Chapter 192
192:
Catching Dylan’s confusion, Christina explained, “Elliott just dropped by to chat about some drifting techniques—something about racing.” Earlier that day, not long after Christina had ended her call with Dylan, Elliott had shown up at her door. She still remembered how, back in Rockland, Elliott had stepped up for her when Brendon tried to cause trouble. She hadn’t forgotten that.
“It’s nearly dinner,” Dylan said, his underlying message impossible to miss. Of all the moments to show up, Elliott had chosen the most inconvenient one. Elliott’s intentions couldn’t be more transparent.
Before Christina could respond, Elliott offered a grin at Dylan. “My apologies. I ran into an issue with my race car and couldn’t figure it out. I thought I’d drop by for Miss Jones’s help. Didn’t really think about the timing, to be honest.” Turning to Christina, he added with genuine regret, “I hope I’m not crashing your dinner plans, Miss Jones.”
“It’s alright,” Christina replied without missing a beat. “I’ve got four servings of steak and pasta ready. If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to join us for dinner.”
Originally, Morse had been slated to join them after his session, but he’d canceled at the last second. That extra serving of steak and pasta turned out to be just right for Elliott.
“Mind? Not in the slightest,” Elliott replied, flashing a look at Dylan that almost dared him to object. “I’d be delighted to stay.”
Dylan’s expression hardened into something glacial. Elliott’s very presence rubbed him the wrong way.
“Food will be ready in a sec,” Christina said. “You two grab a spot—I’ll go get Chloe.” With that, she slipped out of the room.
The moment Christina disappeared, a heavy, electric silence fell between Dylan and Elliott, as if the whole room was holding its breath. Neither man flinched. Both exuded an effortless confidence, each refusing to be the first to look away.
For a second, Elliott felt his certainty flicker, but pride kept him firmly in place.
Lᴀt𝑒st chαptєrs in ɢ𝓪lnovels.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Christina soon wheeled Chloe into the dining area, instantly sensing something strange in the air—a tautness that prickled at her nerves. Yet, with Dylan and Elliott sitting calmly at the table, it was hard to pinpoint the cause. Were it not for the lack of black eyes or split lips, she might have assumed there had been a scuffle.
A cheerful voice broke the tension. “Dylan,” Chloe called out, her smile warm and inviting.
“Dylan.” He stood up smoothly, moving to take charge of the wheelchair and help settle Chloe at the table.
“I heard Elliott dropped by tonight. Glad to have you!” Chloe said, turning to him with a welcoming smile.
“Appreciate it, Miss Scott. And thank you, Miss Jones, for having me,” Elliott replied, polite and easygoing.
“Let’s see if dinner lives up to your standards. Go ahead and dig in,” Chloe replied, her voice light.
“Okay,” Elliott responded, carefully cutting into his steak and sampling a bite. He took his time savoring the flavor before offering an approving nod. “This is really good.”
“Happy to hear that,” Chloe said with a small laugh, lifting her glass. “Let’s have a toast!”
Dylan, Elliott, and Christina joined her, glasses raised, chiming together before each of them took a drink.
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