Page 65 of Drop Pass

“Two days?” Elena glanced up at me and I shrugged.

“Yeah, a day or two.”

Everyone laughed or nodded before turning back to their conversations. At least that was out of the way. I put my arm around Elena’s waist and led her to the kitchen.

“Are you hungry?” I asked as I picked up a plate. She nodded so I handed it to her before taking another for myself.

We walked along the buffet of food laid out. We were almost to the end when Chloe, Madi, and Emma blocked us. I groaned but knew there was no getting out of talking to them.

“Explain,” Chloe said with a sparkle in her eye.

Elena glanced back at me before replying, “I finally wore him down.”

I rolled my eyes behind her. “Yeah, it took a lot of effort.”

She laughed. “Hey! I tried flirting with you when I was here for the storm. You didn’t want anything to do with me. You wouldn’t even meet my eyes.”

That felt like an exaggeration. “I had other things going on. I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”

She nodded. “Which is why I had to wear him down. I had to prove we were better together. That I wasn’t a distraction.”

The women turned to look at me. “And is she?” Emma asked.

I glanced at Elena and everything she’d done for me in the last few days ran through my head. “Not at all.”

Madi narrowed her eyes. “There has to be more to it. You went from abrasive to smiling and handsy. What gives?”

I didn’t realize I was going to have to defend myself tonight, but then again, these women cared about Elena. They were just protecting her. “I was fighting it for as long as I could. I’ve been attracted to her since I met her, but I thought I had to remain completely focused on the game. I thought letting her in would cost me, but she was persistent.” I smiled. “She proved to me that I could have balance.”

“Aww,” Emma said, smiling up at me.

“I know she cares about me, and even my family. She’s never met them but she’s done everything she can to help them.”

Elena turned her head and met my eyes. She was smiling and I couldn’t help but reach down and kiss her quickly.

When I looked back at our interrogators, they were all smiling.

“Okay. That was precious,” Chloe announced. “You guys go eat. We’ll start the game in a few.”

I was relieved we’d passed whatever test they had and moved toward the massive dining room table where there were two seats open.

“That was stressful,” Elena whispered.

I nodded. “Do you think they’re done?”

She looked over my shoulder. “You can never be sure with them.”

“Hey guys.” Lucy smiled as she and Noah sat across from us.

“Hi Lucy.” Elena seemed to relax around them.

“So, this is a thing?” Noah pointed between me and Elena.

I nodded.

He smiled. “Cool.”

Elena giggled and started eating while conversation around the table moved on. That was the difference between the guys and the Pride. I was grateful I spent more time around them. Poor Elena.