The Sweetest Summer

Chapter Sixty-Seven - Sober

Looking back, the evening had been a blur. Hell, if were being honest, my entire twenty-three years of life had been a blur.

My existence had been characterized by moments of ecstasy, followed by moments of devastation...all dictated by one insanely attractive man. A man who knew how I'd felt, and keyed into those feelings for his advantage.

Not that he was entirely to blame. Hell, I wasn't exactly innocent either. Not by a long shot. I'd fed into this pattern of behavior for years, and that Saturday night in L.A. was no different.

Before I delve too deep, I feel like I should explain how I ended up here. Back in Malibu in my red dress, bathed in the dreamy orange sunrise, with a bottle of champagne, and my best friend curled against my side...

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Nine hours earlier :

The ride to Eli's apartment seemed to flash by, and before I knew it, we were parked in his private underground garage. It was strange that after all this time, I still remembered the little details. Like the red stripe of paint at the end of each parking space, and the little hollow triangles that were the elevator buttons.

Being back here with him again felt like I was tossed back in a time capsule, and shaken around. Even as Eli opened my car door, I purposefully walked ahead of him, feeling his eyes on me like they were after the 'Prom'.

"You're so beautiful, you know that?" His voice was thick. Full of wonder, and it still took my breath away. Even after all of the times we'd made love - Paris, New York, Malibu, L.A...I still couldn't believe he saw me in that way. A small part of me still felt like I was trying to prove something to him. Trying to get him to notice me...

"Avery." Eli's hand was massive as it held mine on the elevator up to the topmost floor.

"Yeah?" Our eyes met as the carriage rose.

"I love you."

I swooned and he tightened his grip on my hand.

"I love you too, Elijah."

I hadn't seen his apartment since 'Prom' night, and I wondered if the furniture was still the same. If the view was as grand as I remembered. I'd been so sheltered back then, and everything seemed so much more substantial. Every touch, every kiss, every time he'd make me want him. Every time he'd pull away...

The doors pinged open and everything was as I remembered, with a hint of Asian spice and some light jazz music added to the nostalgia. My heels clacked noisily against the marble flooring as I followed Eli, who still held my hand.

"You like sushi, right?"

"Of course. I haven't changed that much." I teased and took a seat on one of Eli's chrome and acrylic bar stools. He walked into the kitchen to pour me a glass of my favorite red.

He only took his eyes off of me for a moment to pour the wine, and was quick to join me again. It was like he didn't want to lose sight of me. Like if he did, I would just disappear. I wondered if he knew that was the same way I'd felt about him...for years.

We sipped in silence, and I couldn't help but remember Ethan and his pledge for sobriety. It felt strange drinking with someone again. It wasn't bad, just...different.