But at Ryan’s noises, Eli’s gaze shifts in my direction and meets mine.
We stare at one another. Both of us frozen in our places. Our feet cemented to the ground.
Oh.
My.
God.
ELI
Someone is watching me, which is an odd sensation when you’re surrounded by people. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s not any of the women who are calling out my name or my teammates’ names. Sure, they’re looking at me, but they aren’t watching me.
Glancing around the parking lot, my gaze homes in on a woman holding a toddler. Blinking, I watch as something around that woman begins to glow. It reminds me of…
Holy shit.
Not just holy shit, but holyfuckingshit.
I am unable to move. I cannot pick up my feet. I can’t lift my arms. I am completely frozen in place. I think my heartbeat stops, and I know without a doubt that my breath stops.
It’s her.
“Eli, we’re all going to grab something to eat. Want to join us?” Luke asks from beside me.
I can’t even turn my neck, my head, my eyes—nothing.
It’s her.
She’s real.
Standing in front of me, her eyes on mine. Wide, green, and fucking beautiful. My breath hitches, and that’s when I hear Luke humming before he grunts. Then he lets out a chuckle,
“Well,” he says. “You seem busy.”
Then he slaps me on the shoulder, which propels my body forward with force, something I’m sure he did on purpose. As if knowing exactly what I needed.
My legs begin to move, taking me straight to Wrenly. She’s standing a bit away from everyone else, which is good because I’m not sure what this conversation is going to entail.
I don’t know why she’s standing in front of me after two years of radio silence. But she’s here, and I’m going to find out why the fuck she is. I stop only when I’m close enough to talk to her where nobody else can hear us clearly.
I dip my chin down slightly, my eyes connecting to hers. I want to look at all of her, and I’m sure I’ll get the chance, but at this moment, I focus on those wide green eyes staring up at me.
“Wrenly?” I ask, breaking the silence, unsure of what to say. I know I sound as surprised as I am. There is no fucking way I can act cool in this moment.
She blinks, then tears her gaze away from mine, shifting it to the side before she brings it back. I hold my breath as I wait for her to speak, but all she does is say my name. It hangs in the air, and I feel like she has something else to say, so I wait.
“Eli.”
Searching her gaze with mine, I arch a brow as I wait for more. But I don’t have to wait for anything because the next words that are said blow me out of the fucking water, no, out of the universe.
And they are said by the little human Wrenly is holding in her arms.
“Dadda, Dadda, Dadda.”
Then I feel his tiny fingers grip my shirt as he reaches for me. “Wrenly?” I ask.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you a long time ago. I just… I panicked,” she says, her words coming out in a rush.
