pillow, he couldn't help but smile. He was going to see Eli again the next day, and in that moment, that was all that mattered to him.
Chapter 13
Eli
As golden morning rays of sunshine streamed across the cobblestones of Main Street, Eli stepped into the light from the diner, Robby's. By now, they knew his order: one takeout box of pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries, fried potatoes, and bacon, and a second box with toast, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, fried mushrooms, and sausages. Breakfast was always packed up neatly for him by the time he arrived at Robby's around eight to pick it up.
From the diner, he walked down the street and nodded to the few early risers he passed on the way to Sweet Nothings, the dessert bar his latest romantic interest co-owned.
Kevin Walker was stunning, and he didn't even know it. He was young, ambitious, loyal, sweet... and supposedly straight. Well, he had been. It had taken one look in Eli's eyes for all that to change. A night in Eli's bed later, they'd agreed to keep seeing each other quietly in the mornings while Kevin figured out his newfound attraction.
Wednesday morning was the same as any other morning on Ember Isle, the world's only summer island playground for billionaires, millionaires, and those with enough hundreds of thousands in the bank to splash out on a summer of fun. The rich and famous rented an expensive mansion, ate out at restaurants and bars every day, and spent their days in the surf, sand, and sun.
It was paradise.
“Good morning,” Eli greeted with a smile as he pushed open the door and found Kevin polishing the dessert display cabinet with window cleaner and a rag. “Ooh, Cinderfella, keep polishing... and bend over a little more.”
Kevin burst out laughing as he straightened up, swatting Eli's arm with the rag as he passed by to drop off the supplies behind the counter and wash his hands. “You're horrible.”
“Oh, I'm wounded,” Eli smirked. He set the containers on the nearest table and slid onto the high stool, leaning against the back as he waited for Kevin to be ready for breakfast. “I'm crawling back into my shell now.”
Their private joke was any kind of crab pun or reference, mainly because Eli still found Kevin's dumb moment on the wharf hilarious.
“I'm not acknowledging that one,” Kevin told him, emerging from the kitchen and taking a moment to lean in and kiss Eli.
Eli closed his eyes for a moment to enjoy Kevin's soft lips and his gentle kissing style. It was so sweet. “Why not?” Eli murmured back against Kevin's lips after a few moments.
“It doesn't deserve recognition. You'll have to go back to the drawing board,” Kevin murmured, but he bumped their noses together affectionately before going to sit opposite Eli at the table.
Although they'd only known each other for a week, it already felt like far longer. The way Kevin touched him and moved around Eli was utterly comfortable, until now and then, Eli felt like he was with someone who had known him for years.
Like his ex.
“Has Tom showed up again?” Kevin asked, apparently reading his mind as he started to eat his tomatoes. “It's been a few days now...”
“No,” Eli sighed. “I haven't seen him hanging around, even though I've got security cameras on my house now. Nobody else has seen him around. I've tried to ask subtly, but everyone looks at me like I'm weird... because they think we're still together, so I should know if he's here...”
Kevin's expression cleared with understanding before he frowned. “Oh, yeah, I get that. Wow. That's rough.”
“Mm,” Eli agreed around his bite of food. “I think...” He licked his lips and settled back. “I think I'll ask a few more people, start to drop hints. I mean, his reps haven't made the press release, but it's always been a rule that what happens here stays here. People who know us both will be discreet.”
“Are you sure?” Kevin murmured. “Is that breaking any... I don't know,
Chapter 13
Eli
As golden morning rays of sunshine streamed across the cobblestones of Main Street, Eli stepped into the light from the diner, Robby's. By now, they knew his order: one takeout box of pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries, fried potatoes, and bacon, and a second box with toast, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, fried mushrooms, and sausages. Breakfast was always packed up neatly for him by the time he arrived at Robby's around eight to pick it up.
From the diner, he walked down the street and nodded to the few early risers he passed on the way to Sweet Nothings, the dessert bar his latest romantic interest co-owned.
Kevin Walker was stunning, and he didn't even know it. He was young, ambitious, loyal, sweet... and supposedly straight. Well, he had been. It had taken one look in Eli's eyes for all that to change. A night in Eli's bed later, they'd agreed to keep seeing each other quietly in the mornings while Kevin figured out his newfound attraction.
Wednesday morning was the same as any other morning on Ember Isle, the world's only summer island playground for billionaires, millionaires, and those with enough hundreds of thousands in the bank to splash out on a summer of fun. The rich and famous rented an expensive mansion, ate out at restaurants and bars every day, and spent their days in the surf, sand, and sun.
It was paradise.
“Good morning,” Eli greeted with a smile as he pushed open the door and found Kevin polishing the dessert display cabinet with window cleaner and a rag. “Ooh, Cinderfella, keep polishing... and bend over a little more.”
Kevin burst out laughing as he straightened up, swatting Eli's arm with the rag as he passed by to drop off the supplies behind the counter and wash his hands. “You're horrible.”
“Oh, I'm wounded,” Eli smirked. He set the containers on the nearest table and slid onto the high stool, leaning against the back as he waited for Kevin to be ready for breakfast. “I'm crawling back into my shell now.”
Their private joke was any kind of crab pun or reference, mainly because Eli still found Kevin's dumb moment on the wharf hilarious.
“I'm not acknowledging that one,” Kevin told him, emerging from the kitchen and taking a moment to lean in and kiss Eli.
Eli closed his eyes for a moment to enjoy Kevin's soft lips and his gentle kissing style. It was so sweet. “Why not?” Eli murmured back against Kevin's lips after a few moments.
“It doesn't deserve recognition. You'll have to go back to the drawing board,” Kevin murmured, but he bumped their noses together affectionately before going to sit opposite Eli at the table.
Although they'd only known each other for a week, it already felt like far longer. The way Kevin touched him and moved around Eli was utterly comfortable, until now and then, Eli felt like he was with someone who had known him for years.
Like his ex.
“Has Tom showed up again?” Kevin asked, apparently reading his mind as he started to eat his tomatoes. “It's been a few days now...”
“No,” Eli sighed. “I haven't seen him hanging around, even though I've got security cameras on my house now. Nobody else has seen him around. I've tried to ask subtly, but everyone looks at me like I'm weird... because they think we're still together, so I should know if he's here...”
Kevin's expression cleared with understanding before he frowned. “Oh, yeah, I get that. Wow. That's rough.”
“Mm,” Eli agreed around his bite of food. “I think...” He licked his lips and settled back. “I think I'll ask a few more people, start to drop hints. I mean, his reps haven't made the press release, but it's always been a rule that what happens here stays here. People who know us both will be discreet.”
“Are you sure?” Kevin murmured. “Is that breaking any... I don't know,
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