Chapter 37

Eli scrubbed his wrist across his eyes.

“Rob, c’mon.”

“Eli, for goodness’ sake, Rob can go home and we can talk about this—” Mum attempted.

“No,” Eli said. “You don’t get to gut him and humiliate him at dinner then kick him out to talk to me. We’re going. Rob. C’mon.”

Rob rose from his chair without a word, nodding to Jenny and wiggling his fingers at Flora in a funny wave before tucking an arm around Eli’s hips and steering them towards the front door.

“Eli, this is silly!” Mum cried.

A chair scraped; Eli swore softly, and Rob tapped his hip with two fingers.

“Take me home,” Eli whispered.

“‘Kay.”

“Mum, leave it!” Eli shouted as she followed them into the hall. “I’m done, I’m done trying to make peace because you never fucking listen anyway.”

“Look, your father’s—”

“You’re just as bad, harping on at Rob about how we met and if he cheated on his ex-boyfriend!” Eli snapped.

Rob held out his coat, and Eli batted it away.