"I told you, I'm spending the evening with my sister," Robin insists. Why do his words make me feel so guilty? I feel like I'm taking away from Elise's time with him, and guilt threatens to swallow me up whole. "I don't have time to hang out today."

"Why can't we all hang out together?" Elise whines next. "I won't even complain about watching that stupid show again. Please? Let me come in. Please."

She's practically begging at this point, and I can tell my brother's resolve is weakening.

"Why don't you just go back to your place?" I suggest. "I can handle a night on my own, Robin."

"Absolutely not." Sigh. It was worth a try. If only Robin weren't so overprotective. "We'll all stay in tonight."

He steps aside to let Elise in. I groan inwardly. The last thing I want is to spend an evening with the woman, but it looks like I have no choice. The blonde walks inside with a triumphant smile and sets her purse on the floor. Pepper jumps out, stopping to growl at me before raising his leg at a plant I've barely managed to save from dying. Just fucking perfect.

Elise doesn't even scold him, and we all file into the living room. The silence would be awkward, but there isn't any. Elise is desperate to fill every second of the time we spend together with her ramblings. It's almost worse than the dog's constant yapping.

My brother tells her about the date I have the next day, and I cringe inwardly when she shrieks and tells me we must meet up the next day to do some maintenance. I don't have a clue what maintenance means, but by her critical gaze as she examines me up close, I'm guessing it'll take up most of my day. I'm already dreading it, but Robin's always so desperate for me to be close with Elise, I find myself agreeing to meet her in Rodeo Drive the next day.

I think of my mom then. I don't like to think about my parents very often, but I know she'd love that I'm going on a date. As annoying as she can be, I'm actually looking forward to our call this time. At least I'll have some good news to tell her.

Robin insists on staying until midnight's come and gone. I'm grateful Elise is here though, because I know Robin understands I won't want to eat in front of her. While they feast on the Thai takeout he brought, nobody forces me to eat, and I'm grateful for it. I watch Elise picking at her vegetables – she's pescatarian on Tuesdays and vegan for the rest of the week – and wonder where her issues with food came from. I know exactly why mine are present. It all stems from my mother's belief that I'm damaged goods.

When they finally get up to leave, I'm grateful for the peaceful night ahead. Robin shows me all the leftovers, including an untouched Pad Thai they left for me, and I promise him I'll have some, crossing my fingers behind my back. I walk them out and wave them off as they drive away in their separate cars and then I lock the front door.

My tummy is rumbling, but I pay it no mind. It's not worth the trouble to eat. I pile the leftovers and the untouched food into a brown paper bag and head outside again. The street is colder than earlier, but the night is pleasant. I walk down the street to the alleyway where Sam is already waiting.

"Robin come over again today?" he asks with a wide smile.

"You know it." I hand him the paper bag. "It's Thai today. I left the plastic cutlery in there. And I got you some sweet buns when I was in town earlier. Those are in there, too."

"Thanks, Dove." He gives me a bright smile. "Heading back already?"

"I have to," I say, winking at him. "Got a hot date tomorrow."

"A date?" Sam laughs out loud. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"That photographer I met today," I admit. "He was kind of cute, actually."

More like unbearably-fucking-hot, but I'm not about to admit that to Sam. He'd never stop making fun of me.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asks, the hope obvious in his voice, and I have to shrug apologetically.

"I brought you the buns because I'll be away for most of the day," I explain. "But I'll drop by the day after with some food. You need anything else?"

He shakes his head, even though we both know there are a lot of other things he needs.

"You want to come in the day after tomorrow? You could take a hot shower. I can brush your hair." I grin at him. His hair is a rat's nest, but he refuses to let me pay for a barber.

Tags: Isabella Starling Tyrant Dynasty Dark
Source: readsnovelonline.net