Page 104 of That Thing Between Eli & Gwen

When she said it, I hated how the first thing I thought about was all the times he'd told me he didn’t like to have to think about anything around me, how he liked to lose track of time with me. I felt like someone was sitting on my chest.

“What is that proverb you always say?”

“Le ntombazane izinkanyezi emehlweni akhe bayokhanya njengokukhanya ebusuku,” she replied in Zulu.

I nodded. “The girl with stars in her eyes will shine like the moonlight… Let me shine, Mom.”

She sighed but nodded. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but just remember to protect your heart, Guinevere, or it really will break this time.”

Eli

Taigi barked, hopping around Masoa’s leg. He even howled up at the night sky.

I couldn’t blame him, actually. I had never seen this many stars in one place in all of my life. It was like someone had spilled a million tiny diamonds onto a dark sheet. A thin crescent moon sat just to the left of it all.

“So, City Slicker.” Malik came over, placing his arm around my neck. “Cypress so far?”

“It’s just as beautiful as Guinevere described,” I replied as we stopped at the lake, the sky reflected in it.

Taigi ran up to me with a stick between his jaws. It reminded me of the ones he often grabbed when we went running, and I threw it for him. He fetched and dropped it at my feet.

Kneeling next to him, I scratched his neck. “So, we are still on for a run tomorrow, then?”

“Aye, Taigi! You’re on the wrong side.” Jeremy clapped for him to come over to him.

But Taigi lay down, rolling over for me to scratch his stomach.

“He’s been in the city for too long, it’s messed with his head,” Masoa replied. With one whistle, Taigi was back on his feet and running to his side. “I’ll see you boys later. I’ll let Gwen know you left.”

“See you later, Masoa.” They headed off on their own and nodded back toward me with smirks on their faces.

Roy shook his head and added, “Good luck.”

The silence was potent as they disappeared, leaving us both at the edge of the water.

“How long have you been seeing my daughter?” he asked, crouched down, flicking a rock into the water. His eyes were so clear the water seemed to reflect in them, and in turn, the sky as well.

“Not very long. We were sort of friends for a time before that.”

“Sort of friends. And that means?”

“We fought and teased each other constantly, though I believe I started it by calling her a con artist.”

He stood. “You called my daughter a con artist?”

“Yes, I did, right after I found out how much money my mother bought her painting for. I believe she called me Dr. Asshole in return. Sometimes, I swear she’s still thinking it in her mind.” I smirked.

; “Aren’t you supposed to be making me like you with your gentleman routine and whatnot?”

“Oh I am, just discreetly. Besides, it’s only the first day, you still have to get a few rounds in, sir. Then, and only then, when you’re ready to like me, you will.” I put my hands into my pockets, staring upward again. I felt like I could look up at the stars forever.

“That story about your father, was it real?”

That was the only thing that angered me, and I turned to him seriously. “If you remember anything about me, sir, please remember this: never will I ever lie on my father’s name, nor use my family for my own advantage. There are some lines you just don’t cross. Family is mine.”

“Is everything okay?” Guinevere came out holding a tray of iced tea.