“So jaded, so early on, aren’t you, Luke?” she mocked me, picking up more of her files. “Has this past year really been that bad? We made you famous and wealthy. We couldn’t have been that bad of managers, could we?”

I laughed, poured a second cup and then dumped the rest of it down the drain. As she started to protest, I flashed her a smile. The protest died, and she went back to her seat. The chill had gone up in the room. As I started for the apartment, I murmured, “You didn’t make us famous, Priss. We did. I did. And when I’ve finally gotten us out of that damn contract, we’ll be even more famous, just for the sake of rubbing it in your face.” She stiffened in the chair, and I winked at her before motioning to the door. “Now, get your ass out of here. I have no contractual obligation to allow you on these premises.”

Then I strolled to the apartment and shut the door. She’d go. She had done what she needed to do. Even though she hadn’t said the words, I got the underlying message from her. Either we dealt with Emerson or she would.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see what she’d do to him, so it was time. Emerson needed to be dealt with, once and for all.

I owed Bri’s ex a visit.

A girl with blonde hair and red highlights was on Elijah’s patio when I got there. She opened the screen door and banged on the wooden door. “Beth!” The screen door hit her on the backside, but she ignored it and banged again. “Get out here! Beth!”

I paused on the sidewalk. Eli’s front door was rarely used. Bri and Emerson always used the back door. I wasn’t sure if I should wait behind this chick or go around, but she must’ve sensed me. She rounded swiftly. Her eyes narrowed, and she huffed at me, turning back to knock once more. Her hand formed into a fist, and she held it in the air. Her body went rigid, and she sucked in her breath, whirling back to me. Then her eyes were wide, and her other hand half covered her mouth. “Holy freaking shit. You’re Luke Skeet.”

“Hey.” I frowned.

“Holy freaking hell. Holy, holy shit. Holy—” She started for me when the door opened. Another girl dashed out, ramming into her friend and barreling down the stairs. She darted into a red car and slammed the passenger door shut.

The blonde hadn’t moved. Her eyes were still wide open and glued to me. She barely reacted as her friend pushed her into the doorframe. “Holy moly cabana…shit. I cannot believe…oh my god.”

Catching movement from the doorway, I looked up and saw Elijah there, holding a coffee cup. He was shirtless, his jeans hung low on his hips, and his hair was sticking up. His gaze trailed over the girl to me. A cocky smirk appeared.

“Turner.” I wanted to punch him. Every time I saw him, no matter where, when, or why, I wanted to hit him.

“Pretty Boy.” He yawned the word, idly scratching at his chest at the same time. Then he rubbed the corners of his eyes and gestured to the blonde with his coffee. “You better get going, Hannah. Your cousin is in rare form this morning.”

“You know Luke Skeet?” she asked him the question, but was staring at me. “How does a lowlife like you know a rock star super god?”

Elijah whistled through his teeth. “‘Lowlife’? What has your cousin been saying about me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Eli. Fine.” Starting down the stairs, she slowed as she went past me. She pointed to me as she said to him, “You have some cred now. You know Luke Skeet.” She shook her head and said to me, “I’d stay away from him if I were you. Apparently, he stopped selling drugs, but I don’t believe it.” She raised her voice. “He wouldn’t be the first douche who lied.”

Elijah propped a shoulder against his doorframe and sipped his coffee. “You might want to poke your nose where it can do good. Pretty Boy here already hates my guts. He’s hated my guts for about twenty-two years now.”

“Give or take,” I added.

“Whatever, Eli, whatever.” The girl rolled her eyes at him, but sent me a smile full of promises.

“Hannah!” the girl from the car yelled. “Get over here. We have to go.”

Elijah chuckled. “Your cousin is in a snit. She spent the night. She’s emotionally traumatized now, all that holding and cuddling.” He pretended to grimace. “All those things that fill up nightmares.”

Hannah gave him the middle finger as she hurried to the car. As they took off, Elijah let out a small sigh and muttered, half to himself and half to me, “What is it with me and emotionally unavailable women?”

I stepped up onto the patio. As he led the way back inside and to the kitchen, I followed and suggested, “You do have a screwed-up mother. That might be part of it.”

“Maybe.” He grunted and went to the coffee pot. “You want some?”

I was still feeling it from the two hours of sleep I got. “Yes, unless you’re going to slip something in it.”

Elijah shook his head. “You know me. I’ve been biding my time until I got you alone. Now, I can have my way with you, even if I am straight.”

“I was referring to alcohol, but if you want to go that route, I’ve been reading your signals wrong for years now.”

He barked out a laugh and leaned back against the kitchen counter. I leaned against the opposite doorframe, and we both eyed each other over our cups.

With the coffee and the slight jokes, we’d both been stalling. We couldn’t anymore.