The Blind Date by Landish, Lauren (suggested reading .txt) 📕

“Is that so?” I ask, gleeful. “Why, Eli Taylor, are you done drag racing?”

Eli laughs as I awkwardly stick with his metaphor. “Maybe.”

“And does she know this?” I ask, taking a bite of my sandwich.

“Yes, I’ve told her. I’ve . . . let’s just say I’ve surprised myself at some of the things that have come out of my mouth over the past few weeks.” As if afraid of what he’s going to say now, he takes a huge bite of his sandwich, shoving an escaping bit of lettuce into his mouth.

“I see.” I chew thoughtfully. “But you don’t look happy.”

“That’s because I know my past,” Eli admits as he swallows. “I’ve had a lot of fun, done a lot of things. Done a lot of people, too. And I don’t regret it, not one bit of it. Well, there was one time. I’ll spare you the details this time, but it’s a great story. However, it scared the shit out of me. So I got more careful, learned my lesson. I started growing up, I guess you could say. But now, some of that’s coming back to bite me in the ass.”

“What do you mean?” I ask. “How?”

“She knows my past too, and she’s got reservations. Like I said, I get it. I change cars like some people change socks, and I don’t have a good track record with commitments. She wants to know for sure that I’m not just going through a phase. So while I’ve put myself out there for her, she’s still . . . questioning whether to buy or lease.”

I raise my brows and look at Eli’s sandwich. “And do you think putting on five pounds of horsepower is going to earn her answer?”

“No,” Eli admits grudgingly, “but it gives me something to do to help focus myself. And I have to admit, it’s pretty easy to focus when I’m being a good boy, eating right, lifting hard, and . . . well, being there for her.”

“And that’s all you need to keep doing,” I assure him. “She’s had a lot of men walk out on her, her father being the biggest one. And I’ve known her even longer than you. Time after time, men come in with sweet words and big promises, only to walk out of her life. Hell, even at her job, she forms a friendship with some of these old folks and they pass away on her. She knows loss—she expects it—so she’s careful with her heart, keeping it hidden behind protective walls and disguised with sassy comebacks.”

He’s quiet, thinking about that for a moment. Quiet, contemplative Eli is an unusual sight, which makes me think there’s a lot of truth to what he’s saying. “She’s trying to push me away, challenging me at every turn to test if I’m gonna bail. But I want to be there for her, Riley. And not just short-term.”

I pat Eli’s hand comfortingly. It’s funny, really. With their history, the shoe’s definitely on the other foot. Eli is typically the one running from any commitment, but it seems that he’s the one chasing now.

“Keep being there, Eli. No matter the test. She notices. That I can promise you.”

Eli nods, and we eat the rest of our sandwiches quietly.

After a bit, he laughs softly. “You realize we went that whole conversation without saying her name?”

“Whose? Voldemort’s?” I ask, and Eli laughs a little louder. “That’s the Eli I know. Look, you want to put some muscle on, do it. But the muscle she’s going to care about the most is the one deep inside your chest, not the ones on your arms. And that muscle’s pretty damn strong already.”

I put my hand over my heart, hoping he can stay the course however long it takes Arielle—I mean, Voldemort—to decide he means it.

Eli nods and wipes his mouth. “Thank you.” A switch flips in his eyes, and he says, “Now, back to our original topic. Exactly how naked were you two when she came in and busted you? Explain everything . . . slowly . . . and in detail.”

He closes his eyes, his fingers at his temples like he’s willing the image to appear in his mind.

I throw my wadded-up napkin at him. “None of your business, pervert!”

“Fine.” He huffs, rolling his eyes. “Can’t you give me something, though? I’m dying here.” He lets his head fall to the side, his tongue lolling out.

“Well, there was the time on the treadmill . . .” I let my voice taper off as Eli perks up, his eyes suddenly bright and locked on me expectantly. “But that’s private,” I finish with a wink, and he groans in disappointment.

“Ugh, I love you, girl, but I hate you. You’re taking away all my fun.”

“I think you’re getting plenty of fun. I’m just glad that’s not enough now and that you’re looking for something more,” I tell him proudly. “Do you know the most important part of friends with benefits?”

“The benefits,” he says, hands wide like ‘duh’.

“No, Cuddle Fluff,” I say, using his own nickname against him. “The friends part.”

He smiles, and I know he hears me. But it’s going to take time.

When they figure it out, Arielle and Eli are going to be amazing together. They have a strong foundation of friendship, obviously get each other sexually, and they’re putting in the work to build their relationship properly from the ground up as they change the rules from their previous arrangement.

I just hope it doesn’t take too long because a double date with them would be awesome! I think about telling Noah that tonight but decide maybe I’ll keep that brilliant idea to myself for now. I’m not sure he’s ready to hear more about his sister’s love life when she’s been so close to ours recently. It’d help if she’d quit texting him toga pictures when he least expects it, but I’ll admit, that’s pretty funny. And so like Arielle.

Chapter 22 Noah

“Noah, Lady Elisa would like to see you in her office,” Gina says on her end of the line. “Are you