The Trouble With Falling

“Agreed,” I say, holding out my pinky to him.

He hooks his around mine and we both lean in and kiss our fists at the same time.

“So, we’re alright?” I ask as we climb out of the truck.

“Yeah, we’re okay.”

I let Eli lead me into the house and I paste on a wide smile as I greet his parents. Susan bustles over and wraps me up in a bear hug.

His mom has surprised me and already made dinner for us.

“I thought that maybe the fancy chef would like a break for one night,” she says as she wraps her arm around my shoulder and gives me a tight squeeze.

“Thanks, Mrs. Grove. It smells delicious,” I tell her as she leads me over to the kitchen table.

The table is already set and there’s a roast with all of the fixings laid out in the middle of the table. Frank follows us into the dining room and gives me a quick hug before he makes a beeline for his chair. Susan sits down next to her husband, leaving Eli and me to sit across from them.

We all pile our plates with food and listen as Susan talks all through dinner. I don’t know how she manages to clear her plate and talk but she does. Susan tells us about the wedding decorations and food, as if we weren’t there at the wedding too. She moves on to how the bridesmaids almost got into a fistfight when they went to catch the bouquet. She shares some gossip about who got drunk and made a fool of themselves and about how the maid of honor disappeared with one of the groomsmen for half an hour and came back all ruffled.

She gives us a knowing look after that story, and I can feel my face flush. Eli ducks his head, shoving half a roll into his mouth to avoid answering.

I listen and laugh at all of the appropriate parts, but Eli remains silent throughout the whole meal. I can tell that he’s tired, and I’m sure that this isn’t the first time today that he’s heard all of these stories, so I don’t think anything of it. I can tell that his parents are trying to figure out what’s going on between us. His mom probably wants to ask me what happened last night and I promise myself that I’ll try to avoid her for the rest of the night so I don’t have to answer her questions.

That plan is quickly dashed.

“I’m going to take a look at the snowblower with Eli,” Frank says as he carries his dishes over to the sink.

“Have fun,” Susan says, clearing her own dishes.

I try to give Eli a warning look. Don’t leave me alone with her, my eyes scream at him and he gives me a helpless look as his dad passes him his coat.

I helpSusan clear the table and do the dishes while Frank heads outside to help Eli fix the snowblower in the garage. Susan waits until the garage door closes behind the guys before she pounces.

“Are you and Eli alright? You seemed a little quiet at dinner tonight?” she asks, studying my face for answers.

“I think we’re both just tired. Too much excitement at the wedding last night,” I say with a grin.

I’m hoping that bringing up the wedding helps distract her from what’s happening between Eli and me. It doesn’t work.

“Or maybe after the wedding,” she says with a knowing look and I blush again.

I shrug, trying to think of something to change the subject to.

“He’s never had much experience with women. I wasn’t sure that he was ever going to settle down,” she muses as we start to do the dishes.

He still hasn’t.

“He’s happy with you though. You have no idea what that means to me. To see him so happy.”

The back of my eyes start to itch and my throat starts to burn as I try to hold in the tears. I hate that I’ve been lying to these people. That they think that we’re a real couple when it was really all just some ruse.

“He’s going to mess up. He’s a man,” she says with a laugh and an eye roll. “Please, give him a chance to make it right. He needs you.”

Frank and Eli come back in then and save me from having to respond. Susan squeezes my hand as I hang up the dishtowel and I give her the best smile that I can manage. Eli gives me a look, silently asking if I’m alright. I give him a small nod.

Frank and Susan hug me goodbye. Their plane leaves really early tomorrow morning and they still need to pack, so they head off to do that as Eli and I bundle up and head back out to his truck.

The ride home is just as silent as the rest of the night. As the miles pass and we get closer and closer to my place, I start to get nervous. What the hell happens now? When his parents leave tomorrow, do we just never see each other again?

We’ve been getting along so well together. He’s my closest friend and confidante in this town. Hell, he’s the closest friend and confidante in the world. I don’t want to lose him.

Eli slows down and pulls over to the curb outside of my apartment. I unbuckle and have the passenger door open before he comes to a full stop.

“I’ll see you later,” I say as I hop out. “Tell your parents I said goodbye again and that I hope that they have a good flight!”

Eli gives me a confused look as I slam the truck door closed and jog up the stairs to my apartment. I guess that was pretty jolting. I just didn’t want to sit in the truck and listen to his awkward goodbye.

I thought it would be easier if I just ripped the Band-Aid off but it still stings. I tried to make things less awkward for us, but I have a feeling that I’ve only made it worse.

I groan as I head into the bedroom to get ready for bed.