Erin inclined her head in understanding, the unspoken betrayal of their father hanging between them. “She deserves it,” she added.
“Wanna dance?” Jules asked.
“With who?” Erin asked, with raised brows as she looked around.
“With me, silly.” Jules swatted her playfully.
“So, is it because Noah’s not here, I’ve become the sacrificial lamb?” Erin smirked.
“Of course not. It’s because Becca’s not here,” Jules played along with a smirk of her own.
Erin chuckled at this. “All right. Let’s go.”
The two stood to their feet and entered the dance area. Jules went up the podium and said something to the lead violinist, who then turned and repeated it to the others. She arrived back at the spot where Erin was standing just as the music was transitioning into a more upbeat, party-like style. The two started to move their bodies to the music, laughing as they did so. Soon more of the younger crowd joined them at the front as the older ones gradually left to take their seats.
“This is fun, isn’t it?” Jules called over the music.
“It is,” Erin called back, nodding and grinning.
They stayed dancing until they were out of breath then they made their way toward their seats. Before Erin made it, she spotted her ex and father walking in her direction, which stopped her dead in her tracks.
“What’s wrong?” Jules asked, noticing Erin’s look of shock. When Erin didn’t answer, she turned to see what she was looking at. “Oh,” she gave out in surprise. “I didn’t know that Dad was going to be here. Did you invite Brian?” she turned to ask at the end.
“No,” Erin breathed out, still unable to move.
“They’re coming this way. I’ll talk to Dad and give you and Brian some privacy,” Jules offered, then walked off.
Erin watched as Jules hugged Brian, then Joel, before leading him away. Brian continued walking toward her. A small, uncertain smile played on his lips.
“Hi,” he greeted softly when he stopped before her.
“What’re…why are you here?” Erin managed to ask, her brows drawn together as she stared at him.
“I should have called first. I’m sorry,” Brian apologized.
Erin’s hands hugged her chest as she asked again in a strained voice. “Brian, why are you here?”
“I wanted to see you,” he responded. “I miss you, Erin. Whatever it is that I did or didn’t do, I want to fix it.”A pleading tone entered his voice as he continued, "I want to fix us because I can't live without you."
Erin stared at the man she loved, unblinking. Her heart felt heavy, and her throat felt clogged by the lump lodged there. She hated that she had to do this to him, but there was no other solution.
“I’m sorry, Brian, but there is no fixing us.” She swallowed as she tried to keep her emotions in check. “Please just go.” With that, she turned to walk away, but Brian reached for her hand, stopping her in her tracks. With wide eyes, she turned to him.
“Please. Can we…can we just talk for a minute?” The broken look in the depths of his green eyes tore at her heart.
“There is nothing to talk about. Please just let me go,” she replied.
“Erin, please.”
Erin could feel her heart start to race with fear as her breaths became shallow. “Please,” she breathed out, praying that he would let her go.
“Erin, I love you.”
Erin felt her body begin to tremble uncontrollably as sweat beaded her forehead. “Please, please. Please,” she repeated over and over again as she wrenched her arm from his grasp and crumpled to the ground with her head between her knees.
“Erin,” Brian called out in alarm.
“What happened?” she heard her mother’s voice from above.
