Page 85 of Dare To Live

“Likewise. I’ve been curious about you for many years, both as the artist behind the Sin name … and as a childhood friend of Miles’.”

My lips twitch and I glance at Miles. “Friends would be stretching what we were, don’t you think?”

Miles gives me a sad smile. “Maybe. For a while. But I’d like to think we became close to being friends toward the end.”

Chapter 47

Arabella

Having my best friend and Eli together in the same room again feels strange, stirring unwanted memories I’ve only ventured back to in short-lived therapy sessions. I can see traces of the eighteen-year-old boys they had once been in their features. We’ve all grown up but are still chained to events that happened so long ago.

“Everything okay?” Miles asks.

I nod, plastering a smile on my lips. “Yes, it’s just weird the three of us being back together like this.”

“It has been a long time,” he agrees. “Ten years.”

“You and Eli weren’t friends?” Ivan turns in his seat, surveying the other two men at the table.

“I was Arabella’s friend,” Miles explains. “Eli was—”

“The Monster of Churchill Bradley Academy,” Eli finishes, voice dry.

“The boy everyone fears.” I lift my glass, take a sip of wine, and avoid Eli’s gaze.

“Used to fear. That’s not who I am anymore.”

No. He’s evolving, learning, and surviving. The picture of the boy in my head I’d known has shifted to the grumpy, bitter lumberjack version of Eli I’d been introduced to over Christmas. This new 3.0 version of Eli is completely different again, and I’m not sure how to deal with it.

“I read somewhere that the school shut down after a second student’s death.” Ivan’s accented voice is filled with curiosity.

Miles frowns at his fiancé. “You googled it?”

“After you mentioned the name of the academy, it was easy to find details about what happened. Newspaper articles, blog posts, the police reports—”

My stomach clenches, and I set down my drink before anyone notices how my hand is shaking. “I’m starving.” My voice is too bright, too high. “What’s everyone going to order?” I lift a hand to attract the attention of our server.

He comes over, the bottle of wine Eli ordered in his hand. “Are you ready to order?”

My gaze skims over the neat black writing on the menu, and I choose the first thing that looks appealing. “I’ll have the steak, please. Well done.”

Ivan and Eli both request steak as well, except they want it medium-rare, while Miles orders chicken. Our server takes down the order and hurries away.

I drain my glass of white wine and reach for the bottle of Chardonnay, but Eli beats me to it.

He fills half my glass. “Maybe you should slow down a little? Wait for the food to arrive.”

I wave my hand at him. “I’m fine.”

“Has Bella shown you her art?” Ivan pours some of the Chardonnay into his and Miles’ glasses. “She’s very talented.”

“It’s nothing compared to what Eli does.”

“No, she hasn’t.” Eli doesn’t look at me.

“I have photographs on my phone.” Ivan is already unlocking his cell.

I shake my head. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to see them.”

---