Sam looked at
Eli over his shoulder. “Thanks, man. I think we just might.”
***
Jamie had only
been home from work for a few minutes when someone knocked on her
door. She checked the peephole and saw her brother with a bag of
her favorite Chinese take-out. Pulling the door open, she reached
for the paper bag. “Bless you.”
Den laughed.
“You know I hate eating alone.”
“What? No date
tonight?” Jamie asked, leading him into the kitchen. She handed Den
plates and utensils before they went to the coffee table to set out
their feast.
“No. I was
working earlier, covering for a buddy for a few hours. I’m kind of
tired.”
Jamie scooped
shrimp fried rice onto her plate before settling back against the
cushions. Den pulled a pair of chopsticks from the bag, and she
felt a sharp pang of sadness. Eli always teased her about eating
Chinese with a fork. Whenever they ate it together, he fed her with
chopsticks and teased her mercilessly by holding the food just out
of her reach. She still missed him so much it felt like a physical
ache most days.
“You got any
plans tonight?” Den asked, piling food on his plate.
He’d been
blessed with a metabolism Jamie would have killed for. He could eat
and eat and never gain a pound. Of course, he also worked out more
than any man she knew. Except Eli. It always came back to Eli. “No,
I was just gonna turn in early. I’m kind of tired too.”
“Been out with
anyone interesting lately?”
“No. Why?” Her
brother didn’t usually grill her about her personal life. He
subscribed to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, claiming it
creeped him out to think about her hooking up with random guys. Not
that she’d ever been into hooking up with random guys. She thought
she’d loved two men in her life, but after her conversation with
Brent, she realized it had always been Eli. Too bad she couldn’t
have realized that sooner.
“Just curious.”
They settled into a comfortable silence, enjoying their food. Den
said, “I ran into Eli today.”
So Den did have
another reason for his visit and the questions about her personal
life. “That’s nice.” She was dying to ask about Eli. If she did,
Den would know being apart from Eli was killing her, and she didn’t
want to worry her family.
“I don’t think
he’s gonna be seeing that Belinda chick anymore.”
She tried to
concentrate on chewing and swallowing without choking, but it
wasn’t easy. “What makes you think that?”
“She was
hooking up with her ex-husband.”
“How do you
know that?” Jamie felt her heartbeat accelerating, but she was
determined to maintain a calm façade in front of her brother.
“We work
together.” Den grinned. “Small world, huh?”
“Yeah, small
world.” Jamie continued taking small bites of food. When her
brother didn’t elaborate, she had to ask, “You told Eli about
Belinda seeing her ex?”
“Someone had
to. He’s my friend. I felt I owed it to him.”
Jamie didn’t
know if Den thought he was doing her a favor by telling Eli the
truth, perhaps paving the way for her, but nothing had changed. Eli
hadn’t called her, and even if he did, what would she say? She
didn’t want to be a second choice, the woman he called just because
things didn’t work out with Belinda. Jamie loved Eli, but she
couldn’t live with knowing he’d rather be with someone else. The
little voice in her head reminded her she’d sort of done the same
thing with Brent. That felt like a lifetime ago.
“You were right
to tell him,” Jamie said quietly. “How did he take it?”
“It was kind of
hard to tell. He left shortly after. I had a feeling he was headed
to see her. I think her ex was still at her place.” Den chuckled.
“I didn’t get a call to bail E out of jail, so I guess he didn’t
beat the hell out of the guy.”
“It’s not
funny, Den.” She hated seeing Eli fight, though it was a common
occurrence on the ice. She always held her breath and watched
through her fingers, hoping he would come out on top, or at least
skate away unharmed.
“So, you gonna
call him now?”
“No.”
Den scowled.
“Why the hell not?”
“We tried being
friends, but Eli was right. It’s just too hard. We need to figure
out how to move on, and we can’t do that if we’re in each other’s
lives. If it’s not Belinda, it’ll just be someone else. He was
pretty clear last time we talked. He doesn’t want to be my friend
anymore.” Saying it hurt, but Den needed to know the truth so he’d
stop pushing for a reconciliation that wouldn’t happen.
“You are two of
the most stubborn people I’ve ever met.” Den set his empty plate on
the coffee table. “Why can’t you see what’s right in front of
you?”
“I don’t know
what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do.”
Den sighed. “He loves you, Jamie. And I know you love him.”
“You don’t know
anything for sure.” She wanted to believe her brother was right,
but she was afraid to put herself out there again.
“Fine.” Den
stood up, glowering at her with his hands on his hips. “You think I
don’t know shit?” He threw his hands up in the air. “Y’all know it
all. See if you smartasses can figure out a way to be happy apart.
I’m outta here!”
***
Eli lay in bed
staring at his iPhone. Hers was the first name in his contact list.
Within a few seconds, he could be talking to her, saying all the
things he’d been dying to say. Before he could decide whether to
take the leap of faith, his phone rang.
Den.
“Hey, buddy,”
Eli said.
“How’d things
go with Belinda this afternoon? I assume that’s where you were
headed when you left Jimmy’s.”
“Yeah, that’s
where I went.” Eli closed his eyes and let the darkness surround
him. He was tired, but he couldn’t sleep without dreaming of Jamie.
“You were right. Her ex was there.”
“You two didn’t
get into it, did you?”
“No, we kept it
civil. In fact, I suggested they give it another go, see if they
can find a way to make it work.”
Den chuckled.
“That doesn’t sound like a guy who’s too broken up about losing his
girlfriend.”
“Belinda was
never really my girlfriend.” Eli rolled over and stared at the
picture on his bedside table. With the moonlight filtering in
through the sheer curtains, he saw it clearly. It was a candid of
him and Jamie just outside his dressing room a few years ago. His
team had just advanced to the next round of the playoffs. He was
happy and excited. So was she. They’d shared an intimate kiss, and
one of his teammates captured it. Eli’d always told his teammates
Jamie was just a friend, but if they made a play for her, he’d kill
them.
“I had dinner
with my sister tonight,” Den said.
In spite of his
earlier warnings, Eli knew Den too well to think he’d let it end
there. He understood why Den felt compelled to help. He’d have felt
the same way if his sister was hurting. Assuming Jamie was hurting.
He had no idea.
“How is she?”
Eli had to know. The wondering was driving him crazy.
“She’s okay.
Same as you, I guess. Just getting by, one day at a time.”
That’s how it
felt. Eli had to give himself a pep talk just to get out of bed. “I
didn’t want to hurt her, Den. I hope you know that.”
“I just have
one question for you, man. Are you still in love with her?”
Eli’s gut
clenched. After living without her for a few weeks, he loved her
more than ever. “Yeah.”
“If I can get
her to agree to meet for dinner tomorrow night at the Hermitage
Hotel, will you show?”
Hermitage was
an upscale hotel and restaurant in the downtown core. With its
romantic ambience, it could be the perfect place for him and Jamie
to reconnect.
Assuming she was open to the possibility…
“Just tell me
what time. I’ll be there.”
Jamie didn’t really
feel like breaking bread with her brother again, but he hadn’t
given her much choice. He said their parents wanted them both
there, though he wouldn’t tell her why.
The Hermitage
Hotel was an architectural masterpiece with ornate moldings, high
ceilings, and expansive windows. It was rich with history, and many
famous people had dined and stayed there. Jamie usually took the
time to appreciate the surroundings, but she wasn’t in the
mood.
Walking into
the dimly lit restaurant, Jamie looked for her family. Her eyes
fell on Eli instead
. Oh God.
He looked incredible in a black
suit with gray shirt and silk tie. His head was bowed and he
appeared to be reading the wine list.
Oh no.
He was waiting
for a date. She couldn’t dine in the same restaurant as Eli and his
date.
As though he
sensed her eyes, he looked up and smiled. He walked toward her,
taking in her slim black dress and high heels. “You look
incredible, Jamie.” He brushed a kiss across her cheek. “It’s so
good to see you.”
The familiar
scent of his cologne made her want to weep, but she forced a wobbly
smile. “It’s good to see you too, Eli.” Looking around, she prayed
her family would appear. “Um, I’m supposed to be meeting my parents
and Den. You haven’t seen them, have you?”
“They’re not
coming.”
“Excuse me?”
Her heart hammered. How could her brother do that to her?
“Den thought we
should talk.”
She looked over
Eli’s shoulder to his table. “You mean you’re not meeting a
date?”
He offered his
arm with a disarming smile that made her heart do a little tap
dance. “I hope I am, if she’ll have me?”
“Um…” She
wanted to jump up and down and scream
yes
, but she needed to
make sure they were on the same page. “As friends? Or…”
“Tonight can be
whatever you want it to be, Jamie. I just want to talk, spend some
time with you, and apologize for my behavior that night--”
She silenced
him with a soft kiss. He hadn’t expected the gesture, but she
couldn’t help herself. When she thought of all of the time she’d
wasted holding back, it made her sad. But Eli was there, and he
wanted to share a meal with her. That was more than she’d dared
hope for a day ago. “You have nothing to apologize for. If anyone
should be sorry, it’s me.”
He surrounded
her face with his hands, staring into her eyes. “I’ve missed you so
goddamn much.”
“Me too,” she
whispered. She didn’t trust herself to say another word without
bursting into tears in the middle of the crowded restaurant.
As though he
sensed her need for privacy, he led her toward their secluded
corner table. Holding out her chair, he waited for her to sit
before sliding onto the upholstered bench seat across from her.
“I’m so glad you came,” he said, reaching for her hand.
“I didn’t want
to.” She couldn’t take her eyes off his. Something was different
about him, almost hypnotic. “Den insisted. If I’d known you would
be here, I wouldn’t have given him such a hard time.”
He brushed his
lips over her fingertips as he closed his eyes. He’d never been
like that with her before. In high school, they’d been too young
and destitute to enjoy a romantic, fancy dinner, and in the years
since then, they’d been boxed into their “friends” roles, fearing
to step outside of them.
“I was sorry to
hear about what happened with Belinda,” Jamie said. She wasn’t
really, but she needed to know how he felt.
He lowered her
hand and sat back, regarding her carefully before smiling. “You’re
not sorry it didn’t work out with her.”
“You’re right,
I’m not.” Being honest with him felt so good. “She wasn’t good
enough for you, you know.”
“Really?” He
tried and failed to keep a straight face. “Know anyone who might
be? Good enough for me, that is.”
“Maybe.” Jamie
set a white linen napkin in her lap and studied the menu as Eli
ordered her favorite bottle of wine. He knew everything about her,
yet he still didn’t know what was in her heart. She would have to
rectify that.
***
Eli felt as
though he had his best friend back. He and Jamie talked and
laughed, reminiscing about people they hadn’t seen or thought of in
years. He felt as though they needed to remember the good times
before they could claim the future he believed they may both want.
Being with her felt so right. He had to believe she felt it
too.
“Remember when
your truck broke down by old man Bell’s farmhouse?” Jamie covered
her mouth with her hand as her eyes sparkled with amusement.
How could Eli
forget being held at gunpoint with his jeans around his ankles?
Since they were stuck out in the middle of nowhere, he and Jamie
had decided to make the most of it by hopping in the bed of his
truck with a blanket. When the dogs started barking, Mr. Bell ran
down the driveway with his gun over his shoulder, but Eli and Jamie
were already too far gone to stop.
“The look on
his face…” Eli shook his head, grinning. “I thought the poor old
guy was gonna have a heart attack.”
“My mama
couldn’t look Mrs. Bell in the eye for months after that,” Jamie
laughed. “It seemed like it was all over town by the next
morning.”
“Maybe not all
over town, but definitely all over the church. We were moralless
kids--”
“You may have
been,” Jamie said, winking. “I was the innocent victim taken in by
the bad boy intent on corrupting me.”
Eli threw back
his head and laughed until a few people stared. He’d already been
approached for a dozen autographs. He didn’t want any more
interruptions. “You ever wish we could start over?” The waiter
placed the black leather folder containing their check on the
table. Eli slipped his platinum credit card inside and handed it
back as he waited for Jamie’s response. Everything hinged on her
answer.