“I don’t know, but it’s about the tenth time she’s tried to call me today. It’s like she knows I’m about to ask Pen out.”
To say Darra has issues with Pen is an understatement. If she knew what I was about to do…but then, even before herdemands of a marriage proposal, I was growing tired of all Darra’s sniping. Her possessive tendencies were taking their toll.
“Ignore her. You and she have been over for months. You don’t owe her anything,” Jax says when I frown. “Look, I hate to say it. I know she was your girlfriend, but she’s pushy and not in a good way. Treated you like a possession. She’s never going to let you simply walk away, at least not without a fight. Stand firm, my friend.”
I shake my head. I can’t deny what he’s saying.
I’ve been so focused on my Olympic goal, Pen, my business plan and finals. I missed the signs. I simply stared at her when she announced at Christmas that her parents were coming to see us after New Year and that I should think about talking to her dad about my proposal. I initially thought she was joking, but the look on her face told me she wasn’t. The conversation that followed was hard. Explaining to the person you have dated casually in your eyes for four years, that you don’t love them in that way.
Darra hadn’t cried. She laughed. Asked me what love had to do with it. Told me we’d be the perfect power couple. How we would be unstoppable.
Staying together after that was impossible. I explained I would never marry someone I didn’t love and broke up with her. Cutting off all contact until today.
Jax turns me to face him, gripping my shoulders and looking up at me. He doesn’t know what Darra said to me that day.
“You were straight with her from the beginning. Yes, you dated, and in all honesty, for longer than most would have put up with her. Eli, you were very clear about where your priorities lie and that being in a serious relationship, aka marriage, was not one of them. She knows of your plans andaspirations. It’s all we talked about every bloody holiday. We all did. Whether she’s willing to admit it. You never made her any long-term promises.”
I flinch. I know he’s right.
The phone rings off, and I breathe a sigh of relief until it starts up again almost immediately.
“For fuck’s sake.”
I answer the phone with a growl.
“Darra,” I say, offering no niceties.
“About time,” she snaps, followed by a sniff.
“Can I ask why you feel the need to blow up my phone?”
“I need to see you,” she says.
“We have nothing to say. I made myself very clear. I’m sorry you misunderstood, but nothing has changed.”
“Everything has changed,” she says cryptically.
Shit, has she found out I’m going to ask Pen out? I shoot a look at Jax, but he shrugs. He’s the only person I’ve confided in, and I know he’s watertight.
Darra sighs. “Look, Elijah, I really need to see you.”
I press my thumb and forefinger into my eye sockets.
Darra has never been one to surrender. I need to make sure she stops whatever she’s doing.
“Fine,” I say after a moment. “I’ll meet you in the coffee shop.”
“No,” she says. “It will be better if you come here.”
“I’m not coming to your house, Darra.”
“I can’t say what I have to say in a public place. I need to see you, Eli. You owe me that much.”
“I—”
Darra sighs again. “Bring your sidekick if you must.”
I turn to Jax, and he shrugs.
