Page 21 of All the Promises We Break

“Unless this is you telling me you’re leaving, I can take anything. It’s me, Anna. What’s going on?”

“I’ll be leaving you, but not in the way you think. I’m finally pregnant. I found out the morning after your accident. With all the trouble we’ve had, I wanted to wait to say anything.”

“Oh Anna, this is wonderful news. We need more of it. May I hug you congratulations?”

This finally brings a smile. “I’d like that.”

I reach for her hand to help her stand. She holds on for a moment before stepping back. “I’ll make sure I have someone trained to help you while I’m out. It will be seamless. I’m just not ready to tell everyone yet.”

“Would it be helpful for you to know a secret of mine?”

“If you trust me.”

After shaking my head through a bit of laughter, I decide to increase my circle of trust. “The board meeting has a lot at stake for me today. I have to tell them something they might find a conflict of interest. Anna, I’ve asked Dylan to marry me.”

She does the thing where you gasp and scream at the same time. “Shut up! I knew it! Eli, I’m so happy for you. Both of you.”

I hope the board echoes those exact words.

After making sure Anna carves time in my schedule for her and I to talk privately tomorrow about her news, she does something I didn’t know I’d miss. She gives me all my notes for the meeting, sets my laptop up with all the files I need, and gives me five minutes to myself to get right.

My routine is pretty much the same. I brush my teeth in my en suite and make sure my tie is perfect. Once it is, I stare at myself in the mirror for a full minute. If I can do that with confidence, I can face any meeting that will come.

Today, I only made it halfway before I held on to the side of the sink and looked down. My hands grip so hard over the porcelain my knuckles become a shade away from matching the color.

“Are you all right, Son?”

I glance toward my father’s voice from the corner of my eye. “How long have you been standing there?”

“I know your warm-up, Eli. I was going to wait until the staring contest was over to address you. When you stopped, I wanted to make sure you’re okay. Are you?”

“I have a slight headache. Not too bad though. How can I look honest and confident to them when I can’t even look myself in the eye? Am I just kidding myself by saying this will be fine?”

“Your grandfather and I back you and Dylan one-hundred percent, son. That’s all you should need.”

Turning away from the mirror, I straighten my tie into my jacket and button it. “Should and will are two entirely different things. Dad, if this goes south, Dylan is going to come first. You’ve always put family as your number one priority. I won’t do any less.”

Chapter Nine

Dylan

Nothing.

Not a single call, word, or text from Eli all morning. Is he okay? They’d tell me if he wasn’t okay. Of course they would. I’m not wearing this ring just because it’s beautiful. Professor Stone can tell I’m way off my game today. I haven’t challenged him one time or interjected in the class discussion at all.

He dismisses us and I pack up right away, so I can get out to a quiet spot in the quad to call Eli. I know I promised I wouldn’t but the suspense and my inability to be there to back him up plain sucks. I know it’s not my place but he’s my person. I finally have a person.

I think about the time. Okay, if the meeting was for ten thirty. It’s twelve forty right now. He should be done. Why isn’t he messaging me? It’s bad. It has to be. He’s packing up his office then he’ll call me from home after rehearsal. Maybe I should just go there?

After getting up from my bench to head out of the quad, my dance bag falls open and I drop my phone. Fuck, I mutter undermy breath. “You’re having a Monday.” I look up and Hayley has my athletic tape, ankle brace, and a piece of paper in her hand. “Let me help you.”

“What would help is knowing what is happening with Eli.”

“If there’s anyone who can work that room, it’s my brother. You’ve seen him. He’s like an uber genius in bringing people over to his side. My bet is if he wasn’t doing what he’s doing, he’d make a killer lawyer or politician.”

“How he is in those moments is one of the hottest things about him. I hope it’s enough today.” I stuff the tape and brace back in my zipper pocket. The piece of paper is the weight of a greeting card but one sided. I’ve never seen it before. “Is this yours? What is this?”

“Read it?” Hayley asks.

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