Nero’s face jerked up. “Where?”
“You know, Magical Cupcakes. It opened a few years ago in the suburbs. That’s where Elle works, of course.”
Elle looked over at Nero, silently pleading. “Yeah, Nero, I told you that’s where I work. Remember?”
Nero stared back at her for a few seconds then he turned back to her mother. “Oh, yeah. Sorry, I forgot.”
“Honey, why don’t you and Elle go make some snacks. I’m sure they are hungry after school.” Elle’s dad hadn’t pulled his eyes away from Nero.
“Right. Come on, sweetie. Let the boys talk.” Her mom stood up, smiling from ear to ear, and started walking to the kitchen.
Elle looked over at Nero, hoping he understood not to talk too much. Oh, and good luck.
Elle stood and followed behind her mother. She was thankful Nero hadn’t been fazed by the obvious lies she had been telling her parents over the years.
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.