Going into the kitchen, her mother pulled out some deli meat while Elle went to grab the bread, knowing her mom was going to make sandwiches.
“He is so nice and handsome, sweetie. I like him.”
Elle laughed at her mother. She couldn’t be happier that Elle had invited him over. Her mother had begged her for years to bring friends to the house. Yes, Chloe would come over, but her mother always wanted to meet the other kids she said she was friends with.
“Yeah, the nicest.”
* * *
Nero watched as Elle stood to leave the room. He had to be honest; he had been dying to meet Elle’s parents. He wanted to meet the bastards who let Elle continue to go to school where she was bullied. But, damn if her mother wasn’t the nicest woman on Earth. She was just too kind and dumb, believing every lie Elle had spun. Her mom was clearly the completely oblivious type, one of the people who thought there was no such thing as violence.
Then her father was in a wheelchair. What the fuck? At first, Nero was willing to forgive him like he was with her mother, but looking at his glaring eyes now, he didn’t give a shit if the man could no longer walk or not. Nero was starting to get a pretty good idea how bad Elle might have been hurt in the past, and the man staring back at him should have been well fucking aware something wasn’t right at school for her.
Nero stared back at him. He had been raised by much scarier men than him. Elle’s dad was a little bunny rabbit compared to his father. Does he actually think he can scare me?
Her dad kept his eyes pinned to Nero. “I’m guessing Elle didn’t tell you I was in a wheelchair, did she?”
Nero didn’t move his eyes. “No, she didn’t.”
“Figured. There’s a lot that girl doesn’t tell.”
Well, why don’t you fucking make her? “Yeah, I’m gathering that.”
“Your last name’s Caruso. It sounds familiar to me. Would I know your parents?” Elle’s father asked.
No way in Hell. “I don’t think so. My mother passed away when I was younger, and my dad pretty much keeps to himself now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” His passive tone showed he wasn’t really. “What does your father do?”
Nero had been waiting for that question the moment he’d said his last name. “He owns a casino hotel downtown.”
“Really? I doubt he can keep to himself owning a casino hotel.”
Nero shrugged. “He has great managers.”
“I bet he does. Do you plan to work for your father or are you going to college?”
Nero had a feeling Mr. Buchanan knew his answer. “I’m going to work for my father.”
Nero watched Elle’s father smile and ease up. “Elle is going off to college. She hasn’t decided yet, but she can pick anywhere she wants to go pretty much.”
Nero smiled back. “That’s good. Elle should go to college.”
Nero could tell Mr. Buchanan hadn’t been prepared for his answer. Then his smile returned. “Hmm, for some reason Elle didn’t apply to the university here.”
I fucking wonder why? “Well, there’s still half a year left to apply. You never know, something could change her mind.”
Nero saw his face grow pissed, about to say something, when he heard Elle and her mother enter the living room. Nero kept his smile, glad his message had been clear to Elle’s father.
He looked at Elle’s mother as she held out a glass of water. She looked like the older version of Elle, the only difference being she had laugh lines and was slightly plump, making Nero happy Elle would age well.
Nero took the glass of water. “Thank you, Mrs. Buchanan.”
Elle’s mom smiled and took her seat. “You’re welcome. I hope water is okay.”
“It’s great, thanks.”
He looked over at Elle when she didn’t sit down. She was holding a plate of sandwiches and her own glass of water.
“Come on, Nero. Let’s eat in my room.”
Nero couldn’t wait to get Elle alone and talk to her about all the lies she had told her parents. No wonder she can’t help but lie to me—she’s living two fucking different lives.
Elle’s eyes rolled. “With the door open.”
He looked over at Elle’s father’s face, which was fuming.
Nero stood up, smiling. Elle isn’t going anywhere.
* * *
Elle handed over the plate of sandwiches to Nero so she could open her bedroom door. Opening it, she walked in with Nero right behind her then closed the door. Crap. She re-opened the door, leaving it halfway open.
She turned around and saw Nero standing there with his hands full. “You can sit on my bed.”
“You sure about that?” Nero asked sarcastically.
Elle pushed the door a little more closed. “Yep.”
She walked to her bed and sat at the top with her back propped on her pillows, up against her headboard. Nero walked over to the other side and did the same. She watched him as he got comfortable and set the plate between them.
Nero took a big drink of his water and held out his hand. “Remote.”
Elle looked around her room for her remote control. She had an old box TV that faced her bed. She grabbed it off her nightstand from under some old magazines. She was thankful her room wasn’t too messy. Although, she had a bunch of knickknacks and random stuff in her room from over the years since she always had a terrible time throwing stuff away.
Elle handed Nero the remote, curious as to why he demanded it the second he sat down.
Nero clicked on the TV, and a few seconds later, a picture came in focus. Elle shut her eyes and started rubbing her head when she realized what channel it was on. This just gets better and better.
Nero looked over at Elle. “Really, Elle? The Disney Channel?”
“The Little Mermaid came on last night.” Elle couldn’t ever pass up a classic; it didn’t matter if she even owned the DVD.
Nero shook his head and changed the channel to an old sitcom. He turned the TV up loud and grabbed a sandwich. “Magical Cupcakes, huh?”