Page 31 of The One Who Risked it All

Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “Eli? The troublemaker? Don’t tell me you’re getting involved with him again.”

I felt my cheeks flush. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying, they’re not the villains you think they are. And I need you to trust me on this.”

As the words left my mouth, I realized how true they were. I did need Dad to trust me, because the truth was, I wasn’t even sure I trusted myself when it came to Eli Wells.

Dad’s face hardened, his disappointment etched in the deep lines around his eyes.

I stood up, my legs trembling slightly. “I’m not going to abandon my friends or treat them differently because of something that happened decades ago.”

The air in the room felt thick, heavy with unspoken words and lingering resentment. I could feel Dad’s disapproval radiating off him in waves, but I refused to back down. My heart raced as I grabbed my purse, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

“I should get going,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll see you later.”

As I walked out, I couldn’t shake the knot of unease in my stomach. Why did everything have to be so complicated?

Five minutes later, I pulled into Nathan and Rebecca’s driveway, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly at the sight of their cozy two-story house. The porch light was on, casting a warm glow over the front yard where the boys’ bikes lay scattered.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of my argument with Dad. As I approached the front door, I felt a smile tugging at my lips despite myself.

I opened the door, and there he was, sprawled on the couch, flipping through channels with a bored expression. A fire department T-shirt clung to his muscular frame, and I forced myself not to stare.

“Hey, stranger,” I said, plopping down next to him.

Eli’s face lit up with a grin that never failed to make me feel warm all over. “Well, if it isn’t my partner in crime. The boys are asleep. Did you have a good time at Bible study?”

I shrugged. “It was fine. What are we watching?”

He must have sensed something in my voice because his expression softened. “You okay, Carla? You seem a little... off.”

“Just family stuff. I stopped by my parents’ after small group,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “Nothing a good distraction won’t fix.”

Eli’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Distraction, huh? I think I can manage that.” He flipped to a channel playing reruns ofFriendsand turned to me with a triumphant grin. “How’s this for a blast from the past?”

As the familiar theme song filled the room, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. “Perfect,” I admitted, settling back into the cushions.

“So,” Eli said, his voice teasing, “on a scale of one to ‘I’m rubber, you’re glue,’ how mature was this family drama?”

I snorted, nearly choking on my water. “Let’s just say my dad’s still firmly in the ‘Wells family bad, fire hot, stars pretty’ camp.” I gave my best caveman impression with the words.

“Ah, the classics,” Eli nodded sagely. “And here I thought my boyish charm would have won him over by now.”

“I don’t think there is any risk of you winning him over anytime soon,” I retorted, but I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.

As we watched, trading quips and laughing at the on-screen antics, I found myself relaxing more and more. It was dangerous, this easy camaraderie with Eli. I knew I should keep my distance, but in moments like these, it was hard to remember why.

“You know,” Eli said during a commercial break, his voice softer now, “whatever’s going on with your family... I’m here to listen or distract you or whatever you need. Anytime. You know that, right?”

I looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his dark eyes. For a few seconds, I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like if things were different, if there wasn’t this invisible wall between us.

“I know,” I said quietly. “Thanks, Eli.”

He bumped his shoulder against mine playfully, breaking the moment. “Anytime, teach. Now, important question: Ross and Rachel—were they on a break?”

I groaned, throwing a pillow at his head. “Don’t even start!”

I leaned back against the side of the couch, feeling a sense of peace wash over me that I hadn’t experienced in ages. The tension from my earlier conversation with Dad slowly melted away, replaced by the comforting presence of Eli and the familiar sitcom hijinks playing out on screen.

As our laughter filled the room, I realized that for the first time all day, I felt truly at peace. And if a small part of me wished this moment could last forever? Well, that was a problem for another day.

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