Page 50 of Claws & Cover Ups
“I didn’t know you guys had plans today,” I explain.
Oliver rolls his eyes. My brother is clearly rubbing off on sweet Oliver. Or it can be Elliot. God, Oliver was destined for the dark side, wasn’t he?
“If you insist, I’ll stay,” I say, saving him the trouble of convincing me. I make myself at home on the empty couch opposite Elliot.
Oliver sighs. “I was going to save you some leftovers anyway,” he says. Not all the way to the dark side then? Good to know.
I smile at him, and his glower turns into a smile while Elliot looks at me with a neutral expression that’s worse than a glare and Matt with a literal glare.Tough crowd.
“So what were we talking about?” I prompt.
“You, coincidentally,” Oliver says, but snaps his mouth shut, probably realizing that information is definitely going to my head.
I smile wider, turning to Elliot just in time to catch the color rising up his face. “What were you telling them about me? Everything good, I hope?”
He scoffs. “Don’t worry,” he waves his hand. “It wasn’t me. Matt was saying something about how LA’s finest are a bunch of brawny manchilds trying to live their Raymond Chandler fantasy tripping on ego and donuts,” he says, patting Mickey’s fur in a continuous slow motion and looking like a sexy villain right out of a Disney show.
I burst out laughing. Oliver, Matt, and Mickey’s heads snap to mine. Elliot's lips quirk up, but he doesn’t look up. ”Oh, Matt said that, did he? Just so you know, Matt’s style is more light, teasing sarcasm, not total psychological evisceration," I inform Elliot.
Elliot narrows his eyes in contemplation, then nods.
“I can be mean,” Matt argues.
I look at him doubtfully.
“I’m not a pro or anything,” he gestures towards Elliot. “But I’ve scared a lot of people,” he says.
“That might be just your face and the whole brute thing you've got going on,” Elliot points at Matt's whole appearance with his palm.
Matt turns to Oliver as ifhewill tell him he’s a big meany. The guy adores him to the bones. “I mean, you are a softy on the inside,” Oliver says.
Matt rolls his eyes, but a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips.
“So, what are we having for dinner?” I ask. The sooner this party ends, the sooner I can get Elliot alone for a temperature check. We’re not going to be serious or anything lame like that, but it was an okay date. He can’t ignore me. My theory is that he was busy, and we’ll talk and schedule something for next week. I still have questions,damnit.
We sit at a dining table that Matt and Oliver have in their apartment for some reason. No one has ever used it until today.
They have gone all out on today’s dinner, so they clearly had an agenda for the night. Matt is not that generous. Neither is Oliver.
But I’ve singlehandedly hampered whatever it was because no one is saying anything while we pile our plates with all the delicious goodness. Maybe Oliver decided to play Cupid, and thiswasa ‘talk Nick up’ dinner?
Matt has obviously not told Oliver about my real intentions with Elliot, and the last time we talked about it, Oliver was partially delighted and only a little bit horrified by the idea of me dating Elliot.
He was worried about me. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so sweet of him. Matt was worried about me, too. I know because he kept telling me. He even went so far as to suggest seeing a psychologist.Funny guy.
I just need to talk to Elliot, and it’ll be alright.
He’s so close that the spicy-sweet scent floods my senses, warmth spreading where our legs almost brush under the table. The tiny gap is so charged, I’m fighting the urge to move my leg to close the distance.
“I heard about the murder of your show’s lead. Were you guys close?” Elliot asks Oliver, his voice even.
“Not really, no. But he was nice the few times we ran into each other. The place has definitely not been the same since, though. It’s like everyone is collectively grieving the loss, whether we knew him personally or not,” he says, slowly.
This could be a good segue to ask Elliot about something werewolf-related. I even have witnesses. But the shame and anxiety of the unsolved case consume me so suddenly, my hand tightens on my fork. Even with the new werewolf angle, we are nowhere close to the truth. I talked to Cami’s sister again yesterday, but she’s sure Nate didn’t know about us.
Over the years, we’ve heard about secret groups of werewolf supporters as well as haters cropping up, but we’venever had any confirmation. With the Bureau stretched thin, we don't give much heed to it. Maybe it’s something like that this time? But Isabel was sure Nate wasn’t involved in something like that. It’s not like I can take my team’s help with—
Elliot’s arm shifts until it presses lightly against mine. My focus settles on that tiny point of contact. “You okay?” he asks, frowning.
