Chapter 9
Eric
" W hy are you being so weird today?" Matt leaned over to whisper.
Shifting my shoulders and clearing my throat, I turned my eyes toward the ceremony. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean, you keep staring over there, all spaced out with your face all pressed like you're in pain or something," he said.
The ceremony must have been going on for over an hour, but I hadn't heard the vows, and I didn't know what made the crowd giggle. I kept stealing glances at Lily. I was damn-near obsessed with getting her to look at me at this point. She must have felt like someone was watching her, but she didn't turn around once. If she did, our eyes would meet for sure.
This was insane.
Sighing, I turned to Matt. "Remember the girl I was telling you guys about? Lily? She's sitting right there." I nodded toward her. She was smiling, and it was the most beautiful thing in the world. Once upon a time, for two years of my life, it had been my job to make her smile, and it was the greatest gift when she did. Now, she smiled without me, and I was happy to see it. Still, I wanted to be one of the reasons her face lit up like that again.
"Damn, dude. That's her? She's for sure out of your league. She's hot." He nodded as I flashed him a look. "Relax." He grinned. "I was only joking about the whole 'steal your girl' bit. Never thought I'd see the day you actually have one since..."
"Yeah," I said, preferring him not to mention my ex-girlfriend's name.
"What did she say when she saw you?" he asked.
"What are you two mumbling about?" Ethan leaned over. He nodded toward the guests in front of us as if to encourage us to have some manners. We were sitting all the way at the back, and there were a few more next to us.
I lowered my voice, leaning over Matt to speak to him. "It's Lily."
"What about her?" he asked.
"She's over there, in the purple dress." I looked toward her.
"That's your Lily?" His eyes widened.
My Lily? I wished. Maybe if I could get in there during the reception, I'd stand a chance. I was counting down the minutes. Either way, I was excited just to reunite with her again and introduce her to the guys.
Besides, I didn't know if she was seeing anyone. Even worse if she was married. I hadn't gotten to sneak a peek at her ring finger to see if she was wearing any. Although, that would be the surprise of the century. Lily? Married? That man would have to be something special to get her to say yes to a commitment like that after everything she'd witnessed. He'd be the luckiest man in the world.
Man, I hoped she wasn't already taken, and I hadn't missed my chance.
Ethan
Do you know that moment when you feel like you've just committed the most unforgivable sin? I'm having that moment right now.
That's Eric's Lily?
Damn. I saw her the moment she walked in. She's not the type of girl anyone can ignore. I got it now. The way Eric described how she used to dress, trying to hide behind a shadow of darkness. Still, he noticed her. Like everyone else did. Even her bullies couldn't ignore her. She's a force, without having to utter a single word. She isn't timid. There's a silent storm brewing inside her, a fire in her eyes I recognize.
I didn't know why I'd been so pulled in by her from the get-go, but knowing she's Eric's Lily, it all made sense after everything he shared. We both had childhoods wrought with drugs and abuse. Mothers who couldn't be there for us the way we needed them to be, who chose drugs over us, whose trauma put up a wall between us we desperately wanted to break. It takes one to know one, I guess. It's like looking in a mirror, a recognition between strangers.
I'm so drawn to her, I've had it in the back of my mind, to attempt getting her number by the end of the night. Looks like that won't be happening anymore. Man, I'm the world's worst best friend. I should be happy Eric has the chance to pursue his first love again. Instead, there's a fire inside me, burning with jealousy.
It is what it is though. There are plenty of other women out there. None that have pulled me in the way she has without a single word, but it's not like I'm going to swoop in there and rob Eric of his reunion with her. What else can I do but support my best friend and swallow my loss? I won't lose my friendship over a brief attraction to someone who doesn't even know I exist.
"You should go and talk to her," I encouraged, smiling at him.
"What if she still hates me for leaving her?" he asked.
I scratched my brow. It's not like if she hates him, she'd automatically be interested in me, so my mind needs to behave. Besides, I don't want that for him. I love this man, as a brother, and he loves Lily. There's no shot for her and me in this lifetime, but I want there to be a chance for Eric.
"You guys were kids. I'm sure she's not holding a grudge for that long," I suggested. "You'll never know how she feels just by sitting here. I'm surprised you haven't talked to her yet."
"Yeah. I don't think she recognizes me." He grinned.
"Yeah, I bet you were a pimply, lanky kid back then," I teased.
"Hey, I wasn't pimply. But I guess you're right. I am a hunk now after all," he joked, flexing his bicep.
"Yeah, right." I nodded my sarcasm. He laughed.
"I'm just nervous. I don't want her to reject me. But you're right. There's only one way to know how she feels. I'll talk to her at the reception. Explain everything." He bit the corner of his lip.
"Atta boy." I patted him on my shoulder, throwing my own attraction to her out the window, where it belonged.