Page 33 of All the Promises We Break

“And there’s the brother I love so much. It’s nice to just say some of this shit out loud. The other thing I wanted to tell you is that Hayley and I have a getaway planned for all of us. We’re calling it The Wedding Party Weekend. Don’t blame me. Not my title. We’ve got the house in Vermont. There’s still a bit of powder left. If the skiing sucks, we’ll watch a shit ton of puck, hit the hot tub, and just generally be lazy as fuck. What do you say?”

I laugh so hard I can feel it rattle in my already aching head. “That’s really nice and under normal circumstances I’d be all in. I’ve only been back a few weeks and then with the wedding I’ll have to take a bit more time. I think we should wait.”

“Come on, man. Hayley will eat me for breakfast if you don’t say yes, and you know you won’t say no to her. We’ll leave on a Thursday late. I’ll drive. You can sleep or whatever you need to in the back. We’ll come back midday Sunday, same deal. We want you both to chill and let us roll up to the wedding in style. It’s one Friday.”

“Let me check with Dylan and make sure her classes and rehearsal schedule aren’t an issue. Are you sure your new friend won’t mind parting with you for a weekend?”

“Trust me, Eli. She won’t.”

Dylan

This day has been long, fun, stressful, and one I won’t forget. Mom and Lily hadn’t been in the same circles for a while. I think Mom said she met her about ten years ago. They only did the small talk thing before today I had that icky queasy feeling from the moment Mom picked me up. We’re all going to be family. Ididn’t realize how much it means to me for them to get along. It does.

Every time I came out of the fitting room they were talking or laughing. Hayley gave me a quick side hug between gowns. She knew what I was feeling.TheGown, my say yes to the dress moment, was gown number three. Once I had it on, I didn’t want to take it off. I made the stylist take every other dress away. When I came out from around the corner, Mom and Lily both immediately started crying. It was everything I could do not to join them.

Turning my key in the lock and opening the door to our apartment brings a smile to my face. I can relive it all over again with Eli. The main room is darker than normal. That’s not a good sign. After closing the door and setting down my bags, I know exactly where to look.

Eli is lying across the bed sideways. His feet, still with shoes on, are dangling over the near side. His arms are wrapped around my pillow which is a crumpled mess under his head. He looks so peaceful; I don’t want to wake him. I take the end of the duvet and cover him the best I can. As the weight of the blanket envelops him, he inhales deep and his eyes flutter open.

“Hey, Viper. When did you get home?”

“Just now. Are you okay? Another headache?”

“You know how it is. It’s better for me to sleep them off. This wasn’t as bad. Did you have a good time? Anything you can show me?”

“First of all, yes I did. Second of all, not on your life. But more importantly, these headaches seem too frequent to me. Maybe we should page Dr. Collier.”

“Dylan, I’m fine. I promise you. Wes brought me home. It’s all good.”

“Brought you home? Why? Where were you?”

“Um… I was at the office.”

“Oh. I see. The minute I leave you alone you do something the doctors tell you not to. You are so fucking stubborn and deaf to top it all.” I stalk out of the room, peeling off my jacket and slamming it over one of the dining chairs. I’m going to take this newly found mood out on a few pots and pans while making dinner.

Each slam only makes me slightly less angry. “Dylan. Stop.”

I look up to glare in his direction. “Ha. Not likely.”

Eli visibly winces with every noise I make. Only after about six or so do I actually stop. I grip my hands tight over the edge of the counter. “Why? Why did you go there?”

“It wasn’t so I could entertain your wrath. That’s for sure.” He rubs his fingers deep into his eye behind his glasses. “Look, I just wanted to feel a little more normal. I paid a bit of a price for it, but I’m not sorry. You can’t bubble wrap me, Dylan. You can’t.”

“I don’t want to bubble wrap you. I just want you fucking well again. Is that so wrong?”

“No. It’s not. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll let you know next time, because there will be one. If I have any issues, I will listen to my body. Fair?”

Eli chuckles a little bit as if he was hearing his own private joke. “What’s so funny?” I ask.

“Me saying this to you also reminds me of the night I came to your loft. You’d had one of the worst rehearsals ever and all you did was cry then sleep in my arms. I wanted to take your pain away then like you do right here with me. I understand both sides now.”

Dylan tosses an oven mitt my direction. It hits me square in the chest. “I fucking hate it when you can make me instantly rational. It’s really annoying.”

“Let me give you a hand and you can tell me all about your dress hunt. Torture me with hints about you playing all day in my favorite color on you.”

Chapter Thirteen

Hayley

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