Page 48 of Advice from a Sunflower

Chapter 25

Lyla

In hindsight, I should have known it was coming. I should have seen the signs and taken heed of the warnings. As always, I’m a step behind the people in The Hollow—never quite cunning enough, or spiteful enough, or conniving enough. I’m constantly reminded that I was born a transplant. I’ll never fully blend in with the people I grew up around.

It’s a Friday afternoon. I should be writing the next book Natalie pitched to my publisher weeks ago and preparing to send off the first draft. Instead, I’m watching the girls play on the swings at the park in the center of town. From my spot, I have a full view of every sad storefront and small town interaction that’s happening.

For the most part, my focus is on Gabby and Ally as they compete to see who can swing the highest and fight over the other swinging on the same pattern as them. I’m not sure what draws my attention to the grocery store. It’s probably the same thing that always draws me to him—an invisible pull that tugs each time he’s within a short distance. Either way, I see them clear as day and I’m immediately taken back to high school. As the girl on the outside looking in while the boy I’m hopelessly in love with locks lips with another girl. Not just any girl, but Emma.

My eyes swing over to Gabby and Ally again as my heart denies what I’ve just witnessed.

Emma remains in Eli’s arms and she looks more comfortable in that spot than I’ve ever felt with him. Like she belongs there. And she does—at least more than I ever have.

I feel like a fool as each interaction with him over the past few weeks replays in my mind. I thought we were moving forward and making progress. How stupid could I have been to once again ignore the warning signs? He told me he would destroy me. Here he is keeping his word. Like the naive little girl I can’t seem to shake from myself, I believed there was a chance something had changed. That there was a part of him that may have actually been serious about how much I allegedly hurt him. Now I know it was all a lie. Some sick joke to run back to Emma and laugh together at my expense.

I’m not sure if Eli or Emma ever noticed me sitting there. I don’t spare them another glance as I gather the girls and get them in my car to go back home. They protest, but eventually follow once I promise every dessert I can think of and a movie night.

Once we walk into Marnie’s foyer, I send the girls into the kitchen to wash up and greet their mom while I run upstairs and grab my laptop to book a flight home. It’s clear that I’ve overstayed my welcome here; The Hollow is beginning to reject me as it had seven years prior.

Marnie has stood her ground and refuses to even entertain the idea of leaving with me anymore. My relationship with Denise has been repaired as much as it can be without allowing time to heal the deep wounds of the past. Eli has obviously grown tired of my company. He’s accomplished what he set out to do the moment he saw my face at the grocery store.

“Hey, the girls are insisting you told them they could have ice cream and cookies tonight, but I was going to—” Marnie pauses in the doorway when she catches sight of my tear-covered face. I’m not aware I’m crying until I see the pity in her eyes as she slowly approaches the bed and sits beside me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Swiping away at the traitorous tears, I click the soonest flight I can find and add it to my cart as she watches quietly from beside me.

“Doesn’t seem like nothing.”

“I just think it’s time for me to go.”

“What did he do?” She sounds disappointed but doesn’t bother arguing with me.

“Who?”

“Eli.”

I’m not sure how she knows about us, though it doesn’t surprise me in the least. Marnie keeps her secrets tucked to her chest. Her friendship with Eli is one of them. I’ll never know just how close they really are, and I don’t even care anymore. “I’ll kill him. I told him not to do this."

She stands from the bed and storms down the stairs with heavy feet. I’ve only made it to the top of the stairs when she calls something out to the girls, busts through her front door, and heads in the direction of Eli’s house. I follow close behind, begging her not to do whatever it is she’s set on doing, but she ignores me. We stop on his porch and she offers me one last warning to run before she pounds on his front door with both fists.

His car is in the driveway, though that doesn’t mean he’s home. Emma could have picked him up earlier and taken him to her house. The weirdness of their situation hits me as soon as the worn, wood door flings open and stops Marnie’s beating on it.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Eli’s deep voice asks.

He looks more irritated than usual when he answers until he catches sight of Marnie. His face visibly softens. He can treat me like garbage all day, but he’ll never disrespect Marnie. I’m not sure how I lost sight of that.

“You’re a lying snake. You told me that whatever arrangement you two had going on was mutual. What did you do to have her buying the first flight home?” Marnie wastes no time shouting accusations. She digs her finger into Eli’s chest, pushing him back into his house a few steps.

His eyes swing over to mine, left brow lifted in intrigue. “Running home already, little Mouse?”

I ignore his taunting, instead focusing on begging my sister to stop whatever it is she thinks she’s doing. She’ll only make things worse.

“I never said it was anything he did, Marnie. It’s time for me to go home.”

“You don’t have to lie to me, Mouse. For some reason, he’s had it out for you since you landed.” Marnie glares at Eli. “Here I thought I’d be pickingyouup off the ground when she left. Turns out I’ll be kicking your ass instead.”

“I didn’t do anything to her. If she wants to leave again, that’s not on me. I will say I’m not surprised.” He glares at me, like somehow I’m the one who’s wrong for wanting my life to get back to normal. To leave this alternate reality. I’m not sure how many times I have to be taught a lesson about these people before it actually sticks. I need to stop being so trusting.

“Of course, you aren’t. I’m sure you and Emma had this planned out from the start, just like before. I’m the fool who believed you this time.” I hate my meek voice. I’ve spent seven years reinventing myself only to have it all stripped away within weeks of being in the place that molded me into the person I hated.

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