Page 31 of Advice from a Sunflower

"Okay," I breathe, all willpower thrown out the window when my traitorous eyes fall to his bare chest and the soaked shirt in his hand.

Of course, he takes notice and allows that smug smile he only reserves for me to spill onto his lips.

I need to get laid.

Or a lobotomy.

He tsks, once again reading my thoughts. "Marnie should be home anytime now, little Mouse. You should wipe those thoughts away before you make me do something you'll regret."

I do my best to school my face into a bored expression similar to the one he's perfected, holding on to any shred of pride I can muster up within my weak chest. "I guess you'd better get going, then."

"I want to have dinner tonight," he declares from nowhere, shifting his feet—the only nervous tick he's ever given me.

"Good for you. Have fun."

Eli shakes his head and rolls his eyes to the ceiling, as if I'm dancing on every one of his last nerves and he can't stand it.

"I mean with you."

"And why would you want to do that?"

"I'm trying to redeem myself here, Mouse. Stop making it harder than it has to be."

I school my expression so he can't read the shock that comes with those words. He mistakes my silence as surrender. "I'll be over at six to pick you up."

***

I’d been in such a rush, I forgot to ignore Natalie’s call on the way over, interrupting mine and Eli’s awkwardly silent drive.

The reminder that something is off with him is still constantly there, sounding alarms in my head each time I build up enough bravery to glance his way. I’ve spent so long shedding my skin from The Hollow, I forgot to consider that the people here might have done the same.

I didn’t expect to run into Eli during my visit, though I think it was always in the back of my mind that the chance was there, especially since his mother still lives next door to Marnie. It shouldn’t surprise me that he’s so standoffish now. It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. A lot of life has been lived. But I can’t shake the feeling that while my path was filled with opportunity and growth, Eli’s was clearly paved with the opposite.

“You answered!” she exclaims into the receiver, her familiar voice immediately breaking up the rock I’ve been feeling in my stomach every time she calls.

In truth, I’ve been afraid to explain to her what happened between me and Brad before I left, or how I ended up leaving things. She’d be right on board with us living together, calling me names for throwing away what she believes is a perfect match for me.

“I did. What’s up?” I ask hesitantly, mouthing an apology to Eli as he drives us out of town. In all the chaos from before, I’d forgotten to ask him where we’re going for dinner.

“I talked to Brad about what happened,” she starts, immediately confirming that I’ve been right not to answer.

“I don’t want to talk about that right now, Nat,” I cut in before she can say more, watching Eli from the corner of my eye to see if her shrill voice is blasting through the receiver as loudly as I think it is.

If it is, he’s hiding it very well. His lips are still slightly tugged in a frown, his usually pale cheeks painted pink. His entire appearance is so conflicted—at ease but still so tense. He isn’t the same boy I’d grown up with. I wondered if there's even a trace of me left from that time but immediately hope there isn’t. I’ve spent years trying to stomp her out. Although it seems as if the moment we start sharing oxygen, I lose a significant amount of brain cells. Nothing new there.

My chest tightens and knees shake each time I think about what we did yesterday.

“Okay, okay no more personal talk. Let’s talk business.” I hear her shuffling papers around, clearing her throat to switch gears from friends to client and agent. “So, they loved the new book pitch, just like I knew they would. We can talk about the timeline when you get home, but that’s not why I’m so excited to talk to you.”

“What is it?”

Under normal circumstances, having a pitch approved by the agency is enough to have us pouring champagne and celebrating as we go over the terms of my new contracts. Whatever it is, it has to be big.

“We got a movie deal!” she shrieks into my ear.

“What?”

She lets out an ear-piercing scream that has me pulling the phone away from my face. Eli looks over skeptically, his brows raised in question.

---