Forrest — Chapter 47 Eliah, in The Flesh

FORREST

IT WAS harder to accept when you were expecting too much. I was looking forward to this night, then I just ended up disappointed.

My heart was speared as I headed down the wide staircase to join the guests after the short introduction from my mother.

I pasted a smile, a few handshakes, and pleasantries to the first group of gentlemen from the Oirdheirc Society. Something inside me twisted when I passed by with several couples chatted intimately in the corner.

My lips curved into a knowing sad smile to greet my friends. Unfortunately, Megan wasn’t with them. That was why there had no RSVP for my invitation. She moved on, I guessed. I meant nothing but a history to her at all.

“Great party,” Pyke said as we did a brotherly hug.

“I’m glad you all came.” Sorrow laced my voice, and I didn’t even bother to hide it from them.

When Camila called me that Megan would come, I was so thrilled. Never a day passed by I didn’t anticipate this night, then she suddenly changed her mind.

“You look ravishingly handsome tonight, Forrest, or should I call you now, milord.” Bianca’s lips spread into a full-blown smile. I guessed the milord part was definitely sticking for a long time.

“Forrest sounds better.” I grabbed a glass of Champagne from the waitstaff and drained it in two gulps. “Besides, 98% of these people I just met tonight. How’s my goddaughter?”

“Whoa! Take it easy, party boy. And you should come back to States to her second birthday.”

“I won’t miss it. I already missed my girl.” And my other girl.

“Sure as hell she misses you, too, bro,” Kyland said. I knew who he meant, but I pretended he was still referring to Kelly.

“She’s in the hotel. She tricked us and left her dress back home.” Blaine squeezed my hand, looking hopeful.

I wished I could feel the same, but right now, it was all slipping off my fingers. “She doesn’t want to see me.”

“You know I went to Blaine’s hometown, punched Ben’s father, and I ended locked up in the cell. Then my father threatened me because he thought I was playing with my wife’s feelings. But, man, it didn’t stop me, because deep inside, I couldn’t find another Blaine in this lifetime. And if she means to you, even if it’s a tiny bit, then do something. You’ve wasted a month waiting for what? For the right time? The right time is when you think it is now. She’s a woman, and you’re a man should be groveling and telling her how much you love her. If it works for me and Blaine, it will work for both of you. One of you should sacrifice if it’s worth the risk. There’s only one Megan in this world, Forrest,” Xandry just gave his mind-opening speech, and I just closed my gaping mouth and stared at him in disbelief.

Love did change him a lot. At first, I doubted he would ever settle down, let alone in his twenties.

“Wow! That’s the best pep-talk you ever said, Xandry,” Pyke agreed and grinned, slapping his cousin on his back. “Proud of you, bro.”

“What can I say, I have the best life.” He looked at Pyke, then to me. “And I will never doubt you will have the best in life as I am if you would just swallow your hubris. Besides, look at you right now, you have almost everything a man can ask for, except the most important missing piece to complete you, that can’t be bought by money. Come on, milord, just get off your high horse already.”

“You must be my son’s friends from the States.” Mama walked in to welcome my only guests.

“Thank you for inviting us, Lady Myra Kentworthry.” Pyke bowed politely.

I was not used my friends would do such thing, but they were born with a golden spoon and certainly aware of the etiquette.

“Just Myra, dear. Anything for my boy.”

After the short introduction, Mama excused herself to entertain her guests. “Enjoy the party.”

“Look who finally showed up. If it’s not Ellery Forrest Keighley Kentworthry, himself.” A slow clap had us turned to our right.

I was already smiling and pulling this lad into a brotherly hug. “Well, well, well, look at you. Eliah Storm Aberworth Huxley Raybourne, in the flesh. Jesus, mate. How did you get these muscles?” He was always lean, but as tall as I was. He had his golden curly hair tied back neatly with his bright blue eyes gleaming at me. “You look like you just come from a Viking show.”

He laughed. “I could ask the same thing, cousin. It’s been five years, yeah? What made you come back to England? And don’t tell me shites, like duty calls.” He was my third cousin from my real father, but his family was way different from mine.

“I guess, I just missed you. And it’s my party, so where am I supposed to be, Eliah?”

“Fine. Apology accepted.” He laughed out loud and looked at my friends.

“I am not apologizing.”

“Great. Welcome back, then.” He gestured to my friends. “They must be the reason why you never came to visit me, even once.”

“Sort of.”

He scanned all my girls, and I wanted to punch him right away. “Beautiful ladies, my apologies—”

“They belong to them.” I tipped my head to my friends who all looked amused. “If you wanna get out of here alive in one piece. Then you have to keep your hands to yourself and your tongue in your mouth. All the time.”

“I’m a good bloke. Ask my mum over there. So, where’s yours?” When I didn’t reply, he held out his hand to Pyke. “My apologies for my ill-manners, gentlemen. Eliah, call me Storm when we’re in States.”

I couldn’t help but rolled my eyes and chuckled. My friends seemed to like him despite how he eyed my girls with interest. Eliah was just trying to mess with me. I knew he was a good lad who lived with dignity and always respected the values his family had thought him.

“Excuse me, sir. An emergency call for you,” Our butler, Usworth interrupted us.

“What kind of emergency?”

“You should take this call, sir,” he insisted.

I grabbed the phone with wary as I eyed him. When I looked down at the screen, it was a call from Alan. My heart just leaped up to my throat.

“I have to take this,” I excused myself from my friends. My stomach turned stone hard as I reached the driveway. The call already ended, and I had to redial Alan.

“You should come over,” he answered right away. I could hear the loud music and the yelling in the background.

“What is it all about?”

“Can’t you hear this?” he said sarcastically.

“My eardrum is near damaged. Cut the shit, Alan. My friends are waiting for me.”

“I know, and your girlfriend is having too much fun with the ballers.”

“Megan?”