissed at Fraser for acting like a fool.
Kiel sighed with relief when Eloise wanted to leave. Except, the walk back to the moped was done without any words between them. They didn’t even hold hands. And the ride home on the moped was cold. As cold as the vibe Fraser had toward him.
