Page 91 of Knot Their Starlet

I can’t bear to look at him right now.

“Yeah, you’re right. Does that bother you?”

He’s silent for far too long.

“Lotta things bother me,” he grunts. “Don’t take it personal.”

“So it does bother you?”

“It bothering me shouldn’t bother you.”

His words grate on my nerves.

“But it does. We should—we should figure this out. So let’s talk this through, okay? Maybe⁠—”

“What, like we’re so good at talking shit through?” Eli lets out a bitter huff of laughter, making me stiffen. The small distance between us feels as big as the Mariana Trench.

“Eli... Please, I don’t want this to get between us.”

“Why?” he says, his expression twisted in a pained grimace. “Because you need me?”

I jerk back as if he’s just slapped me.

“That—that was a low blow,” I whisper, my voice strained.

His expression twists. He knows exactly how low of a blow that was. But he doesn’t take it back. The anger he’s feeling is far too intense for him to let go.

“Why—why would you say that?” I rasp.

“I can’t stand it,” he growls. “I can’t fuckin’ stand the way that girl came crashing into our lives and you’re just... what the hell does she have that I don’t?”

His words crack through me like a whip once more.

Did Elijah Castillo really just ask me that?

Well, I guess it makes sense as a question. He and Andi couldn’t be more different. But Eli’s been my rock ever since we were kids.

“You’re—you’re jealous,” I whisper, the realization dawning on me. “Of Andi?”

His jaw works as his hands fist in my fuzzy blankets. The dichotomy between his massive, veiny hands and the soft fabric almost makes me laugh from the absurdity.

The contrast reminds me of the difference between him and Andi.

“So what if I am?” he bites out.

“Why—why are you jealous?”

Eli’s nostrils flare.

“I’ve been careful. I’ve been patient,” he says slowly, seemingly trying to control his tone as much as he can. “But you’ve only been interested in seeing what you want to see.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I say with a shake of my head. My heart feels like it’s about to pound out of my chest.

“You think this arrangement is a hardship on me. You remind me of that every time I do anything for you. Have you ever fuckin’ thought that I do it because I want to?”

“It? As in... everything?”

“Everything, you idiot.” He scowls. “It didn’t hit me till you perfumed, but when you did... there was no fucking going back.”