Page 21 of Tangled Hearts

I’m smart enough to accept an olive branch when one is extended. “Of course. When?”

When surprise flashes across his face, I’m sure he’s going to blow me off, but then he shrugs. “Tomorrow?”

There’s something… hopeful in his voice, and the same hope tries to worm its way into my heart. “Tomorrow is perfect. What time?”

“I’m working tomorrow, but I could meet you here before. Like eight?”

I’m nodding before he’s even done talking. “Holden has to work for the next few days, and I’ll probably just be alone, so that’s perfect.”

He blinks at me. “Wow.”

“What?”

He groans, all frustrated. I have no idea if that frustration is at me or himself, but after pinching the bridge of his nose like he’s contemplating all his life choices, he brings his gaze back to mine. “If you like volunteering, we can always use people at the center. I… I don’t really like the idea of you being alone.”

My stomach does a wild tumble. I’ve grown pretty used to being on my own, but I’m not going to turn down an offer to be around other people. “Your dad works at the center, right?”

Eli nods. “Yeah, he owns it. It’s his non-profit.”

“Right… I’d love to help, but I’m worried about possibly upsetting Holden. Isn’t your dad his best friend?”

“Yes?” Eli narrows his eyes at me. “Why does that matter?”

“What if he doesn’t want me to meet him unless he’s the one who introduces us?”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” Eli says, words dripping with disdain, but he sobers quickly, understanding flashing across his face. “But I get the concern.” He nibbles his lower lip. “It’s a loophole, right? We’re friends, you and I? We agreed. That means I can introduce you to my dad if I want to.”

I’m not sure that’s sound logic, but again, it would be nice to not be sitting in that shitty hotel by myself for the next three days. Plus, I really do like helping. Hell, back home—or, I guess, not home anymore—I volunteered at the animal shelter all the time. “You’re on. Boba first, then I’ll go with you to volunteer.”

He shifts on his feet, his eyes brightening. “Really?”

Again, I think I’d probably do anything he asked me to do. How am I already so fucked up about this? Am I truly that starved for human connection? “Yes.”

Eli bounces a little on his toes, clearly excited. “Okay. Awesome.”

He doesn’t even wait for a response; he just turns and leaves the bakery, a lightness and pep to his step that I think I’d like to see more of. I chuckle a little to myself. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. Mia’s cackling laughter has me dragging my gaze from the door to her.

She’s got a shit-eating grin on her face, and when I don’t say anything, she shakes her head with a sigh. “I think I’ve seen this film before.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Did you just quote Taylor Swift at me?”

“And if I did?” she asks with a shrug.

I’m not sure what she even means by that, but something about her expression makes me laugh.

Chapter 8

Eli

Ihave no idea what I was thinking when I agreed to this plan. It was probably something along the lines of, “Be nice. This means a lot to Uncle Holden,” but now my stomach feels all weird, and I’ve got this low-level buzz of anxiety happening, and I’m not a fan at all.

I wonder if it’s too late to bail. I glance down at my phone, but the sound of a car pulling into the parking lot drags my attention to it. Shit. It’s too late to bail.

Nic steps out of his Jeep, his eyes bright, and waves at me. I wave back, but I’m already irritated. Must he be so attractive? Ugh, and he wants to be my family. It’s probably a bit incestuous to find your own family this hot, so I had to shut that shit down. He can be Holden’s family, and the line can be drawn there because no fucking way can he be mine.

Not when he looks like that. Not when I’m trying so damn hard to pretend he doesn’t.

“Good morning, Eli.”