That Thing Between Eli & Gwen

“Mom.” I held on to her shoulders; she was being ridiculous. “You like Hannah. I like Hannah. Why wouldn’t I be sure? You're finally getting the daughter you always wanted.”

“I know.” She placed her hand on my chest. Even with heels, she was still a full head shorter than me. “I just can’t shake this feeling. Who knew letting you go would be so hard?”

My mother and her dramatics, I’d thought. If only we had listened to her gut.

“You still have me,” Logan added, proving he was more like her than our father.

We both looked at him before turning away.

“Wow! Okay, I see how it is,” he muttered before walking toward the door, leaving our mother laughing.

“If your father was still with us, I’m sure he would have been proud of the man you’ve become, Eli. I know I am.” She wiped away a few tears.

I wasn’t sure what else to do but give her my arm. I was never the affectionate one, but that day I went through so many different emotions.

She held on to me tightly as we entered the grounds. She and Hannah had gone crazy with the decorations, but they really enjoyed it, and I honestly didn't care. I just wanted to skip to the important part.

I stood in front of all our family and friends with Logan to my left. Finally the music started, and my gaze shot toward the doors of the mansion, waiting for them to open. I had known she would be beautiful, but she was absolutely radiant.

God, I’m so lucky.

With every step she took, the grin on my face grew, until her hand was in mine.

“You look beautiful,” I whispered.

She smiled, but didn’t say anything in return. In that instant, as the pastor began to speak, all the moments we’d ever shared together played in my mind: the very first time we met…our first operation together…first kiss…first night… Everything ran though my mind like a movie, the highlights of our life.

And this is just the beginning of so much more. Today is—

“Hannah,” someone called.

Hearing her name pulled me from thoughts. My head snapped to the man standing in the aisle with his hand outstretched to my soon-to-be-wife.

“Sebastian?” Logan questioned beside me.

Sebastian… The man calling out to my Hannah was Sebastian Evans, one of Logan’s closest friends. We weren’t close, but I knew of him.

“Hannah,” he called again.

Enough! My mind hollered as I took a step forward, but it was too late.

Hannah released my hand. She let go and never looked back as she ran toward him.

I stood there, too shocked to move or speak. That moment was hell on earth.

For hours, I could not speak. My mind was blank. I tried to understand, but my brain, my heart—both were shot. I leaned on the balcony of the dressing room, staring out at the ocean until the sunset. Only then did I regain function of my body, and I ran. Stupidly, I ran out toward the front. All the guests, with the exception of family and the cleaning crew, had left. When I got outside, I saw my brother ripping the “Just Married” sign from the Bentley.

“Eli—”

“Keys.” I walked around to the driver's side of the car. As I opened the door, I saw a woman dressed in blue step in front of me. She had long wavy brown hair and warm brown skin. Her brown eyes were now puffy and red, presumably from crying. She stood tall with her head held high.

“This is your number, right?” She pointed to the phone number on the RSVP card before quickly texting something on her phone and adding, “Please kick his ass.” She turned toward her taxi without waiting for another word from me.

“Gwen!” Logan called out to her before groaning. “Jesus. He was her fucking fiancé.”

Feeling my phone vibrate, I pulled it out of my coat pocket.

He left his email open on my phone. I got a confirmation for a room they just booked.