“Eli!” Mia stepped away from me.
“You keep your perverted hands off her,” he said, giving me a shove.
I held my hands up in surrender. The last thing I needed in the local newspaper was my being in a bar brawl. Eli’s store could probably benefit from that type of publicity, but my boss wouldn’t like it. Then again, maybe it was Eli’s goal to get me fired. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out why he was so angry. I didn’t fuck her and then leave her. I loved her. And it was over four years ago. Okay, so maybe we’d never be friends again, but the intensity of his dislike for me seemed beyond what was normal. I wished I could figure out what was going on with him.
4 Mia
“Eli, knock it off,” I said, coming around in front of Nick. “What is wrong with you?”
“You’re supposed to be home with Dad,” he said pointing a finger at me.
“No, I told you since this was my first day, I was coming here with some colleagues.”
“You’re letting him touch you.”
“God, Eli, what’s your problem? Nick is a colleague and old friend. And over there,” I said jabbing my finger toward the table of people, “Are more colleagues. Are you going to attack them too?”
There was one thing I never had to worry about in L.A., and that was small town gossip. Yes, it was nice to come home to a place where people knew me, until my brother made a scene.
I couldn’t decide, though, if I welcomed his intrusion or not. Dancing with Nick had been nice. Too nice. He felt manlier than I remembered. Stronger. Broader. He was still sweet and kind, and I meant what I said in that I was glad he was there with my mom since my dad and brother hadn’t gotten to the hospital in time. But swaying to the music with him brought back memories I’d worked four years to push away. Memories of him holding and caressing me. Of feeling like I was the center of the world. Or at least his world. But that was then and this was now. Now we were old friends. Work colleagues.
Still, Eli had some nerve. “You know I’m a grown woman, right? I was a grown up four years ago when I was with Nick. What is your problem?”
Eli leaned closer to me, and I felt Nick crowd in like he was ready to get between me and Eli. Eli was acting over the top, but I didn’t think he was dangerous, so I put a hand out to stop Nick.
“You’re here to help with Dad. Not party. This isn’t L.A. where you can spend your nights out.”
I stared at Eli, wondering what the hell was up with him. “You don’t know my life here or in L.A. I told you and Dad that I was stopping by here. And yes, I’m here for Dad. Not you. If you think you can boss me around, you’re going to have a very difficult time of it.”
I turned to Nick. “I’m going to head out. Thank you for the dance.”
He nodded, his green eyes narrowed at Eli.
“I’ll leave this numbnut to you,” I said to Nick, and then headed to the table. “Sorry people, I’ve got to run.”
“What’s up with Eli?” Candace asked.
“I don’t know.” I picked up my purse. “See you at work tomorrow.”
I hurried out with Eli on my tail. “Don’t talk to me, Eli.” I said as I got in my car. “Go home. I’ll go to Dad’s.”
I slammed my door and started the car. He was lucky I didn’t drive over his toes I moved out so quickly. He’d have deserved it.
By the time I got to my dad’s house, I’d taken a lot of deep breaths and had calmed down. Something was up with Eli, and heaven help us if our lives were going to be full of this drama.
“Hi Dad,” I called as I came in. He was sitting in his special recliner that tilted forward when he wanted to get up.
“How’s my girl?” He’d greeted me like that since I could remember. “Did you have fun getting reacquainted with your friends?”
“I did, until Eli came by and ruined it. What’s up with him?”
“Oh,” my father made a dismissive sound. “He’s just a little lost.”
I sat on the couch, kicking my shoes off and tucking my legs underneath me. “That’s not a little lost. Something is seriously up his butt.”
My father chuckled. “What did he do?”
“I texted him that I was going to have a drink with friends, and he comes storming in. Telling Nick to keep his hands off me and ordering me home.”
“Nick had his hands on you?” My father’s bushy brows rose.
“We were dancing. Like normal people do.”
“So you and Nick—“
“No, Dad. It was just a chance to talk alone. I get that Eli felt betrayed by me and Nick, but that was years ago. Surely he’s over it.”
My dad shook his head. “Eli and Nick aren’t friends.”
“After four years though, you’d think that type of intense hate would be gone. Seriously Dad, what’s wrong with him?”
My father sighed. “I think he’s jealous that Nick got the life he wanted. Couple that with Nick’s past relationship with you and his being the last one to talk to your mom—“
“He’s jealous?” It still seemed over the top to me. “If he’s unhappy, change his life. Don’t come storming in the bar and embarrassing me.” I huffed out a breath.
My dad shrugged. “Sometimes it’s easier to blame others. Nick got into Stanford medical school, when Eli didn’t even though he went to Stanford undergrad.”
“Nick didn’t take his spot. He should have studied more.” I knew Eli when he was in college. He did okay in school, but he partied hard as well. “Besides, he got into UC Davis, it’s a
