A Love Buried by Secrets novel Chapter 20

Vanessa locked eyes with Elliot. She stared right through him as if she could see exactly what he was thinking. But he stayed quiet, head lowered, refusing to give anything away.

His friends grew desperate and nudged him urgently, whispering through clenched teeth.

"Eli, say something! Don't screw this up!"

"You and Vanessa loved each other for years, Eli. Don't be an idiot now!"

"Exactly. Serena's gone. Wasn't marrying Vanessa all you ever wanted?"

Even they knew how crazy in love the two had once been.

Vanessa's eyes brimmed with tears, and her voice trembled. "Come home with me. We'll see our parents. We could be married by tomorrow. Eli, just nod, and I'll act like none of this ever happened. I'll convince myself you were just drunk tonight."

She stared at him. Her eyes silently pleading for Elliot to nod.

But when he finally spoke, his rough voice cracked out the words that broke her heart again. "Vanessa, I just need more time."

Her tears finally spilled over, and her voice broke with despair. "You've been saying that for six months! Elliot, you've strung me along for half a year. How much longer do I have to wait?

"Are you never going to marry me because of Serena? Answer me! Give me an answer. We don't have to get married right now. I'll wait. But tell me the truth. Do you still want to marry me?"

Vanessa's questions hit hard, stripping away the lies he'd been telling himself for the last six months. Every word she spoke felt like she was trying to tear his heart out of his chest.

Elliot tried to remember how he used to feel about Vanessa. But all he could see was Serena's beautiful, smiling face. His silence spoke volumes.

Even his friends started getting nervous. Sensing that this was heading toward disaster, they rushed to calm Vanessa down.

"Don't overthink this. Eli just isn't in the right headspace to deal with this right now."