That Winter, Love Stood Still

It had been five years since Rovan Ross and I had torn our lives apart. And now, we were standing in the same room, guests at a mutual friends wedding.
Our gazes locked for a fraction of a second, a spark of recognition in the crowded hall, before we both flinched away. A silent, mutual agreement to pretend we were strangers.
Later, after the reception, Kate, the bride and my dear friend, leaned against me, flushed with champagne and joy. She gestured subtly toward Rovan. You know, she slurred softly, her voice a conspiratorial whisper, after you left, every single woman he dated looked a little like you. We all knew they were just stand-ins.
She paused, her eyes finding his new girlfriend, Sophie, a petite girl hanging off his arm. But her shes different. Shes been with him the longest, and she doesnt look like you at all.
Kates gaze softened with pity. Ellie, I think this ones for real. Hes serious about her.
I knew what she was really asking: Do you regret it? I just forced a tight, awkward smile.
Whether Rovans heart was truly involved this time was none of my business.
I was back in town to get married myself.
As the party spilled out of the grand ballroom, a chorus of voices rose, demanding an after-party, a final round of drinks to cap off the night. I was about to make my excuses when someone playfully shoved Rovan right into my path.
Come on, Rovan, one of his friends boomed, draping an arm over his shoulder. Eleanor came all this way. You two go way back. You have to show her a good time tonight, right? He gave Rovan a pointed look, his eyebrows doing a little dance.
Rovan didnt say a word, but he reached out and smoothly took my suitcase from my hand. It felt natural. Too natural.
I glanced at my watch. The person I was waiting for wasn't due for a while yet. With a sigh, I nodded and got in the car.
I took the passenger seat. Rovan and Sophie slid into the back.
The car had barely pulled away from the curb when a sugary-sweet voice drifted from behind me. Rovan, honey, you still haven't introduced me.
I could feel her eyes on me in the rearview mirror, a look that was anything but sweet. It was a cocktail of raw dislike and challenge. I almost made a fool of myself back there, I had no idea you two knew each other.
Rovans gaze flickered to me for a moment. Before he could speak, I turned slightly. Its nice to meet you. Im Eleanor Reed. Rovan and I were classmates.
Oh, Eleanor? Sophie let out a little tinkling laugh, covering her mouth with a perfectly manicured hand. Dont be so modest. Everyone in our circle knows youre Rovans ex-girlfriend. She gave his arm a squeeze. But dont you worry, Im not the jealous type. I dont get worked up over ancient history.
As if to prove her point, she leaned in and pressed a loud, possessive kiss to his cheek.
The rest of the drive was filled with her incessant chatter. And Rovan, the man I remembered as cool and quiet, patiently answered every single one of her prattling questions.
Are we really going to drink more? Im such a lightweight. If I get drunk, will you carry me home, sweetie?
I wont let you get drunk. Ill take you home.
Todays ceremony almost made me cry! Its so beautiful to marry for love. For our wedding, I want an ocean of roses and a sky full of rainbow balloons.
Whatever you want, Sophie. Its your day.
I lowered my window all the way, letting the cool night air whip through the car, trying to scour away the cloying atmosphere of their intimacy.
When we finally reached the bar, I barely had my door open before Rovan was already out, lifting Sophie from the car with practiced ease. He caught my eye, and for a split second, his hands froze.
Sophie, nestled in his arms, giggled coquettishly. Im just not used to these heels. Rovans always so worried Ill twist an ankle, he insists on carrying me.
I managed a polite, tight-lipped smile. He takes good care of you.
Inside the private room, a friend immediately thrust a drink into my hand. Youre late! Three shots as a penalty.
Id just taken the first glass when Rovan downed the other two in quick succession.
Sophie cant hold her liquor, he announced to the room. Im drinking hers.
A few people cheered, but I noticed most of the eyes in the room were now fixed on me.
I calmly finished my own shot. As I reached for another glass, Sophie stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
Hey, everyone, dont bully my big sister Eleanor, she said with a saccharine smile. Shes all alone tonight. If she gets too drunk, whos going to take her home? Are you offering up your couches?
I gave her a flat look and reached around her, plucking a fresh glass from the tray.
I dont have a sister, but thanks for the concern. And for the record, Im not alone.
Her smile faltered, her expression curdling into something sour.
The boisterous room went quiet. Every gaze that had been on me now shifted to Rovan. Through the dim, moody lighting of the bar, I could see his knuckles turn white as he gripped his empty glass. It looked like he was a breath away from shattering it.
After a tense silence, he raised an eyebrow. So, wheres this boyfriend of yours tonight?
Hell be here at midnight. The atmosphere in the room was thick with unspoken history. One of our friends, sensing the tension, quickly grabbed a deck of cards. Alright, enough of that! Were here to have fun, no one leaves sober! Whos in for a game?
Sophie tugged on Rovans sleeve, her lower lip pushed out in a pout. But Im a terrible drinker! Youre all just picking on me.
Rovans expression softened as he stroked her hair. Dont worry. Ill drink for you.
But I dont want you to drink so much, she cooed, her eyes darting towards me with a flash of cunning. Ellie, you took that shot like a pro. You must be a great drinker.
She turned her full attention to me. Why dont you drink for me instead? Please?
Someone nearby frowned. Rovan, are you gonna let her run her mouth like that? Its getting a little out of hand.
Shes the one who runs my life, Rovan said, his voice flat. He picked up another shot glass and held it out to me. Your tolerance was always high. How about we split it for her? Half and half?
I stood frozen, a sudden tremor running through my fingers.
When Rovan and I first got together, he wasnt the powerful CEO he was now. We were just two kids crammed into a tiny apartment, praying for the rain to let up so the ceiling wouldnt leak. We spent two years like that, pouring every cent we had into our startup.
At business dinners, clients would always try to corner me.
You look like you can handle your liquor, Ms. Reed. Why dont you start us off with this one?
Every single time, before my fingers could even touch the glass, Rovan would intercept it. Ellie, were a team, right? Lets split it.
But he never let me have a drop. Hed secretly swap my drink for water, and by the end of the night, hed be the one stumbling, drunk out of his mind, once even ending up in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer.
I remember his voice, thick with pain but fierce with determination. Ellie, I swear, Ill never let you get drunk again. Ill make us a fortune, and youll never have to touch another drop of this poison.
I stared at the man in front of me now, a complete stranger. I took a step back. Rovan, Sophie is your girlfriend, not mine.
My voice was cold. After all these years, have you still not learned how to protect the woman youre with?
The room plunged into an awkward silence.
Sophies eyes welled up instantly, her face a mask of wounded innocence. Ellie, I know you must still be angry that Rovan dumped you, but you dont have to take it out on us.
A collective gasp went through the room.
Kate shot Sophie a death glare. Hey, lets not use words like dumped. You know that saying, right? Everyone had their reasons back then.
I let out a short, sharp laugh. There werent any grand reasons. We were just kids who were close for a while. Why drag up the past? Ms. Sophie, if youre so insecure about it, maybe you and Rovan should go home and sort it out in private.
Sophie probably didnt know this about me, but I always hit back.
If you leave me alone, Ill pretend you dont exist. But if you try to make my life miserable, I will make sure you regret it. Even if its just a war of words.
She bit her lip, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. But when she glanced at Rovan and saw only a cold, silent mask, she defiantly wiped it away. Fine. I wont drink. Lets play Truth or Dare. Ill be the judge.
No one wanted to argue. The drama was exhausting.
Sophie grabbed an empty beer bottle from the table. Whoever this points to has to answer a truth!
She spun it. It wobbled for a few rotations before the neck came to a perfect, dead stop, pointing directly at me.
A flicker of triumph, of pure calculation, lit up her eyes. Ellie, did you really come back just for the wedding? Or was there something else you came back for?
I could feel Rovans stare burning into me. I picked up my glass and took a slow, deliberate sip.
I came back to get married.
Every head in the room swiveled between me and Rovan. Sophie wrapped her arm around his, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. Oh, dear. Ellies getting married? Does that mean she cant be our bridesmaid after all?
Its fine, Rovan mumbled, his voice strained. His eyes never left my face.
I set my glass down and replied to a text on my phone before looking back up at her, my voice calm and even. Even if I werent getting married, Id have no interest in being your bridesmaid.
Sophies face fell, stung by another rejection. She pouted and spun the bottle again, this time with more force.
Since were playing for keeps, whoever it lands on this time has to drink this whole pitcher!
She pointed to a large glass pitcher of beer on the table. As she did, the bottle slowed, wobbled, and stopped perfectly between Rovan and me.
What now? someone asked.
Split it? another friend suggested with a smirk.
Kate leaned in close to me. You know, she whispered, I really think theres still something between you two. You came back for him, didnt you?
I hadnt slept properly since Id landed, and a dull ache was starting to throb behind my eyes. I pinched the bridge of my nose. No, Kate. I really am just here to get married.
She made a skeptical sound, clearly not believing a word.
I was done explaining. I reached for the pitcher, ready to just get it over with, when Sophies hand shot out and blocked mine.
Ellie, its not that Im trying to pick on you, she said, her voice laced with venom, but I just really dont like the idea of my boyfriend sharing a drink with another woman. Lets just spin again.
She enunciated the word boyfriend with sharp, deliberate precision, a clear warning.
Whats the big deal? Its not like theyre drinking from the same glass, Kate snapped, her patience finally wearing thin. Sophie, if youre so worried about your precious boyfriend, maybe you should just chain him up at home.
Sophies face crumpled into a mask of pure innocence as she looked up at Rovan. I was just trying to make sure everyone had a good time.
Rovans brow furrowed, but he still gave in. Whatever you want.
The bottle spun again. This time, it made a beeline for me, stopping without a single wobble.
A bet is a bet. Without a word, I picked up the pitcher and drank the entire thing down.
The game continued.
And I don't know if Sophie had some kind of magic touch, but every single round, the bottle landed on me.
The lack of sleep and the sheer amount of alcohol were starting to make my head spin. The room was getting fuzzy.
As I reached for yet another drink, a hand closed around my wrist. The touch was ice-cold, snapping me back to reality. It was Rovan.
Thats enough for tonight, he said, his voice low and firm.
Sophie shot me a hateful look. But were not finished with this round yet! she whined.
Her eyes gleamed. Okay, how about this? No drinking this time. Eleanor just has to answer one more truth.
I pulled my hand from Rovans grasp and checked the time. Ten minutes to midnight.
Fine.
A wicked, triumphant smile spread across Sophies face. She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen, and shoved it in front of my face.
Alright, Eleanor. My question is this: in your famous little sex scandal exactly how many leading men were there?

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