Home / 100 Unanswered Calls / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of 100 Unanswered Calls: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Elliot's POVThe first thing I did after leaving the hospital was walk into a phone store and get a new SIM card.I kept my old number active in a spare phone. It was useful for the occasional verification code. Mostly, though, I wanted to see how long it would take Sloane Marlowe to realize she'd lost me.She didn't notice right away.Of course she didn't. She was busy.Busy escorting Tristan Bellamy to industry launches. Busy introducing him to people who could help his career. Busy playing the part of the endlessly dependable Sloane, the woman who would drop anything for him.I knew all this thanks to Tristan's social media.He seemed to enjoy documenting every favor she did him. Every carefully framed photo and smug caption delivered the same message: he mattered to her in a way no one else did.Meanwhile, I packed my things, called a moving company, and started applying for jobs.A lot of jobs.Three years ago, when Sloane's career began taking off, I'd walked away from

Chapter 2

"No. I'm just tired."My voice was so even it gave nothing away."Tired?" Sloane let out an incredulous laugh. "What exactly do you have to be tired of? You stay home all day. Stop sulking and make dinner. I'm hungry."I didn't move. Instead, I nodded toward the suitcase at her feet."You can unpack your own things, too. I have work to do."I went back into the study and shut the door, leaving her alone in the living room, her expression stormy and unreadable.That night, she ordered takeout. For the first time I could remember, she also unpacked her own suitcase.When we went to bed, she tried to wrap an arm around me from behind."Eli, I know I've been neglecting you lately," she said, much more gently than before. "Don't stay mad, okay? Your birthday's coming up. I booked a table at Starlight. We'll celebrate properly."Starlight was the most exclusive date-night restaurant in the city. I'd mentioned wanting to go countless times, and each time Sloane had said work was too

Chapter 3

The tiny hope I'd felt that morning, standing beside Sloane in front of our mirror, popped like a soap bubble.As they passed my table, Sloane's eyes locked on mine.I immediately lowered my head and studied the menu as if I hadn't seen her. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched her stop short.Tristan followed her gaze."What is it?"Before she could answer, he tugged her farther into the restaurant."Come on. You promised we'd get the tuna tartare today."I took a sip of water. Sloane kept looking back as he pulled her away, but she didn't come over.A server showed them to a private dining room.I turned my attention to the menu and ordered the crudo platter.A few minutes later, my phone buzzed. The design firm I'd interviewed with had emailed me onboarding documents. I was about to open them when a new post from Tristan appeared.Nine pictures. The first was a close-up of two hands clasped together."Five years later. Same taste. Same person," the caption said.The c

Chapter 4

"Where have you been?" she demanded. "I called you more than seventy times! Do you have any idea how worried I've been?"Then her voice rose another notch."Do you even remember what today is?"I watched her unravel without feeling a thing.There had been nights when I'd asked her those same questions. Nights she'd spent with Tristan while I called and called, terrified and furious and desperate for an explanation.All I'd ever gotten back was a weary sigh."Eli, stop making a scene. Could you be a little more understanding? Have some compassion for once."I'd thought if I were more considerate, more patient, more accommodating, she'd eventually appreciate me.Looking back, it had only ever been wishful thinking."I've been busy," I said.Even I barely recognized how calm I sounded.Sloane blinked. Guilt flickered across her face."Eli, did you see something yesterday? Because you're misunderstanding. Tristan and I..."I raised a hand to stop her. Then I reached into my ba

Chapter 5

Her eyes dropped to my hoodie and jeans, the combination she'd once declared she hated most."You're wearing that?" she asked, frowning.Then she caught herself and softened her expression."Well, as long as you're happy."I quietly straightened the property papers inside my bag and paid her little act no mind.She'd never liked these clothes, but I did. In them, I felt closer to the person I'd been before I reshaped myself around her preferences.I wasn't Sloane's perfectly composed, endlessly agreeable Elliot anymore.I was a man who could make his own decisions. A man allowed to like what he liked.The neon sign outside Starlight glowed against the evening sky.I'd dreamed of spending my birthday here for years. Now I stood at the entrance and felt nothing at all.Sloane led us straight to a window table overlooking the entire city, as if she'd been there many times. She opened the menu and began recommending dishes."Their foie gras is supposed to be incredible. And the

Chapter 6

Sloane's fork and knife slipped from her fingers and struck the plate with a sharp clatter.For several seconds, she didn't move. Then she lunged across the table and grabbed my hand."Eli, you've misunderstood. Tristan and I are just friends, I swear. I can explain what happened just now. I can explain everything..."I'd never seen her so frightened.I slid the agreement toward her again."Sign them, Sloane. Let's end this with some dignity."She shot to her feet. Her chair shrieked against the floor, drawing stares from the surrounding tables.Only then did she seem to realize how loud she'd become."Eli, please," she whispered. "Can we talk outside?"She caught my wrist and led me onto an empty terrace.The night air was cool, clearing the last of the restaurant's warmth from my skin.Sloane suddenly threw her arms around me so tightly it hurt."I can't lose you," she choked out. "Please don't leave. You're the only person I love. I don't know how I'd live without you."

Chapter 7

Sloane's retreat was so obvious that Tristan's hand hung awkwardly in the air."This isn't Eli's fault," she said. "We're the ones who need to set boundaries."She swallowed."We're only friends, Tristan. I have a boyfriend. I need to consider his feelings."Tears gathered in Tristan's eyes."How can you say that? Don't you remember college? You promised you'd always look after me."He leaned against her shoulder, crying."I'll explain everything to Elliot, okay? This is my fault. I never meant for him to misunderstand. I'll do anything you want. Just don't shut me out."He lifted his face toward her, his eyes full of pleading.Sloane remembered their youthful promises. She remembered how thrilled she'd been when he moved home after five years overseas. For a moment, her resolve wavered.Then she saw Elliot walking away from the restaurant, his back straight, his steps steady.The man who'd once looked at her as though she were his whole world had finally stopped wanting her

Chapter 8

A month later, Diane assigned me my first project to lead on my own.After our Friday meeting, she asked me to stay behind."Elliot, I knew you wouldn't disappoint me," she said. "You're genuinely talented. Don't let one bad chapter of your life convince you otherwise. You have a future worth looking forward to."I tightened my grip on my notebook, suddenly overwhelmed by gratitude.She knew what had happened to me. She'd never pressed me for details. She'd simply given me a chance and trusted me to earn it.I threw myself into the work.Every so often, my old phone lit up with another message from Sloane. I blocked each new number and went on with my day.Then Greg called. There was a buyer interested in purchasing the house outright, he said, and I needed to come in to finalize the paperwork.I stood outside the familiar front door and took a slow breath before letting myself in.I stopped short.Sloane was waiting inside. I'd never expected the buyer to be her.She'd lost

Chapter 9

I advanced to the next slide."Here's a comparable campaign that won an industry award just last week."The conference room went silent.Diane smiled faintly. A colleague in the corner gave me a discreet thumbs-up.Tristan's face darkened.When the meeting ended, I headed into the restroom. Tristan followed me inside.He leaned against the sink and looked me up and down."Nice performance in there," he said. "You really think switching jobs means you can start over?"I turned on the faucet and washed my hands."Still beats being the other man."He straightened abruptly."You little..." His mouth twisted. "If I hadn't gone abroad, do you seriously think Sloane would've looked twice at you?"Then he laughed without humor."Want to know why she didn't come home on your birthday that year? I told her I was afraid of the dark, and she stayed at my place all night.""And when you were in surgery..."I shut off the water and looked past him into the mirror.Sloane stood in the

Chapter 10

"Last month, Tristan went looking for proof she was cheating," Nate continued. "One of the guys shoved him down a flight of stairs. Broke a bone. His wife actually defended the guy."He shook his head."Once the fracture healed, Tristan went after the same man again and got beaten up. He's still in the hospital."I finished ironing my suit and glanced out the window.The moon was bright. Tomorrow would be a beautiful day."Get some sleep," I told him. "We've got an early start."In the dark, Nate's breathing soon settled into a steady rhythm.I lay awake a little longer, staring at the ceiling, perfectly at peace.Those people and those years belonged to someone I'd stopped being.* * *The doors of the wedding hall opened slowly.I stood at the altar and watched Hannah walk toward me.She wore a white gown and had stars in her eyes.I'd designed the dress myself. Countless roses were embroidered along the skirt, one for every bit of love I wanted to give her.When she re

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