Morphine: Drugged is the New Paradise

Chapter 23 Eli

Eli's POV

I started to tie my bow tie and Xavier watched me. My hands were trembling and my brother came over to me. He took the bow tie from my hands and tied it for me, "Relax, Eli, you're just going on a date with your mate."

"That's why I'm nervous."

"You're dressed up in a suit, are you taking Ariel to a fancy restaurant?" Xavier asked.

"No, dancing." I corrected.

He smiled, "She'll love it."

"No, I'm hoping she'll love this instead." I remarked, as I dug into my pocket and set the ring box in my brother's hands. He opened the small box.

"Mom's ring?" He asked.

"Yeah, do you think she'll like it?"

"Well, of course she'll love it, but Eli...is it a promise ring?" He asked.

"You damn well know that it is not a promise ring." I snapped.

"Okay, okay. I was just hoping you weren't going to rush things." Xavier said, backing down.

"I'm just hoping she's say 'yes', I don't care when we get married." I assured.

"If I were you, I would hold off." Xavier said, "She might freak. She is already overwhelmed with emotions, and she needs time to settle. She is just getting used to having the idea of having you back. You don't want to scare her, do you?"

"But she has to know that I'm serious." I replied.

"I know that, but I'll think you'll scare her."

"You think that you know my mate better than me?" I asked, getting angry.

"Yes, I do. It might hurt but I do. I spend five days a week with her for months now. I can say that I know her." Xavier explained.

It killed me that my own brother knew my mate better than me. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my pills. I popped a happy pill and Xavier gave me the look, "What?"

"Are you going to tell her?" He asked.

"She knows."

"Does she know that you're addicted?" He asked, raising his brow at me.

"Okay, she doesn't know that part, but I plan to tell her."

"When?"

"Soon, but not now."

"Why not now?"

"I don't want her to leave me."

"You can't keep it from her."

"Since when are you in charge of my relationship?"

"Since Ariel became my friend. I love her and I -"

I slammed my brother against the wall, "Say you love her one more time!"

 "I do, Eli. I love her and I won't you hurt her anymore." He rasped, "I've made it my job to protect her because you couldn't - no, you wouldn't. Yes, Eli, I love your mate, but she doesn't belong to me, she belongs to you and you don't deserve sweet Ariel."

I released my brother and he fell to the ground, gasping, "You don't know anything you, piss ant. Get out or I'll hurt you."

"You do that, do you think Ariel will crawl into your arms? If anything she'll push you away. Besides Julie, I am her only friend. If you want to win her back, you should start with being nicer to me, brother." Xavier challenged.

I glared at him, "You know Ariel belongs to me, why do you love her?"

"You don't deserve her."

"She is not yours, Xavier. Stay out of her head."