I lounged on my window seat, paging through a book that I'd been working on for over an hour, when Mackenzie walked in. My brain hadn't taken in a single page. I was too focused on my own issues to get into the drama of the characters, but she didn’t know that. “Whatcha reading?”

She flopped down on my bed, her blonde hair splayed out on all sides. She was in sweats today, and looked pretty relaxed, considering the rehearsal dinner was tomorrow. I thought the impending wedding would put her little bit more on edge, but since our morning with Charity at the bridal salon, Mackenzie had really seemed to warm up to her. It was weird.

“Nothing important.” I shut the book.

“What are you up to today? Anything good?”

“Not really. I was just hanging around.”

I could sense she came in for more than the fact that she was just bored. “What do you need, Mackenzie?”

She turned on her side to look at me. “I want to know what happened with Levi.”

“I honestly have no idea what is happening with Levi.” I shook my head.

She made a face. “Why don’t you ask Levi to go to the wedding? I mean, he knows all the family.”

It was true; this kid paid attention more than I gave her credit for. “Okay, Kenz. Spit it out. Why are you really here?”

She sat up and licked her lips. “I'm here because I know you still have feelings for Levi. And now, I think you should fight like hell to get him back.”

I was starting to put the puzzle pieces together. Mackenzie wasn’t just laying around today. The girl never wore sweats like this unless she was working out; she had been out on a run. “Where did you see them together?”

She rolled her eyes. “A little coffee shop down on the corner. Their coffee sucks by the way, don't go there. But, anyway, they were sitting outside together, and she was all over him. It was gross. Even when you two were like really going at it, you weren't like that. She was just, I don't know, immature. Self-conscious or something, like she doesn’t trust him.”

I knew exactly what that looked like. I'd seen college friends of mine do it a million times. They were the ones who were worried their boyfriends were cheating on them. Not that Levi was cheating, unless he hadn’t told this girl about his nonexclusive rule. “So, what do you think I should do?” Asking my kid sister for advice, I was at an all time low.

I was ready for her to tell me to initiate some type of major smack down, which was Mackenzie’s style. What she said shocked me. “Yes, you have to fight for him, but in a subtle way. Because if she gets more jealous, she’ll just latch on harder, and you won't get your chance. You have to take your time, and think about it. You have to let him know that you're really serious.”

Was I really serious? I looked at my phone that was sitting next to me in a perfect ray of sunlight coming through the windows. No missed calls or text messages. I realized I had to call him. I had to clear my mind.

“Thanks for the advice, Kenz. Now get lost.” I shook my phone at her.

She shot me one of her dazzling smiles before bouncing out the door. I held the phone in my hand, and took a deep breath. I stood and crossed my room to my desk, where I set the book down. I reached into my purse, and pulled out the business card Noa had given me.

I wasn't going to call Levi, not before I talked to Eli.

I dialed the number, and the phone rang a few times before a receptionist answered. “Green Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, how may I direct your call?”

I took a deep breath. “I'd like to talk to a patient, please.”

“And which one is that?”

“Eli Jackson. My name is Lila.”

“Yes, I see here he’s allowed phone calls now. I’ll put you through.”

The phone rang a few more times before I heard his gruff voice. “Lila?”

I sat down on the edge of my bed, and absentmindedly crumpled up the business card in my hand. “Hi, Eli. How are you? Are they treating you okay in there?”

I had no idea what to say to him. What do you say to someone who's in rehab?

“Yeah, I'm okay. They’re pretty cool here, but the first few days were pretty rough. That’s on me though, you know? I should have realized my drinking was out of control a while ago. You know, Lila, it wasn’t you. None of it was your fault.”

“I know, Eli. I know it was about Megan. But I should have been here, I should have helped you. I am so sorry…”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. This was my battle to fight. How are you? How’s Levi?”

So, he hadn’t talked to him. That meant he probably didn’t have the answers I was looking for.

“He's okay, I think. I mean I haven't talked to him too much lately. I think he’s seeing someone.”

I could almost hear him smile on the other end. “You mean besides you? And what are you going to do about that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Lila, I'm in rehab, not a psych ward. I know exactly how you feel about him. Your face when you realized that he had heard what we were talking about, you were crushed. You didn't want him to think any less of you than he had this whole time that you were apart. I know that feeling.”

I sighed. “You're right. I still have feelings for him. But I have no idea what the hell I'm going to do about it.”

He paused. “If there's one thing I've learned in here in therapy, and don’t you laugh at me, it's that you have to tell people how you feel. Like I should really tell you that none of this is your fault, and I really miss Megan. And you should tell Levi that you still love him, and that night was a mistake. Because that's the truth. Lila, you and I both know it. And it's not fair to him to keep lying to yourself or to him.”

Whoa. Real actual words about feelings from Eli Jackson. I laid back on my bed with my feet just dangling over the edge. I wasn't sure I could breathe.

“You have to tell him, Lila. And you have to do it before you leave again.”

I sat back up. He was right. I was leaving in just a few days, and even though the past few weeks had been completely insane, I had to tell him before I went back to Florida, or I may never get another chance, especially if he was leaving for Japan.

“Before I leave? He didn’t tell me about Japan, Eli.”

“I didn’t think he would. He’s all kinds of hung up on you again. I know he is. He told me about his plan, your little arrangement. I mean he more yelled it at me in one of our fights. But it’s bullshit, his way of protecting himself.” He sighed, “I’m the reason he’s getting sent to Japan, Lila. I ruined our deal with the Hawks and he almost got dropped. Japan is my fault. And hey, this girl, what do you know about her?”

I shrugged, “Not much, why?”

“His agent comes to town to see him. Cute little thing with dark hair, real flirty type. Just so you know, you might be the only girl for him.”

Oh my God. The girl on the phone, the coffee shop, what if it was just his agent? I was being so immature, with no reason. “Oh. Well thanks for… everything. And Eli, take care of yourself, okay? In case I don't get to see you before I leave. “

He laughed. “You won’t be seeing me for a while, Lila. But that's okay too. Bye.”

“Bye, Eli.” I ended the call, and looked at my phone. That was the first time I'd ever heard Eli talking in such a serious tone. There was definitely a very small part of my heart that he still owned for saving me that night. Even though he may have royally screwed up my relationship, I don't know what I would've done without him. I turned the phone over a couple more times before finally clicking on the messages tab, and typing to Levi.

We need to talk. It's important. I talked to Eli.