Chapter Text
The beginning of January this year felt flat. None of the marks Nate had in the pipeline were ready to go, and everyone was feeling restless. Parker was off exploring banks, something she fell back on at times of extreme boredom. Nate was up in his rooms, apparently reading. Jojo was having a grand clear out of the paper files in one corner and Eliot was taking his excess energy out on the punchbag.
Sophie and Hardison were plotting.
“OK, here’s the plan. You talk to Eliot while I tackle Jojo. You’re clear on what you need to say?”
“Yeah, yeah. But you said you had a place in mind.”
Sophie slid a flyer over the counter.
“Boston food and wine fair next weekend?”
“Yes, it’s perfect. They both like to cook and we need to give them an event. Otherwise, they will still be dithering until next Christmas.”
“OK, let’s do this thing.”
Hardison approached Eliot, who had stripped down to a black tank top and was hitting the punchbag with a regular rhythm. Eliot stopped when Hardison approached, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
“Hey.”
“Hey man, you and me need to have a little talk.”
“Oh yeah, what’s happened? The big kids stole your lunch money again?”
“Very funny, no. I want to talk to you about Jojo.”
Eliot froze, the smirk disappearing from his face. Hardison pressed on, unnerved by the silence.
“Look, man, we both know you like her.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about”. Eliot started undoing his hand wraps.
“It’s cool, it’s cool. I understand, I do. I mean, it’s normal to be scared. After all, you’ve hardly got a lot of experience in this area.”
Eliot looked at him in disbelief, then turned away to store his wraps in his kitbag.
“Hardison, I’ve been with more women than you’ve ever talked to!”
“Yeah, but this isn’t women is it, it’s Jojo. I mean, when was the last time you saw a woman for more than a week? Most of the time, you don’t even learn their last names. This is new ground for you. All I’m saying is that it’s OK to be scared.”
Eliot turned away from his kit bag.
“I am not scared, ok.”
“Well if you’re not scared, why haven’t you asked her out yet?”
Eliot’s shoulders dropped, and he ran one hand through his hair.
“Look, women like that, like Jojo, they don't go out with guys like me. She's a lady, she's educated. She went to law school, for fuck sake. I joined the army straight out of High School. Women like her date doctors or lawyers, not guys who never even made it to college.”
Hardison couldn't quite believe Eliot was being so honest. The pain in his friend's voice took him aback, and he swallowed before answering.
“What makes you sure she feels like that? I think you're making some pretty big assumptions, but if you never try, you'll never know.” He crossed his fingers behind his back for luck and kept on with the script Sophie had given him. “I guess if you are happy never knowing...”
As he walked away, he carefully dropped the flyer on the floor next to Eliot's kit bag.
Meanwhile, Sophie had made two coffees and, with mugs in hand, approached Jojo, who was surrounded by piles of paperwork. Jojo, however, was not concentrating on the paper. Instead, she was sitting still, a form forgotten in her hand as she gazed across to where Eliot was punching the bag. Her eyes lingered on his biceps and moved down to his chest, his muscles outlined under his tight top. Absently, she licked her lips.
“Having a good look?”
Jojo jumped as Sophie appeared behind her and held out a mug of coffee.
“Oh thanks. I was just thinking about what to do next. Owning an entire building generates a lot of paperwork...”
“Really, I could have sworn you were staring at Eliot.”
“What, no, why would I...” Jojo's denials tapered off as she took in Sophie's knowing smile.
“You like him, don't you?” said Sophie softly.
Jojo gave up trying to deny it.
“Yes, of course I do. I mean, have you seen him? He's gorgeous, and sweet and charming. But you don't have to worry. I'll get over it and I'm professional. It won't affect things.”
Sophie waved her hand, laughing.
“I'm not worried about that. But if you like him, why not just ask him out?”
Now it was Jojo's turn to laugh.
“Right, if I was into ritual humiliation!”
“I don't understand...”
“Come on Sophie. You’ve seen the sort of girls Eliot dates. Models, or at least women with legs a mile long and waists the size of a broom handle. Men like Eliot Spencer do not go out with women who look like me!”
Sophie frowned.
“What do you mean? You’re gorgeous. You have to know that. I mean, half the time your job as a roper depends on how attractive the mark finds you.”
“Oh, I know I’m OK. I mean, I can flirt and act sexy and I’m attractive enough to get a mark interested. But Eliot dates spectacular looking women. Not fairly pretty girls who don’t clear 5 foot 2.”
Sophie paused.
“I think you are being hard on yourself. You’re a lot more than fairly pretty. OK, you’ll never be a catwalk model, but neither will I! There’s a lot more to attraction than fitting some ideal of beauty straight out of the pages of a magazine.”
She turned to walk away, dropping the flyer on top of one of the piles of paperwork. “Think about what I said. After all, you’ll never know if you don’t try, and that doesn’t sound like the Jojo that I know.”
Jojo turned back to her paperwork as Sophie walked away and picked up the flyer next to her. She stood there a moment, lost in thought, until the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her brought her out of her reverie.
Eliot stood a few steps away, holding an identical flyer and looking awkward, almost nervous.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” She smiled at him, and Eliot seemed to relax slightly.
“I was looking at the flyer, for the food fair. Looks good.”
Jojo glanced at the flyer she was holding and back at Eliot, trying her hardest to keep her tone light.
“Yes, it does. I was just looking at the advert myself.”
Eliot took a deep breath and looked at her. His blue eyes seemed darker than usual and he clenched the hand not holding the flyer.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go… With me, I mean.”
Jojo just looked at him in surprise. She couldn’t believe she’d heard him correctly.
Eliot stepped back, misinterpreting her silence for refusal.
“Hey it was just an idea. I mean don’t...”
“Yes.” Jojo blurted out. “I mean, I’d like that.”
A relieved smile spread over Eliot’s face, and he visibly relaxed.
“Great, I’ll pick you up at midday.”
“Ok.”
He smiled again at her as he picked up his bag and headed for the door. The food fair was perfect and after, maybe he’d take her for a walk by the river. He grinned to himself. It would be romantic at twilight. The perfect setting to steal a first kiss.
Jojo looked around her and grabbed her handbag. Bugger the paperwork. She needed to go clothes shopping.