24. Elliot
Chapter twenty-four
Elliot
I t’s doomed from the start; I know that much. Yet, I plunge into the turbulent waters, and now I find myself drowning. I don’t expect Daniel to be waiting at my house when I return to change clothes, but his presence can only mean one thing: he already knows.
I trace the bruise on my lip, and a bitter realization washes over me—I deserve it. If I discovered that my best friend was dating my sister and lying to me about it, I’d react the same way. That’s why this must end. Daniel is right; a man like me can hardly grasp the meaning of love, let alone what it truly entails.
“Find another plaything, Elliot—just not my sister,” Daniel had said during his last visit. And while I don’t view Olivia as a plaything, it’s reckless to let her heart be tested by a feeling I’m not sure will endure beyond a few fleeting months.
The door swings open, and I brace myself. “Elliot! Babe, where are you?” she calls, her voice echoing through the house. I remain silent, unwilling to respond.
Eventually, she finds me on the floor of the guest bathroom, and her eyes widen in horror at the sight of my bruise. “Oh my God, did he do this? I’m so sorry,” she says, reaching out to touch the swollen flesh. I flinch away from her touch, a wave of guilt crashing over me.
“You shouldn’t be here. Go home to your family,” I grunt, averting my gaze, unable to face the hurt in her eyes.
She lets out a nervous laugh, trying to bridge the chasm between us. “What do you mean? I want to be here with you.”
This time, I yank her hand away from my face. “I don’t want you here, Ollie. Can’t you see that?” I bark, my words sharper than intended.
“Go away!” I repeat, rising to my feet, but her fingers grip my arm with a desperation that tugs at my heart.
“Don’t shut down on me now, El. You’re doing it again—please,” she pleads, her voice choked with tears, but I can’t bring myself to look at her. If I do, I won’t be able to do what I know needs to be done—the right thing.
“This isn’t about shutting down; it’s about facing reality, and your brother’s little visit gave me the wake-up call I needed. It’s for the best.”
She looks devastated. “Wait, you’re ruining this because of my brother?”
“I’m ending this because it makes no sense, Ollie. We make no sense,” I spit, knowing how much damage my words inflict.
Tears spill down her cheeks, glistening like broken glass. “You’re only saying this to make me hate you. I know you love me, El—you told me.”
With a sly grin playing on my lips, I reply, “I changed my mind, Ollie. That’s how real life works, dear. We say one thing today and mean another tomorrow.”
“Stop it, Elliot! You can’t keep pushing away the people who care about you!” she screams, and I can see the cracks in her faith in me deepening.
“Look around; this isn’t a fairytale where everyone gets a happy ending. It’s time you wake up, Cinderella. I’m not coming back, Ollie, so it’s best if you leave,” I say, turning my back on her.
She stares at me as if I’ve just turned into a monster. My heart shatters—this is harder than I ever imagined it would be.
“I’ll leave, El, but if you don’t come back in three days, I’ll take it as a sign that you’re done for good,” she says, her voice trembling.
As she heads for the door, I nearly run after her, but I stop myself. She turns around for one last look. “If you don’t come back, know that you didn’t just break my heart—you broke yours too. You broke the promise we made because all I ever did was love you.”
When the door closes softly behind her, my knees buckle, and I sink to the floor, staring at the space she just vacated. I remain there, motionless, until the sun sets, leaving the room cloaked in darkness.
A gentle knock interrupts my solitude. “Elliot? Are you here?” my mother calls, searching for the light switch.
“Don’t turn it on, Mom. I don’t want you to see me like this,” I choke out, and she finds her way to my side through the shadows.
She settles beside me, her presence a balm to my aching heart. “Who told you I was here?” I ask, my voice a mere whisper.
“I heard from Olivia. She didn’t want you to be alone,” she replies, and my lips tremble with the emotions that had been dormant just hours ago.
“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice tender.
Biting down on my lips to hold back tears proves futile. “No, Mom. Honestly, this is the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” I admit, allowing the tears to flow.
I’ve experienced heartache—I thought I had—but this is different. A part of me died when Olivia walked out that door, a part that may never be found again.
Sniffling, I confess words I didn’t even share with Olivia. “I was going to marry her, Mom. That’s how much I love her, but what if I mess things up…” My voice trails off, choked by uncertainty.
“You can’t keep sabotaging your happiness because of something that may or may not happen, dear,” she says, stroking my hair like I’m still her little boy—and maybe today, I want to be.
“You and Dad were so happy together, and yet he cheated.”
“But you’re not your father, Elliot. It’s time you stopped paying for his mistakes,” she says gently. “You’ve carried too much weight for too long, and I miss my sweet little boy. The one who was loving, trusting, and unafraid of chasing after what he wants.” Her voice breaks with her own tears.
Bowing my head in shame, I struggle to remember that side of me—I haven’t seen him in ages. “I don’t… I don’t know how to be that person anymore.”
She pats my cheek, her smile faint but encouraging. “You will find him. You just need to search deeper, and you’ll see.”
I know what I need to do, but the real question is: where do I start? And will Daniel ever forgive me? Will Olivia ever want me again?