Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

ELIJAH

The neon blue sign behind the bar flashes Good Times Found Here . It doesn't feel like it, but that's more psychosomatic on my part as I find myself for the third time in as many weeks sitting at a booth in Belly's Bar and Grille. The place is packed, students filling every nook and cranny, unwinding after a long day. With the crowd comes the noise. The air buzzes with lively conversation that competes with the hum of indie music being pumped out of the ceiling speakers. Both overlap the loud calls of announcers giving a play-by-play of the football action happening on the big screen.

"April coming this weekend?" David's deep voice carries over the din, the flickering light from the plasma screen reflecting off his glasses.

I run a hand through my still damp curls that refuse to dry because of the humidity. Today's sessions went well, but I want to tweak David's circuit training to include more strength exercises along with the cardio I have him doing.

"She's driving up Saturday morning. Dinner at the guys' place that night if you want to come."

He stretches, his muscles flexing under his T-shirt that show off the physicality he's built over years of playing football.

"I don't want to intrude on your time with your step-sis."

I see right through him and the real reason he's prevaricating.

"Julien actually suggested it before I ever brought it up."

David laughs, a deep, hearty sound that draws curious rubbernecking from nearby tables.

"I call bullshit."

"I'm serious."

"Your boy doesn't like me very much. Neither does his twin."

I get why Julien and David aren't each other's favorite people. But that was last year. I just wish my boyfriend and my friend could find some common ground.

"Julien is at least trying." I can't control Jayson, but he'll be nice for my and Julien's sake.

Our waitress appears with a cheerful smile, which only gets bigger when she lays eyes on David. Like Julien, he gets recognized a lot now.

"Are you ready to order?"

We rattle off two well-done bacon burgers with fries and unsweetened iced tea to drink. She doesn't write anything down. Instead, she whips out her phone.

"Can I get a selfie?"

"Sure," David replies and slides to the end of his booth seat.

I get a phone shoved in my face.

"Just tap the screen."

She slips into David's lap and presses in close. "Melissa is going to be super jealous. She thinks you're super hot."

"Anytime, blondie," David says through a frozen, practiced smile.

I take three pictures just to make sure.

"Darci!" the manager shouts from the bar.

Scrambling up, she snatches her phone back. "I'll be super quick with your drinks."

"Super," I reply.

David snickers behind a closed fist he pretends to cough in.

"You, Fallon, and Julien need to start a boy band."

"Fuck, no," David swiftly refutes. "Did you see what went down at the party?"

I fold my napkin into a triangle football and position it on one of its vertices on the table. David makes a goal with his fingers.

"I luckily got to miss it," I reply, lining up my shot and flicking the triangle.

It flies high and to the right, hitting David on the arm before falling into his lap.

"Two guys were beating the crap out of each other over some girl. Fallon kicked both their asses. Guys, not the girl. My turn." He flicks the paper football and scores.

"Seems to be contagious," I remark.

This time, when I let the paper football fly, it sails between his fingers. I cup my hands to my mouth and cheer.

"Goal! And the crowd goes wild."

"You're an idiot. An adorable idiot, but still an idiot."

Darci returns with our drinks and a basket of chips with salsa we didn't order.

"On me," she says, setting it down with a flourish in front of David along with her phone number written in black ink on the back of a napkin. "Burgers will be right out."

David sets his iced tea on top of her number. Condensation drips down the glass and soaks into the paper, creating a Rorschach inkblot.

"How are things with the Liz situation?" he asks, picking up on my earlier reference.

I haven't told him everything, but I've told him enough.

"Complicated. And after last weekend, things are about to get even more complicated."

Darci comes back once again, her arms laden with two large plates. The burgers are monstrous, overstuffed with bacon and dripping cheddar. My stomach gets excited in anticipation, and I waste no time diving in, savoring the explosion of flavors.

"Anything else?" Darci inquires, frowning at the napkin with her ruined number.

"We're good."

The bar explodes into loud cacophony when a touchdown is made. Pint glasses and beer bottles clink together in celebration.

"Did I tell you," David begins, taking a huge bite out of his burger, "that Shawn is going to pop the big Q to Yo?"

"That's awesome news. I'm trying to figure out when to ask Julien."

"Ask him what?"

I swipe a fry through some mustard oozing out from under the hamburger bun. Liz used to love her fries drenched in mustard. I wonder if she still does.

"To marry me."

David's smile falters for a split second, so brief that I'd miss it if I wasn't looking right at him.

"You're… proposing?"

Trying not to talk with food in my mouth, I take a large swallow of tea. "Soon. I hope."

I want to come up with something really romantic. Maybe something under the stars. Julien and I had a great time on our Valentine's stargazing outing at the botanical gardens.

David's expression shifts, a complex mix of emotions playing across his features. His returning smile seems forced and doesn't reach his eyes.

"Wow, that's… that's huge." He pushes his plate away and clenches his hands together on the table. "Marriage is a big commitment. A life commitment. Are you sure you want to tie yourself down like that now?"

My excitement dims slightly at his reaction. "Julien's the one. I can't imagine my life without him."

"You can't be sure he's the one . How many guys have you dated? Just him. One person. One."

I frown at the single finger he holds up.

"The number of people someone dates or sleeps with makes no difference. Not when it's the right person."

Darci comes back over, and David glowers at her.

"We're good," he snaps.

"Refill on your tea?" she asks, even though both our glasses are mostly full.

"A little privacy would be nice."

She didn't like that one bit. Going back to the bar to pick up an order, she shoots daggers in our direction while delivering the food to the booth next to ours.

"Why are you acting like a jerk?"

David looks down, his voice barely audible over the encompassing noise. "You don't know that Julien is the one."

"Yes, I do."

"He doesn't deserve you."

Starting to get royally pissed, I ask, "Why would you say that?"

David finally lifts his gaze, pain seared over his face. "You deserve the world, and I don't think he's the man to give it to you."

My temper makes a rare appearance. Julien is my world. He's not perfect, but he's my perfect.

"Who then? You? Is that what you're saying?"

David flinches but doesn't back down. "Maybe. Actually, yes. That's exactly what I'm saying."

Why is he doing this? David knows how much I love Julien. I've also made it very clear to David that friendship is the only thing I can offer him, and I know damn well that I haven't done or said anything to make him think otherwise.

"Julien is the love of my life, and nothing will ever change that."

David's face falls. "I want you—" He pauses.

"That's never going to happen."

"—to be happy," he finishes.

"I am happy."

His demeanor hardens. "I care about you, Elijah, and I'm not going to give you bullshit smiles and stay quiet when I think you're making a big fucking mistake."

Trying to calm my anger, I mentally count to five. "Loving Julien, being with Julien… wanting to spend my life with Julien are not mistakes. And I resent that you would say that, let alone think it. You're my friend , David. I'm sorry if that's not enough for you."

The words hang between us, thick and viscous like tar.

Screw this. I've been clear about my boundaries, and he just overstepped them in a big fucking way.

I toss a twenty on the table to cover my food and tip. "I'll see you around."

"Elijah, don't go. I'm sorry."

I detour toward the men's restroom, needing to splash some water over my flushed face and cool down. I can't show up at Julien's upset. He'll take one look at me and immediately know something's wrong.

The motion sensor activates the fluorescent strip lights as soon as I push the door to the men's room open, but something makes me hesitate and not go inside. My feet refuse to move. They remain glued to the floor, stuck in imaginary cement. The more I try to force my body into motion, the more it fights me.

Clammy beads of sweat pop along my forehead. My heart rate spikes without warning. And my chest constricts painfully, stealing my breath.

What's happening?

A sudden and overwhelming panic floods my bloodstream when footsteps echo down the hallway.

No.

No.

Not again.

Pain blooms like wildfire when my attacker kicks at my right knee, and I crash to the dirty concrete floor when my leg buckles under me. In my hazy periphery, I see his tennis shoe rear back, and I throw up my arms to shield my face. Pain explodes in my stomach at the force of his kick. Curled into a ball, choking gags rack my body.

Oh god. Oh god.

My moans for help are nothing more than sobbed whimpers. Black coats my vision as darkness crept closer… closer. I hurt so bad. Everything hurts so bad.

Bending down, the guy fists my hair in a crushing grip and yanks my head up, but I can't see him through the swelling that occludes my vision.

I want Julien. His strong arms around me. Safe. Warm. Loved. He'll hold me and take the pain away. Think about Julien.

Julien.

Julien.

"Marshall says hi."