Walk the Line (Man of the Month 12)

She had found it--and he'd tossed it all away. He thought he was protecting Faith; she knew that. But he wasn't. All he was doing was putting a Band-Aid over the wound Olivia had inflicted.

He'd never find a woman he trusted to stay, mostly because he didn't believe anyone would stay. He'd been burned, and the only one who could make him get over it was him.

Which was all very profound and reasonable, but what the hell was she supposed to do now? She loved him. Did she just walk away? Did she fight, even if fighting was futile?

Did she keep crying into her pillow and watching sappy romances that left her bawling at the end?

No, she told herself firmly, she did not.

Instead she hauled her butt off the bed, then marched to the bathroom where she showered, brushed her teeth, and put on enough makeup to feel human again.

Then she grabbed her purse and her car keys and headed for her parents' house.

Of course, it wasn't them she wanted to see. She already knew that Tyree thought Brent was too old for her, and loaded with a bit of baggage called Faith. Her mom might have a different perspective, but Elena wasn't inclined to risk it.

Still, it didn't matter. They were both at The Fix. Her mom was shooting Matthew and Griffin for the calendar, and her dad was there meeting with Easton about the eminent domain action.

No, it wasn't them she wanted to see. She was looking for Eli. He might only be sixteen, but they'd had some long talks about their parents. He'd lost his mom when he was young, and they'd bonded over their shared blood and odd parental situations.

He might not have advice, but he was a shoulder to cry on. And at that moment she was tired of crying on pillows.

He was fortunately home, and when she'd called him from the car to give him the quick rundown, he'd told her to come on over.

Now he pulled open the door just a few seconds after she rang the bell. "Wow," he said, "you said you felt like shit, and you look like it, too."

"And to think that most of my life I didn't realize what I was missing by not having a little brother."

He snorted, and she followed him inside. "I really am sorry," he said when they settled at the kitchen table. "I mean, breakups suck."

"That they do."

"So, what can I do?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I just wanted someone to talk to. Which I did over the phone. Any brilliant advice come your way while I was making the drive over here?"

"Yeah, but you're not gonna like it."

"What?"

"Talk to Dad. Nobody knows Brent better than he does except Jenna and Reece. So I guess that's my advice, too. Talk to them."

She'd considered it, but she happened to know they were hard at work on the baby's room, and she hated to interrupt for her own relationship angst.

"Then Dad's your best bet," Eli said, after she told him as much.

"He'll just say that I was stupid to get involved with an older man."

"Were you?"

"No," she said indignantly. "Our ages aren't the problem. It's that bitch Olivia. She poisoned him."

"So argue with Dad. He'll put up a fight, but he'll come around if you're right. And maybe he'll have some advice. Or at least you'll have another shoulder, right?"

She couldn't help but smile.

"Listen, I'm really sorry, but while you were on your way over, the hospital called. And you know that internship I've got? Well, they need me to come in because someone else called out sick."

"Oh, yeah. Go. I don't want to hold you up."