Page 27 of Advice from a Sunflower

“How long are you here for?” he asks once we were back outside, carefully setting the boxes down into his truck bed before leaning against it, ankles crossed.

“Not sure.” I slam the trunk shut with a shrug. I'd like to get out sooner rather than later, but I'm not sure how long it'll take to convince Marnie she should come with me.

He stares down at me, his face twisted in an expression I can't identify. I hesitate at the driver door, my eyes finding Emma back in the window, glaring.

Eli pushes off my car and walks to his truck. “I'll have these at the gym before anyone else gets there.”

“Okay,” is all I can get out before his door slams shut and the engine comes to life.

I chance one last look at the shop and Emma shifts in the window, reminding me once again of her presence. I’m taken back to high school—to every time I made any effort toward connecting with my friend after she so forcefully drove herself between us.

Well, there was nothing for her to worry about anymore. Eli's attitude toward me has reached glacial temperatures, and I'm still not sure what caused the icy change. With a dreadful sigh, I hop into my rental and head toward my mother's wedding.

Chapter 15

Lyla

The wedding was as disastrous as you could expect one to be in The Hollow. The residents here as a whole aren’t typically the type to let an event go by without some drama involved, especially when it comes to Marnie and Denise. Instead of renting a catered hall, they’ve always opted for the high school gym to hold their weddings and funerals with a party held afterward at one of the local bars in the town’s center.

“I’m not sure how you had the guts to do it,” one of my high school classmates, Katie, berates as I scoop spiked punch from the bowl into my cup.

“I could never just leave my family and friends for so long. Your mom has been a handful for the rest of us, too. We could have used you to rein her in. Poor Marnie might as well have three kids to look after. Have you ever even met the girls before today?”

I grab a second cup and continue scooping. I needed a lot of alcohol to get through this night. She finishes her condescension off with a light smile, as if we’re simply discussing the weather and she hasn’t just attacked my entire character. My entire family.

I muster up a smirk of my own and place my hand on my hip, ready to deliver my blow when Marnie grabs my arm and whispers for help with the girls into my ear. I spared Katie one last look, letting her know the conversation isn’t over before we head back into the gym to wrangle the girls.

I hate the smugness and confidence she wears as I walk away—another encounter that makes me feel as if the person I’ve been building up to be for the past seven years disappeared into dust the moment I entered these city limits.

Marnie spends the entire time soaking in every ounce of attention she receives for Josh leaving her. Although, I can’t really blame her for that; old habits die hard, and all. But she doesn’t do it in the same selfish way she would have before. She stands closest to Denise, careful not to let too much spotlight fall onto her during our mother's big day. I’m proud of how she handles herself, always on the brink of a breakdown, but never letting it pull her under.

Not in front of an audience, at least.

The girls are still very much confused about what happened with their father and no one has the heart to explain it. Gabby asked where Josh was during dinner the day after I landed. Marnie's face fell in despair and she ran off to the bathroom before either of them could see the tears that were begging to burst through. I gave Gabby a sympathetic smile and changed the subject, praying she wouldn't push for an answer. I wanted to leave it up to Marnie to break the news more delicately, but that felt impossible as the days wore on and I still had no idea what really happened. Since then, they’ve avoided the subject altogether and Marnie hasn't bothered to bring it up again.

"There you are," Tina drawls, pulling my attention from the girls playing with a rogue dodgeball they found under the bleachers. She yanks me into a tight hug and the smell of her perfume instantly fills my chest with warm, comforting liquid. One that I realize my own mother never ignites but Tina has always been able to pull forward.

I felt guilty that the thought even crosses my mind. Here I am, at my mother's wedding—probably one of the happiest days of her life—and still unable to let go of our murky past.

"I've been waiting for you to visit me at the diner. I know you've been busy with all this, so I'll give you a pass, but I still miss that beautiful face of yours. We made a nice display for all your books along the walls."

She releases me from our hug but keeps one arm tightly wrapped around my side, as if she’s afraid I'll float away if she lets go.

"Right. I'm sorry, Tina. It's been a whirlwind since I landed."

"Don't apologize. I'm just happy you're here."

"You might be the only one," I mumble quietly, my gaze landing on Eli across the room before they flit back to Tina's knowing stare.

"Trust me, you've been missed around here more than you'll ever know." She pats my arm and leads us toward the doors to the gym, into the quiet hallway. "I've been following the news about you. We all have. You've made something pretty amazing out of nothing, haven't you?"

I look down to hide the flush of my cheeks from her. I'll never know how to accept a compliment, especially a genuine one.

"Thank you," is all I can manage to say before I glance into the gym and catch Emma wrapping her arms tightly around Eli. He makes no move to untangle himself from her gangly grip and I hate the wave of envy that crashes through me at the sight. I just saw them hours before and they weren't even close to being that friendly. What’s changed?

"Don't get all twisted up over those two again. That ship sailed off long ago, and I'd bet my life it'll never be coming back to port," Tina whispers into my ear, noticing my shift in mood and now blatant gawking.

I blame the strong punch for allowing me to ask her, "What happened?"

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