Chapter 12

Eli's POV

What do you mean you talked to Adam?” Her voice was cold and grating. Her eyes were locked on mine so hard, it was difficult to look away.

The Adam? she asked. I scratched the back of my neck. There is only one Adam that we both know. Don't try to be funny, she said. You are all smiles because you talked to Adam. My smile faded slightly, and I cleared my throat. I wasn't smiling because of you. You were smiling because of him. Eli, what the hell is wrong with you? I blinked. What? She stared at me like I had suddenly grown horns. I don't understand why you're angry, I said quietly. Oh, you don't understand why I'm angry? she said, looking around dramatically. I sighed because I knew this was about to turn into a full lecture, like it always did with her. You are sitting here, looking like someone just handed you the winning lottery ticket, and the reason is a person who made your life hell for years. He apologized, I said in a small voice, because even for my mouth to say those words made me realize how silly it sounded. She laughed, sharp and disbelieving, and I knew it was because nothing was funny. He apologized, and somehow that fixed everything, that erased the years of trauma. She got off her chair and started pacing. I didn't have an answer to say to her because anything I said could make her angrier. You know what that boy did to you? Man, I corrected quietly, and she flipped around so quick, her hair almost got in her mouth. Huh? He's a man now. She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Oh, because he wears Prada suits now, or designer loafers. I stared at her, not saying another word, or because he does interviews, he gets photographed for magazines, and he has millions of followers and women who scream when he walks into restaurants. That's not what I meant. That's apparently enough for you. He's a changed person. What changed? And how do you know he's changed? I've been working with him for weeks. She went still. You never told me this. I didn't know how, because I knew you were going to react like this. Don't even make this about me. But it's the truth. Look at how you're reacting because I said I talked to him. You didn't know how to tell your only sibling that you're spending every day with a guy who bullied you. He isn't bullying me. Wow. Wait, just listen to me. No, she cut in. You listen to me. Her voice cracked. You spent years after years trying to get over what he and his members, his friends, did to you. You couldn't watch hockey. You froze when someone raised their voice at you. You stuttered because you almost forgot how to speak and how to be comfortable with hearing your own voice. You had to go to therapy because of him. My throat tightened. So don't sit here. I watched the brother that I know turn into someone else I could barely recognize. So you don't get to sit there and tell me that he said sorry, and because you spent a couple weeks with him, he is suddenly a different person. He is. You don't know that, she said, hitting on every single word. She shook her head. You are thinking with your dick. My mouth fell open. What? You heard me. I've seen his recent pictures. You are attracted to him. He's a hot man. I get it, and that is why you have suddenly lost your sense of reasoning. This isn't about sex, I said quietly. Oh? Oh, it's not? You want to tell me that you have never imagined him bending you over? You haven't? I blinked, because I had, and I had done more than that. I had touched myself to the sound of his voice. I had touched myself to interviews of him, and the subtle brush of his skin against mine has almost made me feral. He's a changed person, and I understand why you would not believe that, but we actually talked. He makes me feel comfortable. He listens when I talk. He doesn't laugh when I stutter. He could have been cruel and made jokes and treated me like I was still that kid in high school, but he doesn't. Because he's not in the position to you. He is physiotherapist. You are helping him get back on his feet. Why would he treat you wrongly? Tell me. I looked at her because I knew that she had a point. People change. The only thing that changed about that man is that he spies grew thicker, he got six-pack, maybe had a hairline surgery, and his jaws got more chiseled. She grabbed her purse. I should... believing. But your friendly spent. I have work to do, she cut in, and I knew that she was angry, and rightfully so. Oh, she turned around, and my stomach dropped because there was a look on her face. There's something else, what? I ran into someone earlier today who she exhalated. Marcus. Everything in me suddenly went still and my smile disappeared. She watched my face. Your ex is in town. Don't spend too much time thinking about the hockey player who can't walk.