Page 94 of My Brother's Best Men
“No.” Benny pushes him off. “She says she loves you, right? Tells you when your cock’s buried in her how much she fucking loves you, but how long did you go without speaking to her? Because she left?”
Elijah stiffens, and I see his face go slack.
“That’s not fair, Benny, you don’t know?—”
“Just go, Sophie,” he snaps. “Leave. It’s what you’re good at.”
He pushes past me and tears come to my eyes without warning. Elijah looks back at me with tears of his own, and like the idiot I am, I run to him. To those warm, comforting arms that always know how to fix me.
But Elijah doesn’t open his arms for me. He steps away, staring at me with a mixture of pain and fear.
“Elijah, please.” I move toward him again, and he moves away.
No. No, no, no…
“I think you should get showered and packed. We have a plane to catch,” he says, and with that, he leaves me.
I run out of the bathroom, noting that Benny’s already dressed and throwing his things in his suitcase. Elijah’s getting dressed.
“Please, Elijah.” I look at Benny. “Benjamin.”
Neither of them look at me, and the warmth I once felt turns to ice.
“I’m going to find Matthew,” is all Elijah says.
Benny nods. He grabs his suitcase and looks at me. “Stay as long as you like. Or leave. Either way, room’s paid up and you got what you wanted.”
I run toward them as they head for the door, but Elijah evades me, Benny leaving without a second glance.
“Elijah, please…talk to me, please…”
He stands still, looking at me with tears in his eyes. “Why should I?” I hear the sadness in his voice. “You didn’t seem to want my opinion on this, or you would have told me.”
“It’s not like that, Elijah, I?—”
“I thought things were going to be different this time. Thought we were on the same page, but I guess we never were.” And with that, he leaves me alone in the hotel room.
I fall to my knees and let the sobbing commence.
I knew this would happen. Somewhere deep down, inside the fire, I knew I would get burned.
I turn the shower on, hoping the hot water will wash away the pain and heartache. My tears mix with the water, and I let myself cry. I let myself cry for the first time in days as it all comes crashing down on me at once.
I try to wash the memories away too, but they aren’t so easy to erase.
Matthew and his bright smile, his soft kisses and infectious laughter. His eagerness to please me and make me smile.
Elijah and his warm arms, his open heart and his tender touch. His ability to always know how to soothe the storms inside of me and make everything better.
And Benny…
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase Benny and his wicked tongue or his gentle hold when no one else is around. I’ll never be able to forget his intense stare and challenging bite. The way he pushes me like no one else.
I think he’ll be tattooed on my skin, on my heart, forever.
I go through the motions as I clean myself up, brush and dry my hair. Get dressed. I pack my things and get lost in the folding, organizing. When I check my phone, I see I’ve got a text from my mom asking if I want to ride with her to the airport.
I text her back:That sounds good.
