Page 80 of All the Promises We Break

“I didn’t.”

Wes slowly appears from the shadows. He steps out into the room behind us. We all stand motionless. Wes is staring beyond me. I know where his eyes are. Eli gently places me back on the floor. In my descent, I turn and find Hayley. She seems to be waiting for a sign, any sign of what to do. “Hey,” she says.

“Hi,” Wes offers. “So, I heard your kisses have magic. They can cure many things. Should we start with that, Merlin?”

She has her answer ready. I know she does.

Hayley looks to Eli first. She doesn’t need permission, but I know she really wants it. I watch his stoic stance melt into a small smile. “Protect each other, please.”

Wes holds out his hand for her to take. Hayley crawls to the end of the couch and wraps her fingers in his. With a swift tug from Wes, she flies into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. Her messy bun falls free with the force and her hair layers down his back as her face presses into his neck.

The tension in the room subsides with the touches of our other halves. I wind my hands around Eli’s back, pressing my ear to his chest. The beat of his heart is as slow and steady as the rise and fall of his breath. His body response is more peaceful than I’ve seen in a couple of days.

“You did a good thing here, Goose,” I whisper in his ear.

“I’m still not sure it’s the right thing, Dylan.”

“It’s up to them now. We just support them like they supported us. The rest is theirs to sort out.”

Elijah

The past two days have felt like two weeks to my body and soul. Tomorrow won’t be any better, but at least the whole family can walk through it together. Wes and Hayley stayed a long time. We ordered takeout and just enjoyed being with each other. There aren’t any lingering bombs to drop or stories that haven’t been told. It’s all out there now.

The four of us have decided instead of going to the cemetery, we’re going to take a drive to Sammy’s, have lunch there and drive back. Wes and I can, for the first time in years, openly talk about Michael and bring him back into our narrative.

I rewind all the conversations I’ve had the last forty-eight hours and there’s so much to wade through. I hope Dylan will want to go into the water with me. The light clicks off in the bathroom as she slowly makes her way to the end of the bed to climb up and in.

She lands face down on her pillow beside me with a couple of small groans. There’s a clear divide between us. Her hair is wild over her pillow and face. Her knees slide up toward her chest. After a few silent moments, I reach over to rub her back. “Are you still awake?”

“Yes. Barely,” she answers, facing away from me.

I ask another question. “Are you okay?”

She finally rolls to face me, clutching a heating pad to her torso. “Physically, I’m in pain but nothing I’m not used to.Mentally, well, I’m glad everyone knows everything, including your parents. Emotionally, not really.”

“I already knew the answer, but I needed to ask.” I sigh as I flop my arm over my eyes.

Dylan’s hand reaches across this time, her palm resting warm against my chest. “Are you okay?”

“I hurt you so badly. Not even married for a month and look what I’ve done.”

“Eli, you didn’t make choices in a vacuum. You had help.”

“That’s just it. My choices. I’ve dimmed your spark. Are you sure you want to stay?”

“Our vows said for better or worse, right?” she says. “I’m not walking out over one speed bump.”

I move my arm. There’s enough light in the room to see her beautiful eyes. “Will you come closer? This distance is killing me.” Dylan lifts her head and gives me the smallest of smiles before she shuts off the heating pad, tossing it to the floor, and pulls herself over into my waiting arms. “I’m afraid of myself, Dylan.”

“You acted on what you saw. In many ways, I understand it. If you didn’t care with your whole heart, you wouldn’t be you.”

“You’re too forgiving sometimes.”

“Eli, I never expected you not to have a dark side. This may be the first time I’m seeing it, but it’s not a deal breaker. The only thing that will be is you accusing me of cheating on you. I have more respect for you and this marriage than that. Don’t do it ever again.”

“Never again. I promise. Dylan, will you let me take care of you now? I need to. Hearing you cry like that is a sound I never want to hear.”

“You’ve seen and heard me cry before.”

---