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He knew. He had to know. The very air seemed thick with her sudden certainty of just how much she wanted the man. That certainty must have communicated itself to him with her shallow, audible breaths, the almost imperceptible way she leaned closer to him, irresistibly drawn to his heat. His size. His scent. The big, strong hand on her waist molding her body firmly against his. He was going to kiss her. She was sure of it. She stared at his lips in anticipation as lowered his head, tilted her chin up with his other hand, then bent toward her. Their breaths mingled and an almost tangible sizzle of excitement preceded the initial meeting of their lips. Except they didn't meet, suddenly distracted by the sound of someone saying Chandler's name, they drew apart from each other. "Mr Kendrick." the voice said, "I've been wanting to talk to you. Good to know you're still here," Chandler swore under his breath as he let her go, and Elena moved away from him, not sure if she was mad about
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She wanted him. He wanted her. But she was overthinking because she wanted to know that everything would turn out okay. They were products of their circumstances, but they didn't have to let those circumstances steer the wheel of every choice they made. A lot of people did, but standing there in the restroom, she didn't want to anymore.When the sun rose in the morning, there was no way she'd look at Chandler with regret or disappointment. No, she couldn't guarantee how this would play out, but what she knew about him and how he was making her feel was enough.She touched up her makeup, then headed back to the party. Chandler wasn't where he was when she left and so she stood at a place, searching for him with her eyes when a familiar voice said her name, "Hello, Miss Davis,"It took her a second to realize that it was Matt Harrington standing before her. A smile of recognition hit her face. "Matt!" she said, and shook hands with him, "It's so nice to see you again, and please, call
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He reached out tentatively, longing to bridge the growing chasm between them, but she pulled away from him, and Chandler let his hand drop."I thought there was something between us, something worth—"Elena's interruption cut through his words, her voice fraught with emotion."There is nothing between us, Chandler. You can't decide for me.""I never meant to overstep, Elena. I just... I care about you.""You care about me.. Or yourself? Which is it?" Chandler's expression reflected both remorse and desperation. It was clear that she was too angry to listen to him at that moment, so he tried something else. "I know I overstepped, Elena. I was wrong to interfere. But it's late now. Please, let's head back to the hotel. We can talk about this."Elena shook her head vehemently, her frustration bubbling over. "I don't want to talk about this with you right now or ever. I need some space."The air crackled with tension, the weight of their unspoken emotions lingering in the night. Chandler'
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The man wouldn’t even fight with her, and by God she wanted a fight." Why are you even here? I thought you said you were going to get another room for yourself," He stopped on his way over to the liquor cabinet and turned back around to stare at her. "The hotel is filled up because of the party. They don't have any empty rooms left." He told her. How convenient, Elena thought. She watched him turn and pour himself a drink, which he finished drinking before turning to face her again, "Elena…." He began as he walked towards her. “Don’t Elena me,” she whispered furiously. Chandler's hands closed over her shoulders. She tried to flinch away, but he held tight. There was honest regret in his eyes, but there was also determination. Stubborn determination.“Sit down, Elena,” he ordered in a low voice.She gaped at him. "What?" Fury darkened his eyes. "I said sit down, Elena," he said angrily and let her go, but he didn't move away. Elena stood her ground too, frowning up at him as she
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She acknowledged a pang of guilt creeping in; perhaps Chandler had a point she didn't want to admit. She had overreacted, letting her emotions steer the conversation into a storm, and now regret settled in like an unwelcome visitor.As she dried herself off and slipped into the nightwear, she acknowledged the meticulous care he had taken to ensure her comfort—a thoughtful touch that softened the edges of her frustration. But concern for him gnawed at her insides. It was well past the hour of reason, and he hadn’t returned back to the room.Ignoring the late hour, Elena made a quick decision. She hurriedly dressed, the fabric of the nightwear swishing softly with her hurried movements. With a flutter of nervousness in her chest, she quietly stepped out into the deserted hallway, searching for any sign of Chandler. The hallway was eerily silent, amplifying the ticking of her racing heart. Her gaze flickered between the corridor and the closed doors, her footsteps echoing against the flo
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The blanket covering his body was a dark color that she couldn't identify, but it was pulled up over his chest. Elena's heart was heavy, her mind still swirling with the image of Chandler kissing that woman at the hotel bar. It didn't matter how many times she told herself that they weren't a couple. It didn't matter how many times she told herself that she had no reason to care or any right to be upset. The pang of hurt lingered, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal.Desperate to avoid facing Chandler, she slipped out of bed quietly, her movements cautious to avoid waking him. Rushing into the bathroom, she closed the door softly, seeking solace in the confines of the tiled space.The hot water cascaded over her, offering a brief respite from the emotional turmoil. As she dressed hurriedly, her thoughts raced, tangled in a web of hurt and confusion. She wished she could erase the sight of Chandler's kiss from her mind, but it lingered, haunting her every thought.Finall
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Sighing theatrically, Elena relented, her expression turning serious. "Alright. At first, it started off fine, you know? We had a good time, the party was great, sparks were flying and the conversation flowed smoothly. I met a lot of nice people too."Beth leaned in, hanging onto Elena's every word."But then," Elena continued, her voice tinged with frustration, "I ran into this guy, Matt. Chandler introduced me to him weeks ago. We started talking and then he told me he wanted to ask me out when we met, but Chandler had apparently told him to back off."Beth's eyes widened in surprise, anticipating the twist in the story.Elena's face clouded with conflicting emotions. "I got really upset with Chandler because I didn't like the fact that he was already trying to control who I went out with. We argued about it, and then he stormed out of the hotel room. After a while I felt guilty because I thought maybe I overreacted. Do you think I overreacted?"Beth's expression mirrored the roller
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Elijah grinned mischievously. "Emily told me you asked her sister out on a date. How did that go?" he asked. Chandler tossed the now empty bottle into the bin before he faced his brother again, "What the hell do you think? And I'm not talking to you about it."Elijah hooted. "Oh man, she already did a number on you, didn't she?"Chandler snarled and pointed a finger at him. "Didn't I just say that I didn't want to talk about it?""Tough shit, Bro." Elijah replied and held up his hands. "I don't see anyone else lining up to help you with your problems.". "I don't have any problems, except for my busy body brother not knowing when the hell to shut the fuck up," he dabbed his face with a towel, then tossed it on his shoulder. Facing Elijah again, he said, "What else did Emily tell you?" Elijah burst into laughter, "I thought you didn't want to talk about it. I knew it! You're indeed smitten with Emily's twin. Well, good luck to you…. Emily is going to fry your ass," Chandler rolled h
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"It's okay, Chandler. You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me." Elena told him. "Don't let me off the hook, love." He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on her lips. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you, and I plan on apologizing to Emily and Daniel for walking out of their house. I have no excuse.""Okay." He smiled. "Just okay?"Elena's hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and she relished the heat of his skin coming through the material of his shirt. She only stopped when her palm was over his thudding heart. "Yeah. I don't think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ... I just need you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for not telling you when I had the chance. I need you to know that I'm in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too, but we'll always find our way back to each other. That's all I want."Chandler plucked her hand off his che
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The only thing that could've tugged Elena's attention away from Chandler was her sister hustling to her side with a devious grin on her face. Her eyes were bright with tears, and Elena felt her happiness for her like a sweet wave. "I know you might not want to, but talk to him," Emily told her. Elena shook her head. Yes, she missed him terribly, but she'd gone through this phase with him before. She had given him another chance, and here she was… Hurt again. Maybe they cared about each other. Maybe they even loved each other, but did it really mean that they should be together? Not everyone in love could be in a relationship, and maybe she and Chandler were like that. Maybe they'd only keep hurting each other if they remained together. Maybe their relationship was meant to be a short one. Chandler's gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on her. His chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he'd shaved. Th
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Chandler hooted with laughter. "Nothing to do with you? Pray tell, enlighten me, Future Dr. Kendrick.""I'm no shrink, but Elena is the first woman to make you want something more. And you'd have to put every part of you on the line in order to make something real with her. It's scary, and you've never done it, and you grabbed the most convenient excuse to make life easier on yourself. That excuse is bullshit, but you'll hold on to it like it's a life raft."Chandler glared mightily at him because clearly someone had used their time driving up here to prepare exactly how to knee him in the proverbial balls. Paul murmured like he was hearing a good sermon. He got a glare too.Elijah leaned forward. "What if she had been the one to show at your door?"The second he said it, his heart reacted without a single thought on his end.Racing, pounding, thumping erratically at the mere mention of her on the other side of that door. He wanted it so badly.Wanted her."What if you had the chance,
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Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chandler willed his mind to stop cycling around those thoughts because it didn't matter. It was like two months of his life, and that was it.He'd get over it. He'd get over her.His phone lit up again, and he sighed. "I don't know what he could possibly want to say to me."The recliner squeaked as Paul leaned forward. "I'm curious too. Hello?""What are you doing?" he yelled. "Give me that phone."When he tried to swipe for it, Paul flipped him off. "Elijah? Yeah, this is Paul. I am with the grumpy asshole."Even though his leg screamed in protest, Chandler stood from the couch and towered over Paul, holding out his hand and giving him his most forbidding glare.Paul ignored him. "Hmm. Sure, yeah. Makes sense." He continued. "Give me the phone, Paul.""Great idea, Elijah. Yeah. I like it."When he handed Chandler the phone, he exhaled heavily. Then he saw the call was already disconnected. Chandler blinked. "He hung up?""Guess so."His eyebrows lift
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"Emily," Elena warned. "You paused. Why did you pause?"She scrunched up her face. "Did I?"Elena sat forward. "Oh my gosh, what is it? Are you moving out of town? Are you leaving? Are you sick?""Slow your roll, crazy," Emily said on a laugh. "I'm not sick, good grief."Her heart settled back into a normal rhythm. "Well, it's something.""I didn't want to say anything with all the feelings and everything that's been going on." Emily gestured to Elena. "But…. I'm pregnant," "What?" Elena shrieked excitedly, and hugged her sister tightly. "Congratulations. You should have told me since," "Well, I was going to… But then I screwed up so I had to fix things first," Elena beamed at her, "You and Daniel are going to be so happy, and I'm going to be the best Aunt ever," "So you're coming right?" "Do you really have to ask? Of course I am coming." She hesitated for a while, then added, "Will Chandler be there?" she asked carefully. "It's not that I'd ... I don't know, avoid going if he w
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Emily braced her arms on her thighs and leaned toward her. "Okay, talk to me. Tell me everything. I mean, maybe not like, sex details. But ... what happened while you were gone?"Then she patted the bed. Elena's entire being settled back into place as she and Emily braced their backs against the wall. She curled her hand around hers with their legs stretched out straight onto the bed, and Elena unloaded for the next thirty minutes.After a bit, Emily leaned her head on her shoulder, and Elena set her head on hers, and they fell quiet before she got to the scene in the driveway. She didn't even attempt to wipe the tears coming down her face during that part."I'm so mad at him for leaving," Elena said, voice hoarse from talking. "But I get it. I don't want to, but I do.""I don't."Elena nudged her. "I don't need you to vilify him."Emily laughed under her breath. After the driveway showdown, dinner was a shitshow. Elena cried in the balcony while Elijah, Daniel Emily and Lexi yelled
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Elena froze, and she had to clench her teeth tightly to keep from screaming at her that there was no conceivable way she could have known that when they'd never freaking talked about it.Emily, like a rabid dog, saw the pause in her motion and pounced on it. "I thought you guys talked about it, okay? And I just ... I was trying to make conversation because seriously, I was trying to be nice to him. I wanted to get closer to him because I thought it'd make you happy, and honestly, I was starting to like him. I just wanted to have a conversation."By telling him I had a crush on his brother! Elena wanted to scream. Her eyes pinched shut. This was killing her.Because no matter how pissed she was, she could feel it seeping through her skin, how miserable Emily was.She was sad. She was frustrated. She was scared.Between the two of them, Elena was always the one who caved first. Who tried to keep the peace. Who let things slide. And she didn't want to let this slide because she was mi
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Chandler dropped his chin and breathed deeply. "Could you?""I don't hold your past against you. Because it's irrational and unfair, and you know it." She said, "That's not what I mean." He lifted his head, held her gaze, and the resolve Elena saw there chilled her to her core. "Could you overlook it if I told you that I showed up that night to take a shot with Emily?" Words were gone. Her mouth was sand-dry at what that did to her.He kept talking, quiet, dangerous words that did horrible things to her heart."If I told you that I thought about being with her, touching her, kissing her, and for even one moment, I was disappointed that I got you instead."She sucked in a startled breath."Yeah," he said slowly, softly. "You couldn't overlook it either. Because that look in your pretty brown eyes, baby. It feels like I just punched you in the gut, doesn't it?"Her eyes filled with tears, and she hated them. She hated that he was right. And for just a moment, one fleeting, fast one, s
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"What did Emily say to you?" Elena asked quietly. It was taking everything in her not to march up to him and shake the answer out of him."I can see it." Chandler said, Elena's head tilted at his strange answer. She felt like a fish that had been plopped unceremoniously out of its bowl. It was hard to breathe because she had no concept of how to navigate this. "See what?"He exhaled slowly, finally turning to face her. "You and Elijah."Her stomach was now the thing giving her all the ominous feels because it turned dangerously. What the hell did her sister say to him? "Elijah and I," she repeated quietly. "Chandler... I—" Denial trapped in her throat. Nothing else came up. Because she couldn't lie.And he saw that on her face.He nodded. "You'd look great together. And it's probably really fucking stupid on my end that I never even considered that you were into him.""I don't want Elijah," she argued. Carefully, she approached him with her hands held up. Don't spook him, Elena, beca
