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Chapter Twenty-Seven
* * *
Ella Wallace
Arriving early at Eden’s house with the girls, we decided we should attack this head-on. We will not let Eden wallow around for the next few months.
I understand her grief will never subside for Chloe. But the sadness, or worry for Jamie’s whereabouts, went on for too long.
This time, we’re not letting that happen.
This is going to be worse. Because she actually loves Hunter.
None of us can wrap our heads around what Eden did last night. It makes no sense.
Expecting a shocking day ahead with tears and sadness, we’ve come equipped with cupcakes and coffee at nine in the morning.
I could do without this today after Fraser’s confession last night, and we’ve been waiting for Eden to answer her door for ages now.
“Should we get the key from reception?” Eva asks.
“I don’t think she’s in.”
I knock again.
“Her car is here.” Toni points.
“She’s not in the studio, is she?” Beth frowns.
We make our way around to the studio. The door is open wide, and all the blinds are up.
We shuffle through the door and head in the office's direction at the back.
Sure enough, here she is, dressed all in black. Hair up. No makeup. Sitting behind the laptop with the office phone under her chin.
She looks tired but there are no signs of any red eyes or tears.
Dozens of newspaper article printouts are scattered across the desk of Hunter and her embracing at the final yesterday. They made the front and back page of all the mainstream newspapers.
“Yeah, that’s great, thank you, and my new phone, that will be here tomorrow by courier, will it?” she questions whoever is on the other end. “Great. Thanks for your help.”
She puts the phone back into its cradle and looks up.
“What are you lot doing here at this time of the day, on a Sunday?” she asks as if last night never happened.
“We brought cupcakes and coffee, because you know, we thought you might need cheering up today,” says Toni.
“I’m not hungry,” Eden replies flatly.
This is not what we were expecting at all.
“You lot can all go. I’m busy.”
“Eden, come on now. You had a brutal night last night. We know that you’ll be feeling like shit today. We’re here for you,” I say.
“What, like last night, Ella? When you all walked away from me? Whatever,” she says deadpan. “Did you have an enjoyable night in the end?”
“We left not long after you. The boys all left before us too. Hunter was really upset.”
She chews the inside of her mouth and turns her attention back to the laptop.
“What are you doing, Eden?” Eva asks.
“Working, Eva. We have new student enrollments starting tomorrow. The accounts need doing and all those boxes behind you are sponsorship opportunities to make bank. I’ve worked out that there’s about ten grand in those. I’m making a start on that today on Instagram and looking at ways to be more profitable.” She sits back in her chair.
“She doesn’t mean with work, she means now, with Hunter?” Beth barks.
“That, well, I blew it last night with Hunter. Isn’t that what you said, Ella? I watched Hunter pack up and leave real early this morning. He’s gone. Without a goodbye. This is all I know how to do. Work and dance. So this is it for me. That okay with you all?”
Oh, Eden.
“C’mon, Eden. This is not like you,” Toni whispers.
“But moping around, losing myself in a man, being sad. That’s me, is it? Or is it the stupid childish playful side that’s me? Because Hunter made it pretty clear last night that I was, now wait, how did he put it again? High school and childish. Yeah, I think that was it. He’s right. It’s time to grow up. So this is me. Working and dancing. It’s what I do best. Keep myself to myself. Look after number one and I don’t need or want any of you. You made that very clear last night that I fucked up when you left me.”
A red, angry rash starts creeping across her neck.
“I may have been fooled last night and completely played by two spiteful twats. Fed lies to like a hungry lion, but I would always, always stand by you all no matter what. Even if you messed up. But then none of you share anything with me. So I don’t really know that much about what goes on. And why is that? Because I’m the baby of our messed-up little group. Short and stupid. Just a silly, naïve, dress like a five-year-old little girl who saw the fun in everything again, or is it because I’m not very experienced in relationships? What the fuck is that all about, eh? Because I pay my taxes, run a home, run the business, built a house. I look after myself, like a big girl, but you all treat me like I’m an idiot.”
She stops for a moment.
“And you, Eva. I bet you’ve told everyone apart from me what’s going on with you and Ewan, but aw no, our little girl can’t take it, so we won’t share with her. What the fuck ever. Now would you all just fuck off? I don’t need you; I am not a charity case,” she yells now, raging.
“That’s enough, Eden,” Eva lowers her voice at Eden.
“And what about you?” She points at me. “What exactly is going on with you and Fraser?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really. You could have fooled me,” Eden spits.
“And you, Beth, huh? What the fuck is wrong with Billy exactly? Doesn't meet your CEO standards? You’re too pigheaded to admit you’re in love with him and just be with someone for being normal and grounded. But no, he doesn’t tick Mummy and Daddy’s boxes. Doesn’t earn a million a year and doesn’t have six million pounds' worth of investments.”
“You’ve gone too far, Eden. Shut the fuck up,” I yell.
“No, I will not. You all like getting up in my shit. None of you ever share anything with me. Toni, what about you? Too scared to tell us that your mum and dad would prefer you to marry an Italian guy? Is that why you hide every single boyfriend? What will happen exactly if you don’t marry one? Will they take ownership of the parlor away from you?”
Toni cries.
“Thought as much,” Eden mutters.
Eden shoves her chair back, pushing herself up from it. She picks up her car keys off the desk, along with a little white box with a big red bow and a white envelope that was underneath it, and circles around from the desk.
“Well, if you lot won’t leave, I will,” she says.
“Where are you going, Eden? Please just stay; let’s talk about this,” I plead.
“Nope, not talking. Don’t want to. I’ve no phone, so don’t bother trying to find me. And you can delete me from your stupid WhatsApp group too.” She dashes through the studio.
“Please, Eden. We need to talk about you and Hunter, about last night.” We all run after her.
Spinning around, she furiously spits out, “What, so we can talk about how I messed up my life again? How I was lied to last night? How stupid I feel? How I self-sabotage? How I don’t trust? How I’m an idiot? How fucking painful it all feels? How I lost the one and only man I’ve ever loved? How I lost the man who was going to move his entire life to be with me, but now he isn’t? So we can all talk about me again? Fuck that. No, thanks. My life might be a disaster. But you all have problems of your own. You all think I don’t see it, but I see everything. This isn’t Sex in the City. We’re all twenty-seven years old and still fucking about like we’re eighteen. Except for Eva, I think, but then again, what do I know.” She storms out the doorway.
We run after her, watching Eden stomp across the gravel toward her car.
“And no more crying. You heard Hunter,” she calls out over her shoulder. “I’m not to shed any tears for him. So I’m following his command. I’m doing as I’m told, like a good girl.”
Face-to-face with the car, she rips the eyelashes off her headlamps and throws them to the ground.
“Better grow up now, huh? And you can both sell your cars. I’m trading this in tomorrow, for something less childlike. Also, take your pissing bucket list and shove it too.”
We watch as she furiously skids away down the drive through the stones, making them fly everywhere.
Shit.
“This is bad. Really bad,” Beth says as she loops an arm around Toni’s shoulder.
“What do we do?” Toni asks, wiping her tears.
“Should we text Hunter?” Eva suggests.
None of us speak.
I don’t know what to do.
“Text him,” Beth whispers.
I pull out my phone.
Me:Have you really left?
Hunter: We’re about to take off in ten minutes. Yes.
Me: It’s not good, Hunter. Eden’s bad, really bad, like crazy.
Hunter: I texted her this morning to say goodbye, but she didn’t reply.
Me: She dropped her phone down the toilet yesterday at the final. She’s not got a phone.
Hunter: Shit. Will you tell her I love her, and I will never forget her for me, please?
Me:She’s not talking to any of us. She’s just taken off in her car at high speed. She’s angry. Furious. You should have heard what she’s said.
Hunter:Why did you let her drive like that? Was she crying?
Me: Nope, no crying. No tears. Just pure rage. She said it’s time for her to grow up. We didn’t get a chance; she was too quick.
Hunter: I can’t come back. I won’t. Eden and I are over. I can’t be with someone who thinks I’m a liar, Ella. She doesn’t trust me. If trust doesn’t exist with us, then I can’t do this.
Me: I think you’re wrong. I think your impending departure left her feeling vulnerable and susceptible. Jamie and Jax saw that. This is not like Eden at all, Hunter, you know her.
Hunter:I have to turn my phone off now, but will you please try to find her for me and text me as soon as you can to let me know she’s safe?
Me: Gosh, this can’t be it, Hunter. Surely not? You love her, don’t you?
Hunter: With everything I am, but I have to go. I have three back-to-back tournaments and all this visa and house sales shit to sort out now. I’m sorry, Ella. Eden and I were not meant to be. Not in this lifetime.
Ella: You don’t mean that, Hunter.
Hunter: I don’t know anymore.I left her a gift on her doorstep late last night; I planned on giving it to her last night but didn’t get the chance.
Me: She had it in her hand when she left, I think. A white box and red bow?
Hunter: Yeah, that’s it.
Me:Until next time, Hunter. Good luck.
Hunter: Thanks, Ella.
“He’s gone, girls.” I look up from my phone.
“We have to find her,” Toni mumbles.
“Beach?” Eva suggests.
“Let’s go,” I summon them all.
