To My Future Cheating Husband

VII. I call your fib

A V A

Out of all the people I see again, I never expect Elijah Wood to hit me the hardest.

But why?

Elijah and I kind of grew up together, but I don't recall any of the years - still don't.

We dated briefly in high school, but that was it - a brief youthful moment.

Even Luke, whom I married in my first life, didn't make such an impact.

Is it because our story isn't finished?

How we (I) left everything with so much regret?

But, it was for the best, wasn't it?

After all, because I step back, Eli is here - alive and healthy. He traveled the fucking world like he always wanted to do.

"Hi," My voice barely comes out audible.

Eli scratches the back of his head and fidgets awkwardly in place. "Heard you went out shopping. Need some help?" His voice. It's different. Deeper.

"Oh, yeah." I open the trunk, then close the door.

"Eli!" That voice does not sound familiar.

Across the street was a young girl, well-dressed. She glances both ways before she crosses the street, "Hey-" Her voice was a bit pitchy, but somehow warm. "Logan asked for you," Her voice trails off as her eyes met mine. I watch very closely as she analyzes me from top to bottom; her eyebrow scrunches together.

"Oh-" Trevon intervenes, "Yara. This is Ava. Ava. This is Yara."

Yara's eyebrows pinch further before she grabs the hem of Eli's shirt and tugs at it. Confused, he leaned inward, and she whispered something in his ear that got him slightly red. An innocent reaction to the devious action.

She gives him a sly smile before she takes a step back, "I'll tell your brother you're a bit busy, but don't take too long," Yara said teasingly.

It feels uncomfortable to see this scene of couples sharing secrets. It shouldn't, but somehow it gets to me.

Eli turns his attention back to me, "Stuff in the back?"

"Yeah."

Together, we went to the trunk to gather the bags, then awkwardly made our way back to the house.

"How are you doing?" Eli attempts to strike up a conversation with a dry topic.

"Good. You?"

"Better," he says. "Here, let me." He attempts to grab another bag, but I step back, almost like a defense mechanism. "I got it."

Eli laughs briefly, "I'm not as weak as I used to be, you know."

My gaze cast to his arms, definitely muscular in comparison to our teen years, "I...know." It must be from all the travels. From what I heard, he didn't simply stroll around the world, but also climb mountains and all that stupid, dangerous shit.

Eli noticed I was gazing at his muscles and smiled briefly. He clears his throat, "So, back for the wedding?"

"We both know I have no choice."

"You mean, we have no choice."

We both laugh at the thought of saying no to Winnie.

When we reach the inside of the house, I drop the bags, and so does he. My hairclip drops to the front of my eyes, and my face involuntarily scrunches. I grab the clip and remove it, but it pops two feet away.