That Thing Between Eli and Gwen(68)

“No, he’s doing this because I’m seeing someone else.”

“You are?” Her blonde eyebrow rose.

“Yes,” I said proudly. “And I don’t want to lose millions, or be in a fight with him for months or years. What is my other option?”

She took a step to the side and opened the door to her town car. “We can go meet with him and see how to work out a schedule, since you are working on other projects. Your contract ends in a few months anyway; there is no point in going to war now.”

“Fine. But try and stop me from murdering him while we’re there,” I muttered, getting in the car.

“If he gives me an opening, I will sue for anything I can think of.”

She was trying to make me feel better, and it was working.

Sebastian Evans was a spineless little prick.





Eli


I walked into my mother's office, and the first thing I saw was her crying in Logan’s arms. “What in the—”

He nodded to the painting on the table and mouthed 'Guinevere'.

She strikes again. I had gone by Toby and Molly’s room again to see them both staring up at her painting, laughing and talking together about it. They were so happy, I almost forgot she was even sick. It was why I had wanted to go see Guinevere. Taking a seat across from them, I tried to touch the painting.

My mother smacked my hand away.

“Mom!” I yelled, pulling back my hand.

She wiped her eyes. “No one is touching it until I can have it framed and put up in your father’s study.”

In all these years, she had not moved any of my father's things from the house. Like he was coming back at any moment. She knew he wasn’t, but she said she liked to close her eyes and sometimes just forget.

“Is she still here?” she asked, looking down at it.

“No, she had an appointment,” I said to her.

“Let me know if she comes back,” she whispered, nodding to herself. “It looks so much like him. She even got the little scar on the side of his chin he got from playing soccer.”

“She said when she came to visit you in your office, she got a good look at all the pictures in here, and she was able to look him up online,” I said with a smile.

“When you guys are all around like this, grown up, I can really see it. You both are like him in so many ways. Did you know he wanted to give up medicine, too?” She glanced between us.

“What? No, he didn’t.” I couldn’t believe it.

She nodded. “He was an amazing saxophone player. He was really into jazz. But in the end, he said it would always be a nice hobby.”

“Point one for the musicians.” Logan nodded to me, leaning back in the chair.

Ignoring him, I looked at her. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you always wanted to be just like him. I knew you, like me, couldn’t play an instrument to save your life, so I just let you focus on your books.”

Logan laughed so hard he snorted.

She smacked him on the leg.

“Ma!” he yelled, rubbing his thigh, and then smiled.

“Don’t laugh at your older brother. If it weren’t for him setting a good example for you, God knows you would have been living in dive bars.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mom.” He frowned, glaring my way.

“Oh Eli, I have something to tell you. Hannah asked to be transferred to one of the inner city clinics for a while. I have no idea why. What did you say to her?”

“The truth,” I said, pulling out my buzzing pager. I stood, already at the door. “I have to go.” I didn’t wait to hear their reply, or even wait for the elevator. Pushing open the stairwell door, I ran down three steps at a time, spiraling downward until I got to their floor. A nurse headed toward the room, right beside me. “What happened?” I yelled, moving toward the bed.

Molly’s tiny body wouldn’t stop shaking, her eyes rolling into the back of her head. And then she just went still.

“Molly! I need a crash cart in here!” I yelled.

“Molly! Molly, sweetheart, wake up! Molly—”

“Get him out!” I hollered over her as the nurse handed me the defibrillator.

Come on, Molly.





Guinevere


After Sebastian left me, I told myself to listen to my instincts from then on. I had known something was off that day, but I’d ignored it. I wouldn’t make that mistake again. I would listen to my gut, no matter what happened. And sitting there with him, everything within me told me not to stay there any longer than I needed to.

His office was filled with the same overly done, pricey bullshit as before. He had floors done in marble, his walls finished in the nicest wood, and all his awards hung up behind him proudly. On his desk was a pompous nameplate, his name carved in glass with Founder & CEO right under it.