A/N: I'm literally cringing at seeing that I've managed to let an entire year slip by without updating this fic. I've gotten reviews and messages requesting I continue. As you can see, I got my mojo back. Hopefully you guys will enjoy it! Please leave reviews as I always love getting feedback. This story is so close to being completed and I promise, it will get there. Just stay with me.
As he sat at the edge of the stage, Eli struggled to keep his eyes open. Beside him, a mug of coffee went neglected and grew cold as he centered his attention to the playbill in his hand. He stared down at it, his name plastered against the front. A proud smile played at his lips faintly as he thumbed through the pages. Eli arrived at the theatre an hour before he needed to be there; the rest of the cast and crew were scheduled to arrive at noon. Eli had barely managed to sleep for three hours the night before, his body far too riled up with anxiousness and adrenaline to rest for long. When he woke, he could hardly stand to remain at home, leaving his apartment in a haste to get to the theatre.
The day had finally come for him, his play set to open in just a few hours' time. It felt surreal to have it all come together. After months spent tirelessly prepping for the main event, devoting every possible spare moment and thought to the production, the time on the clock was quickly winding down. Ordinarily Eli would be wracked with fear, though he supposed it was far too early to say with certainty that he wouldn't lose his cool. He was sure once everyone arrived that his nerves would begin to kick in with a vengeance. But for the time being, with him alone inside the space, he felt a sense of calm wash over him.
He thought back to high school where his interest in theatre first began. To think that it would lead him to this point now was nothing short of remarkable. It wasn't his first show but it was certainly the first time he had the city's attention. It felt as if the world was watching him but Eli was confident that he'd be able to make good on all of the buzz surrounding him. He trusted in his team: the talented actors and skillful crew that worked around the clock to ensure that the night would go off without a hitch.
He had a partner in crime in Fiona, the one person who could sit through all highs and lows throughout the process and still walk away with a smile on her face. No matter what the night had in store for him, Eli would honestly be able to say that they'd given it their all. At the end of the day, that was all he could ask of his team, each member so crucial to the play's success.
As he looked up from the playbill, Eli stared out at the empty seats before him. Soon enough they would all be filled as the production managed to be completely sold out for its first night. It was a slightly intimidating thought but imagining Adam and his parents seated in the front row made the nagging voice in the back of his mind pipe down. For a fleeting moment he envisioned Clare sitting amongst the crowd but given how long they'd gone without speaking to each other, he wasn't so sure she'd even turn up at all.
He could admit that he wanted her to be there. After all, she'd been supportive of him from the moment she learned about the play and had given her word that she would attend. Their current discourse would have been a legitimate reason for her to renege but selfishly, Eli wanted her to put aside the awkwardness for one night to see him shine.
He'd worked hard not to focus on Clare all week, keeping to his word that he didn't want anything to make him preoccupied during such an important time. But now that the play was set to open that very night, he allowed himself to cheat somewhat and break his own rule. To put it plainly, he missed her terribly. Each time his phone rang and it wasn't her, Eli felt nothing but sheer disappointment at the fact that they weren't keeping in touch. To be fair, he hadn't made any moves to speak to her either but Eli had his reasons.
It was childish at best and yet they were both playing the game like experts. Eli had every intention of speaking to Clare after tonight, knowing that if someone didn't step up eventually, whatever bond they'd managed to forge over the last few weeks would fall by the wayside. Just the thought alone sent a chill through Eli. Clare had come to mean so much to him, far more than he ever thought possible.
It was humorous now to think about how resistant he was in the start, as if he ever stood a chance against a girl like Clare. She was the antithesis to his past partners, a fact he was grateful for. However now he was squandering his blessing by going days on end without speaking to her. It was strange how much effort he exerted towards his goal, the one thing he didn't want to truly do.
But Eli had been down this road before, allowing his mind to get so clouded with things outside of work that it threatened to compromise his successes. In the past, he'd always managed to find himself at odds with his girlfriends at crucial times. While he wasn't in a relationship with Clare, the feelings he felt towards her were in that realm. He wore his heart on his sleeve more often than he cared to admit. He trusted Clare enough to come around in the nick of time.
He knew his life couldn't be scripted like a play, manipulated by his own words and laid out as he saw it in his head. Had that been the case, things would be far smoother than they were now—perfect even. If he could have it his way, he'd walk away with the girl in the end and eliminate all the obstacles that lay in his path. As it were, his relationship with Clare was now strained and at this point, Eli wasn't sure if dinner at his place was the last time he'd see or hear from her.
He shook his head to dispel the idea. He simply couldn't live a life free of Clare, not after spending the last few weeks becoming entirely enraptured by her. She'd become such an important piece to the puzzle of his world. If he were to equate his life once more to the world of theatre, Clare would undoubtedly be his leading lady, the heroine of the entire production. She'd managed to come along and breathe new life into him and for that, Eli would forever be indebted to her.
The doors at the opposite side of the room gave way, the sound like a shot in the dark given how quiet the auditorium was. Eli got to his feet, curious as to who else would arrive this early.
Fiona appeared in the doorway, her face serious as she marched up down the aisle.
"I should have known you'd be here already," she called out, carrying bags in both hands.
"I thought for sure you'd wait until noon like everyone else."
Once Fiona arrived to where Eli stood, she set her bags down on the stage and took a seat, tucking her hair behind her ears. She'd done away with her curls for the day; her tresses now flattened allowing her hair to straighten out. It was a look she fluctuated between every now and then whenever the mood struck or she wanted something different for an event. Regardless she looked beautiful, albeit flustered with flushed cheeks and a pout.
"Believe me, if I could be wrapped up in my duvet right now, I wouldn't be here just yet but we've got a busy day today. We have a ton to do with the play and then, of course, the after party. I'm totally giving myself a complex here. I think I spend way too much time with you; you're starting to rub off on me."
Eli laughed and shook his head as he sat beside her.
"Whatever you need help with, just say the word and I'll pitch in. You're the collected one between the two of us. I can't have you flying off the handle," he said, yawning a bit.
"Eli, what time did you go to sleep last night?" Fiona inquired, completely blowing past his offer.
"I…I'm not sure but it was late," he replied, once more yawning. "I didn't get much sleep."
"Yeah, no kidding. You've got ridiculous bags under your eyes. You need rest."
"I can't sleep yet, are you crazy? I'm here now and before you know it, it's going to be twelve and the others will start coming in. I can't miss that."
"If you think you can get through the day in zombie mode, you've got another thing coming. Just get a few hours. You'll feel so much better."
"I feel fine now, really. I can't afford to miss anything."
Fiona kept her eyes on him, surveying him as if trying to size him up or weigh the options at play.
"Grab a cat nap at the very least. I'm not above locking you in your office until you finally drift off or spiking your drink with NyQuil," she warned.
Eli knew she wasn't joking, having already been subjected to Fiona's schemes in the past.
"I will, I promise."
"Oh, and I've got your clothes for tonight. You'll find them hanging on the door of your office. Everything is pressed and waiting for you later," she beamed, apparently pleased with herself for getting that task out of the way.
"Ah yes, how could I forget? For a minute there I actually thought I'd be able to dress myself."
"If I could trust you with the task, I'd allow it," she countered with a laugh. "How are you feeling about tonight? Are you ready?"
"Surprisingly, I feel alright. Of course, I'm nervous but not panicky like I thought I'd be."
"Very could. We all have to bring our A game today but I think it's safe to say we've got this one in the bag."
"We're not out of the woods just yet. Until that we're up there taking our final bow, I'm going to have that little fear that something'll wrong."
"Don't be such a negative Ned. I get it, one hundred percent but we've been through every detail of this play, these guys could perform it in their sleep. Just have faith. Everything is going to be amazing, you'll see."
The uproar of applause was deafening from backstage. As Eli listened to the sound, he closed his eyes faintly, basking in the moment. To hear a theatre packed to maximum capacity cheering for a play he'd dedicated so much time and energy to was extremely humbling.
He opened his eyes once more as a set of arms embraced him. He clung back to Fiona who couldn't contain her excitement, jumping up and down as she gave him a hearty squeeze.
"Flawless! That was absolutely perfect!" she shouted, her crystal blue eyes shimmering. "We did it, Eli. We really did it."
It was a simple sentiment and yet it encapsulated the moment perfectly. A wave of sheer relief washed over Eli as he watched the cast take their bow, still met with the resounding cries of appreciation from the crowd before them.
"Eli, Fiona. You guys are up," a stagehand said, motioning for them to get out there.
Eli took a hold of Fiona's hand and walked out on stage with her. The entire audience was on their feet and somehow managed to grow louder as he and Fiona took center stage. They bowed to the crowd, still holding hands with one another. Eli turned to Fiona and gave her a warm hug, thanking her over and over again for all that she'd done.
With one more sweeping bow, the curtains drew closed, separating them from the crowd.
Eli was shaking like a leaf, a product of pure adrenaline. It had been a rush from start to finish and now that they'd managed to successfully cross the finish line, Eli's mood was astronomically high. He watched as Fiona wiped at her eye and turned to the cast to give them praise. Backstage was a blur of handshakes, thumbs up, pats on the back, and smiles. Eli could only liken the moment to an out of body experience. He went through the motions in a daze, hardly able to grasp the fact that any of this was truly happening.
"Eli! Over here!" he heard someone shout above the heavy chatter all around him.
Turning to the sound of the voice, he saw Adam flanked by his parents, all three of them waving him towards them. On his way over, Eli politely thanked those who regarded him warmly but truthfully, no one else's reactions mattered to him as much as the three people beaming at him now.
Cece instantly wrapped her arms around him once he finally reached them, swaying Eli side to side and squealing with joy.
"I. Can't. Breathe," Eli muttered in her vice-like grip.
She let go with a laugh, kissing his forehead and brushing her thumb along his cheekbone. It was in typical Cece fashion to be tender with him, despite how hectic things were behind the scenes now.
"Congrats, kiddo! That was one hell of a show," Bullfrog said, nodding his head approvingly.
"We're so, so proud of you, sweetheart," Cece agreed, still brimming with excitement.
"Dude, you guys nailed it. Everyone's gonna be talking about this things for weeks," Adam assured, his tone one of true wonderment.
"I'm happy you guys enjoyed the play. None of this feels real."
"It'll sink in tomorrow when your name is all over the front page of papers," his mother boasted.
"Somehow I don't think my play is going to nab headlines. I have a feeling there are bigger stories in the city to cover but thanks for the vote of confidence," he mused.
"Well, if you ask me, this is the only thing worth talking about," she continued, smiling slyly and giving him another kiss, this time on the cheek.
"Where's Fiona? We've gotta congratulate her too," Bullfrog said, looking around the mass of people.
It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack, the swarm of people surrounding them making it harder to pick her out. After a moment, Adam spotted her, pointing her out to the others. She was making her rounds, chatting up stagehands and cast members. It wasn't surprising at all. Fiona thrived in social settings, always managing to engross people in conversation. It made Eli all the more grateful to have her around. He never quite mastered the art of mingling, always finding himself sticking to familiar faces.
Fiona looked their way and excused herself from the two guys she was speaking to and skipped to the four people awaiting her.
"Cece, Bullfrog! It's so nice to see you both. It's been ages, hasn't it?" she said, kissing both Cece's cheeks before Bullfrog pulled her in for a hug.
"Far too long but what a way to come together," he replied.
"As always, you did wonderfully putting this all together with Eli," Cece marveled.
"It was a piece of cake. We're turning into total pros with each production, isn't that right, Elijah?"
Eli rolled his eyes but laughed. He couldn't help but to agree. It was hard not to think back to their days in university and how horribly plans had gone awry at times when they had issues with scheduling. Now they had it down to a science and worked so seamlessly with one another it was as if they were two halves of a whole. It was the perfect relationship to have with someone he worked closely with. Eli couldn't imagine himself having anyone else alongside him for such a thing.
"Will you guys be coming to the party later?" Fiona inquired of his parents.
"As much as we're party animals, we're going to leave it to you guys to do. We wouldn't want to steal anyone's thunder," Bullfrog joked, playfully punching Eli's arm.
"God, the last thing we need is you two running amok but if you wanted to stop by, that's more than alright."
"It's okay. Bullfrog swapped hours to be here tonight so he's got an early shift down at the station but you kids go and have fun, okay? Tomorrow night you all can come over for dinner and we'll celebrate then."
Adam was all too happy to accept this offer. "Cece's home-cooking? Count me in!"
"Naturally the bottomless pit would be up for that," Eli teased, "but great, we'll be there."
After a few exchanges, Bullfrog and Cece said their goodbyes and once more congratulated Eli and Fiona for the night before taking their leave. The noise backstage hadn't lessened any in those ten minutes. Everyone's emotions were riding high and Eli fed off the energy.
"Okay, I need to get back to my place to get ready," Fiona noted, sounding almost anxious.
Eli was sure that whatever preparations she had in place would surely amaze him. Fiona's knack for party planning was incomparable, her keen eye for what worked well never failing to leave him in awe. He tugged at his tie absentmindedly, only to feel a hand swatting his.
"Please don't change back into your clothes from earlier; that's an order. I will keep you from your own party if you do," she cautioned, making quick work of fixing his tie's knot into a presentable manner.
"Alright, alright. I'll keep the monkey suit until the end of the night, I promise. You should get a move on though. I'll see you in a little bit."
Pleased with getting his response, Fiona bid the boys farewell. Eli watched her disappear into the crowd which began to dissipate marginally.
"If we don't try bailing now, we might be stuck here all night with people wanting to rub elbows with you," Adam remarked.
"I've had enough of the spotlight for one night. Fiona isn't here to run interference anymore. I just need to grab my bag from my office and then we can get out of here."
Weaving through the throng of people, Eli accepted all the kind commentary as he headed back out and towards the quiet corridor where the offices were. Eli unlocked his door and grabbed his bag from where it sat since that morning on his desk. He put his clothes from before into his bag, stuffing them in haphazardly and lamenting over the fact that he couldn't trade.
Adam busied himself with looking over the posters Eli had up on the walls, looking back at his friend once he spoke.
"Good to go," he said, allowing Adam to leave the room before him and locking back up.
They went down the corridor once more, Eli leading the way right to wrap around to the front of the building. The auditorium was still a bit full considering the fact that the play had been over for a roughly twenty minutes. He walked out into the atrium, where, clusters of people still remained. He could overhear them discussing the play further, talking amongst themselves about what they'd just seen.
It was nice to see things from this perspective, catching snippets here and there as he meandered through the groups. Knowing that something he created could resonate with so many people was nothing short of astounding.
"I wonder what Fiona's place is going to look like tonight. I bet she's got a crazy surprise in store. Remember that one time…," Adam prattled on but Eli had stopped listening.
A few feet away he spotted Clare and at once the room grew silent as if someone had turned down the dial on a radio. All he could see was her leaning against a wall, looking alluring in a royal blue dress. She was standing with Ian Davis, the reporter who'd done the feature on Eli for The Edge. From a distance she seemed to be in good spirits, a warm smile etched against her lips as she laughed at something Ian had said.
Eli's heart ached at the sight of her, his breathing measured as he stood in place. Somehow time had made her become even more beautiful than she'd always been. It was a ridiculous thought, Eli knew, seeing as though it'd only been days since he'd last seen her. But Clare was no ordinary woman and tonight she shone so brightly to him.
Eli took a tentative step towards her, unsure of how to even begin a conversation with her but feeling the overwhelming pressing need to get close. Ten feet separated them now and Eli could feel his palms growing sweaty.
Eight feet and his knees were reduced to rubber.
Five feet and the swarm of butterflies overtaking his stomach made him nauseous.
Three feet and his heart threatened to burst free from his chest.
It was then that he froze as Jake suddenly appeared. He tapped Clare on the shoulder and she turned, looking surprised to see him at her side. Eli moved back a few paces, all too grateful when a large group of women blocked him from what could have been Clare's line of vision.
For the life of him he couldn't look away at Jake's exchange with Clare. Her face was serene aside from her lips which were slightly tensed. He supposed most people wouldn't have been able to pick up on that. But over the last few weeks, he'd managed to store away more information on Clare than was probably necessary or expected of someone that was so new to her life.
He couldn't make out what either of them was saying but it was apparently a conversation that couldn't be held in front of a third party. Ian slinked away awkwardly and headed out of the glass doors.
Eli felt tense as he looked to Jake, taking notice of the cocky smile he wore. Eli's blood boiled at the sight. Whatever he was saying couldn't have been good if he felt that at ease around Clare. Suddenly a terrifying thought struck Eli. Could it be that in the week away from each other, Clare and Jake made amends? Or worse, rekindled their relationship?
As if able to hear his inner musings, Jake leaned down to Clare and kissed her cheek softly, far too tenderly for Eli's liking. At once he turned on his heels and stormed off to go outside.
"Eli! Dude, where'd you go? What's going on?" he heard Adam ask.
He was already outside, apparently opting to wait for Eli in a clear space since getting separated. He rested against a parking meter with his phone in his hand, quickly pocketing the device.
"I want to go home. Now," Eli gritted through his teeth.
"Wait, for the whole night? What about the party? And hello, do you mind telling me why you just disappeared into thin air like Houdini?"
Eli wasn't in the mood for anything other than punching something. The only satisfying option would be knocking that smug look off Jake's face once and for all.
"You're starting to scare me. Just talk to me. What's up?"
"You want to know what's up?" Eli asked sharply, rounding on Adam. It was misplaced anger but Eli was seething. "She took him back. She shows up to my play with that idiot on her arm. Maybe it's my own fault for being so goddamn stupid and actually thinking that things would be okay," he shouted.
He didn't say anything more as he moved further away from the theatre, his hands furled into fists at his side. The night had been perfect but true to form in Eli's world, such happiness wasn't meant to last.
After an entire week leading up to this moment, he was blindsided by something he never once factored in. It was a huge oversight on his end, perhaps even naïve or conceited to believe that Clare was just as eager to delve further into their relationship. He truly felt as if they had something between them but this falling out of sorts out stamped out the prospect entirely.
He was upset with himself for falling for another girl. Life was simply better when he didn't get attached. It was his one rule and he threw it aside so recklessly. At the time it seemed like the obvious choice. He met a girl who he genuinely connected with, one that felt it mutually for a time. He could only blame himself for dropping the ball. Had he not waited, had he gone in immediately to do damage control after their dinner the week before, maybe then things would have been different.
He'd let a good girl slip through his fingers and back into the arms of an ex who didn't deserve her.
Adam hurried alongside him as he walked, still firing off questions.
"What are you talking about? How do you know Clare took him back?"
"I'm talking about the fact that I just had to watch him kiss her. Is that proof enough for you?"
"No way. Maybe you saw wrong? You know, everyone was packed like sardines back there. Clare wouldn't be making out with Jake, that's just crazy."
"They weren't making out but still. Why are they even talking in the first place? Why would they come to the play together? That could only mean one thing."
"Eli…maybe you should talk to Clare. I'm sure it's all one big misunderstanding."
"I've got nothing to say to her. This is exactly why I don't do relationships, why I keep to myself because stuff like this always ends up happening. I'm not cut out for this, not anymore."
Eli stopped walking, unsure of where he was even going. He took a seat on the low wall outside of a bank, watching the traffic go by. Adam remained standing, his hands shoved into the pockets of his slacks.
"Something's not right here," he pondered aloud, his mouth twisting to one side as if in thought.
"It doesn't matter. I'm over it," Eli replied bitterly.
"That's total bullcrap and you know it," Adam challenged.
Eli looked up at him for a moment before tearing his gaze away. He couldn't deny Adam's claim because he was right. There was still a large part of him that wanted to fight for Clare, to see this through until the very end but this recent revelation was a huge blow to his confidence. Was being with Jake a better option in Clare's eyes than trying to work things out with him and seeing what they could become? He knew he was a guy prone to habit as well but for something like this, he wanted better for Clare.
While Eli knew he wasn't perfect, he would never set out to hurt Clare the way Jake had done so callously. He thought back to the night he met Clare, how distraught she was over getting the ground pulled from under her. Could it be that after all of the pep talks and help he'd given her over the last few weeks, she turned to the comfort of something familiar?
Eli drew in a deep breath and let it out through his nostrils, feeling a lump form and lodge in his throat.
"Let's just go somewhere, yeah? It's a bit too early to head over to Fiona but maybe we could grab a drink? I think you've earned one."
Just then Adam's phone began to ring, the Batman theme song blaring from his pocket. His eyes widened as he looked at the screen, quickly ignoring the call.
"I would hope you didn't just hang up on Becky," Eli said, raising a brow in confusion over what he just saw.
"No. I didn't. It wasn't Becky."
"Then who was it?"
"I…hey, weren't we about to get a drink? There's a bar somewhere around here, right? Next block I think it was. Come on."
Before Eli could press the matter further, Adam walked off, not caring to look back. Left with no other option, Eli got up from his spot and followed after him.
For as much as his curiosity had gotten to him over who Adam declined speaking to, his inquisitive nature was put to rest as they sat at a bar moments later. His first glass of rum and Coke helped to wash away the memory of Clare and Jake, the temporary solution enough to sate him for now.
Eli tripped clumsily over his feet as he got off the lift, quickly fixing himself to stand upright. He helped himself to one too many drinks in the last hour though he couldn't find it within himself to regret it. Adam's plan worked like a charm. All thoughts of Clare were now gone and in their place was a happy buzz that could only be provided thanks to copious amounts of alcohol.
The music playing from Fiona's condo could be heard, the upbeat rhythm and thumping bass line beckoning him. Normally parties weren't his speed but for tonight, he wanted to rid himself of any concerns.
Adam opened the door to Fiona's home which now looked more like a night club. The purple lighting for the evening cast an interesting effect on the partygoers. Servers dressed in black and white walked around serving food on silver platters. Lavish fabrics and lights draped the pillars. Practically all of her furniture was removed for the night, making space to accommodate more people. It was over the top and everything a person could expect from a Fiona Coyne celebration.
On one of the walls, a projector played a slideshow of the production: pictures behind the scenes with the cast and crew during rehearsals, candid shots of everyone goofing off, and a fair deal of Eli and Fiona throughout it all.
"There you are! Where did you guys go? You're an hour late. You missed my grand entrance," Fiona huffed as she walked over to them.
She wore a gorgeous white dress, perfectly accessorized with turquoise gems that made her eyes pop. Her hair was slightly wavy and cascaded down her left shoulder.
"You look beautiful, Fi. I'm sorry we're late," Eli said.
"Are you drunk?" she asked, leaning in closer to sniff him.
"I had a few drinks. I'm not drunk, there's a difference," he countered stubbornly.
She rounded on Adam who gulped under her glare.
"And I see you didn't do anything to stop this from happening."
"Well…to be fair, it kinda, sorta wasn't his idea?" Adam squeaked, forming his words more like a question.
"You two are like Tweedledee and Tweedledum, my god."
"He's fine, honest. Eli isn't a bad drunk—,"
"Didn't we just establish that I'm not drunk? Why are two talking about me as if I'm not standing right here? It's a party, is it not? Let's just have fun tonight."
Fiona looked sharply between the two of them for a moment before sighing.
"You're right, okay. Everyone's been asking about you so have fun chatting them up. And I'll take that for you," she said, slipping Eli's bag from where it hung loosely from one strap on his shoulder.
He watched her retreat towards her bedroom before mixing in with the crowd. Adam helped himself to a tart as a server passed by them and offered. Eli wasn't hungry but rather feeling unsure of what to do with himself in this setting. He felt out of his element but Adam was the opposite as he bopped along to the music.
Eli was about to turn and ask Adam what he wanted to do now when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He was brought up short as Clare stood before him, her expression anxious. He hadn't even seen her there or expected her to turn up at the party. He wasn't prepared in the slightest and his uncertainty must have showed.
"I…I hope you don't mind me being here but I really wanted to see you," she said, glancing nervously to Adam.
Eli cocked his head to one side at his best friend, who flashed a nervous smile.
"Well, I can see my work here is done. Gotta go," he mumbled, taking off before Eli could speak another word.
"I don't understand. What's going on?" he asked.
It was hard to remember that he was angry at her, not when she looked at him with those soft blue eyes.
"I've been trying to get a hold of you all night. I waited around the theatre after the play but I didn't see you. So I called Adam…or attempted to. Anyway, he sent me a text saying you'd be here," she answered.
It clicked now that it had been Clare's call Adam rejected, undoubtedly panicking with Eli sitting right in front of him. At the bar he remembered Adam texting someone but he just assumed it was Becky who was back in Florida visiting family.
He'd been too busy downing drink after drink and venting about the Clare situation to even realize that all along, Adam was plotting right before his very eyes.
"I don't know why you'd want to see me."
"Why wouldn't I? It's your big night and we haven't spoken in so long. Did you think I wouldn't show?"
Eli shrugged noncommittally. "I wasn't sure what to expect. You're just full of surprises these days."
"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked pointedly.
"Nothing; it doesn't mean anything. I've got a lot of people to see tonight so maybe I'll see you around sometime," he said, taking a step away from her.
But Clare wasn't keen on letting him go that easily. She pulled him back and as Eli looked down at her left hand, he could see a bouquet of roses.
"Eli, stop. Can we go somewhere private to talk? Please?"
The urgency in her eyes made Eli falter as he debated. On one hand he could stick to his guns and cut his ties with her once and for all but on the other, Eli could only hear Adam's voice in his mind, the words "one big misunderstanding" playing back hauntingly. Mentally cursing Adam for being his conscience, Eli nodded and made a beeline down the hall, ignoring the rest of the party.
He opened the door to the guest bedroom and closed the door after Clare joined him. Unfamiliar with her surroundings, Clare looked around for a moment before looking back at him. Eli had already taken a seat on the edge of the bed, his arms folded across his chest. He could tell his demeanor must have been off-putting to Clare who opted to stay standing instead of getting to close to him.
"I know it's been some time since we've spoken but I just really want to say congrats on the play. It was incredible, just like I knew it would be," she started.
"Thanks," was all he said in response.
"I get that you're upset with me, I do. But a lot has happened this week and I need to fill you in on all of that. I would have sooner but I didn't want anything to distract you but…seeing as though the play has finally opened, we can begin that conversation."
Eli smiled sardonically, feeling the bitterness he'd cast aside before coming back into play now.
"Oh, no need for that," he interjected. "I caught the highlights tonight so I'm up to speed. I suppose you're not the only one who should be dishing out congratulations tonight, huh?"
Clare shook her head lightly, looking at him suspiciously.
"I-I'm not so sure I know what you're talking about."
"Come on now. You don't have to play coy with me. You're back with your prince charming and you two are going to live happily ever after. How quaint."
A look of understanding dawned on her previously confused face.
"Eli, no. That's not it. That's not what happened—,"
Now that he started, Eli wasn't privy to stopping. He chalked it up to the alcohol in his system and an innate inability to keep his mouth shut when he ought to.
"It's okay. You don't have to explain. Actually, I should be thanking you. Knowing me, I would have kept falling harder and harder for you. I've learned a very valuable lesson tonight so thank you, Clare, truly."
Clare's nostrils flared, her face growing into an expression of such disgust and anger Eli never thought possible of her. She threw the flowers in her hand down at his feet and began to pace for a brief moment before rounding on him.
"Why is it that every guy in my life turning into a huge jerk? I'm so sick of it! First Jake and now you? If you want to give up on me, then fine. But you should know that nothing happened with Jake. I can't even stand to say his name."
"But I saw you two at the theatre!"
"Oh really? You saw him kiss me, right? But I'm guessing you didn't stick around long enough for the part where I pushed him away and told him off. I spent all of tonight trying to reach you. This week has been hell and I thought to myself, 'Finally. I get to see Eli and everything that's been falling apart will come back together again'. But I was wrong, so wrong. If you honestly thought I'd pick Jake over you then you clearly haven't learned anything about me."
Eli sat there stunned, his jaw dropping as he blinked multiple times. He wanted nothing more than to hit rewind and start their conversation over but there was nothing he could do to take back the words he said. He was so adamant about what he saw that he didn't give her a fair chance to explain.
Adam had been right. It was all one big misunderstanding.
"Clare, I'm sorry. I didn't—,"
"Don't bother. I wouldn't want you to waste your breath on me anymore," she quipped, turning on her heels and leaving the room quickly.
Eli knew he should have gone after her but he was too embarrassed by his actions. He bent down to collect the roses she's tossed at him in her fit of anger. Resting inside the bouquet was a card, his name written neatly in script. He couldn't open it however. Whatever lay inside would undoubtedly be kind words from her that he didn't deserve, much like the woman herself.