“Exactly, now is not the place.” Jonathan smirked, looking straight at me. “This is a family event, after all.”
“You ain’t my family.”
Ryan stepped between us. “Stop it. Both of you.”
But Jonathan’s eyes stayed on me. “Same old Elliot. You always loved to run when things got hard.”
“And you always loved to have what you couldn’t afford,” I shot back. “Guess we’re both consistent.”
His teeth gritted together. “Get the fuck out of here, Elliot. Now!”
“Gladly!” I yelled back.
That should’ve been the end of it. But footsteps—Christ, again?—heels this time.
“Enough.”
I closed my eyes as Ma appeared under the dim garden light, the judgment already radiating off her.
“What is all this nonsense?” she asked, eyes landing on me like I was the problem—as usual. “Is this what you came here for? You couldn’t let your sister have one day?”
I stared at her. “Trust. I’ve let her have plenty.”
Ma crossed her arms. “This is her wedding. Everything doesn’t have to be a fight.”
“Funny,” I said, voice low. “You only say that when it’s me doing the fighting back.”
Ryan stepped forward. “Ma, it’s fine. We were just talking—”
“No, it’s not fine,” Ma snapped. “Elliot always thinks she’s owed something. Like life has to pay her back for not going the way she planned.”
I took a breath. “I’m leaving now. Goodbye!”
“Finally! I don’t even know why you came!” Jonathan yelled, swaying. I looked at Ryan, who looked away like she didn’t invite me.
“I don’t either.” I scoffed.
Jonathan took Ryan’s hand like all of this wasn’t his fault. “Let’s go.”
Ryan looked at me then, really looked. “I didn’t come out here to fight you, Ellie.”
“No, you came to take more! All of you! But joke’s on you because I have nothing left to give you people.”
Silence fell like a heavy curtain as I made my exit. I moved around the side of the venue, each step quicker than the last, my heart pounding behind my ribs like it was trying to claw its way out. I needed air. I needed to find El and get out of here. I needed—
“Peanut.”
I stopped. El’s voice was filled with urgency. He stepped out from the side door, concern lining his face. “You okay? I could hear yelling from inside.”
Great.
“Did somebody touch you?”
“No.”
“Are you alright?”
I shook my head. “No. Not even close.”
