5. Ella
5
ELLA
Twenty-Five Days Later
Twenty-five days.
It had been exactly twenty-five days since I’d last seen Asher at Godwin’s. He’d successfully avoided me for three days, and then through the wonderful world of social media, I found out that he’d gone to visit some family friends in New York.
Twenty-two days later, and his visit was starting to feel more like a move.
I groaned as I pulled my gaze from the calendar on the wall to lean back in my office chair and bounce a few times. I really hated calendars. Maybe I should start a petition to ban them. All they did was hang on the wall and stare at you, reminding you of how long it had been since your best friend had promised that he would stay your best friend. The only thing calendars were good for was to log the abandonment of the one person who promised he would never abandon you.
Calendars were really stupid things.
I blew out my breath and tipped my face toward the ceiling. It didn’t help that I was stuck at home. After Gloria declared that she couldn’t fire me for being a whistle blower, she decided the best thing for me to do was to work from home and run the style section of the paper until she could, quote, figure out what she was going to do with me.
My life had gone from investigative journalism to wedding and death announcements in an instant.
Sure, I was happy that I still had a job. After all, I had bills to pay and I did like to eat, but this wasn’t what I went to school to do. Writing about funerals and lacy wedding dresses didn’t fulfill me in the same way exposing the injustices in our world did. Plus, the work didn’t help distract me from the fact that I was now best-friendless.
“This sucks,” I whispered as I stared at the white popcorn ceiling above me.
Just as the words left my lips, my phone chimed. My stomach lightened as I hurriedly sat up. Maybe it was Asher. Maybe he was texting me to say that he’d made a mistake, he was taking back his declaration, and he was ready to be friends again.
Sure, I’d chew him out for leaving me, but only because it was what he deserved. Once we got that over with, we’d go back to being friends. I missed our late-night phone calls and his once-a-day joke texts that I would always tell him were dad-jokes gone wrong.
I never realized how full my life had been before the person who filled my life was gone. It really wasn’t fair for him to just leave like he had.
I picked up my phone and stared at the screen, my stomach sinking when I saw it wasn’t Asher, but Shelby. The women of Harmony Island had been good to me, Shelby especially. After I exposed the Proctors, they took me out for drinks, and that’s when—with a little too much tequila in me—I told them about Asher.
Suddenly, I was the sad, pathetic friend they were rallying around. I was being invited to do things with these ladies left and right. I didn’t mind it. I really liked them, and they helped distract me from my loneliness created from Asher’s departure. But once the festivities were over, and I was once again alone in my apartment, sadness would inevitably creep over me.
I stunk at relationships. I couldn’t seem to find a good guy willing to stick around. I’d come to expect men to leave me once they grew bored and decided that I wasn’t worth fighting for. I just never thought Asher would leave me, too.
Not wanting to spiral down another black hole of pity, I shook my head and swiped my phone on.
Shelby: Drinks at the pub tonight? Miles has a daddy-daughter date with Belle, and I need to get out. I’ve done enough fluffing and folding of sheets to last me a lifetime.
I chuckled, envious that, even though she was complaining, I knew Shelby would never give up the life she’d found here in Harmony. She loved Miles and Belle, and I was jealous of her.
I wanted someone who looked at me like Miles looked at her.
My gaze slipped back over to my calendar, and I stared at the empty space under today’s date. I couldn’t even pretend I was busy. She knew my schedule was wide open and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
So, I took in a deep conciliatory breath and responded.
Me: Sure.
It didn’t take long before I got her response.
Shelby: Perfect! I’ll see you tonight at seven!
I sent her a thumbs-up emoji before I set my phone back down and stared at the computer screen in front of me. I’d been halfway through writing the death announcement for Mr. Griggs before my mind decided to wander with thoughts of calendars and Asher.
I straightened in my seat and cracked my knuckles. I was going to knock this article out and then take a shower. Tonight, I was going to do my best to forget about Asher and his abandonment.
Or I was going to drown myself in tequila trying.
* * *
After showering, I changed my outfit five times in anticipation of going out with the girls. I finally settled on a black, strapless dress and heels. Sure, I looked a little overdressed for the small island pub, but I was feeling bad about myself and this dress with these heels made me look like I had legs for days. Even though I was certain there was no one in Harmony I wanted to date, I still enjoyed the appreciative stares that were cast my way when I walked by.
Right now, I needed the ego boost, even though tomorrow, in the light of day, regret would become my new best friend.
I dabbed on some lipstick before I tucked the tube into my small black clutch and then combed my fingers through my curls. I fluffed my roots with my fingertips and then turned a few times from side to side to make sure I looked put together.
My gaze landed on the clock on my nightstand. If I didn’t leave now, I was going to be late. I slipped on my glasses and shoved my phone into my purse just as my text notification went off.
Worried that the article about Mr. Griggs had some issues, I pulled my phone back out and glanced down. Sure enough, it was a text from Gloria.
Gloria: Exciting news! I just got off the phone with someone really important.
I snorted. I wasn’t going to hold my breath. To Gloria, the Proctors were important. Right now, rumor had it that the family had packed up their mansion on It’ll Do Road and had bugged out of town.
It felt somewhat vindicating that I was instrumental in all of this. But the best thing to come of it was seeing how relaxed Juniper was now that her divorce was finalized and her ex had left town. It was like a load had been lifted off her shoulders.
Not sure if I should respond to Gloria or if she had more information, I sent a quick, “That’s cool,” in response.
But just as that text was sent off, another text bubble popped up.
Gloria: I’ll send you information on the wedding, but it’s taking place in Harmony. You’ll be covering everything from the flowers to the actual day. Be excited!
“Yay,” I said half-heartedly to my screen. I wanted to think that Gloria felt bad for not taking me seriously when I first told her about my suspicions toward the Proctors. But I honestly knew she was just upset that I’d been right and she’d been wrong.
Ultimately, I wanted things in my life to be getting better, not worse, so I texted a quick thank you and told her that I would look forward to more information.
After I sent the text off, I slipped my phone back into my purse and headed out of the bathroom.
The music at the pub was blaring as I climbed out of my car fifteen minutes later. I adjusted my dress after I shut the driver’s door. My heels shifted underneath me as I walked across the gravel to the front doors.
Thankfully, it only took me a second to find Shelby, Abigail, and Juniper. They were sitting at one of the small, round bar tables when I walked in. Shelby waved, and I nodded in acknowledgment as I headed toward them. I could feel the stares from the men I passed by. My cheeks warmed as I cautiously met their gazes with a soft smile. This was good. I was glad I came. This was the distraction I’d needed.
When I got to the table, the three ladies greeted me. Shelby stood and pulled me into a hug.
“You made it!” She shouted to be heard over the music as she pulled back.
“I did,” I said, giving her a smile. I could already feel my stress starting to melt away.
I was grateful to past me for making the choice to come out tonight. It beat ordering Mr. Cheng’s for the third night this week and watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory . This was the distraction I needed from all my life’s problems.
“I’m so glad.” Shelby stepped toward the table to our left and asked if she could steal one of their barstools. They agreed and she returned and offered it to me.
“Thanks,” I said as I hooked my heel on the bar at the bottom of the chair and pulled myself up onto the seat. Once I was situated, I turned my attention to the conversation between the three women.
Apparently, Juniper was having some issues with Boone. Something about them being together for a while now and their relationship not going past kissing. I listened to the advice the other two were giving, not sure what I could offer. It’d been so long since I’d even kissed a guy, much less anything else.
The last thing I should be doing was offering any kind of relationship advice.
Thankfully, Shelby and Abigail didn’t seem like they needed any help. A few minutes later, Juniper seemed satisfied as she leaned back against her chair and happily sipped on her Sprite while nodding along.
Needing a drink, I leaned over to Shelby and told her that I was going to go order something. She nodded but didn’t take her gaze off Abigail, who was talking.
I slipped off the stool and made my way over to the bar. Once a spot opened up, I waited for Jax or Claire to notice me. Jax finished with an older gentleman’s order first, so he came over with a napkin in hand.
“What can I get you, Ella?” he asked as he set the napkin down in front of me.
“A margarita would be great,” I said, resting my elbows on the bar.
“You got it.” He offered me a smile.
“Hey, Ella,” Claire said as she hurried past.
“Hey, Claire,” I called after her retreating frame.
“Ella,” a smooth, deep voice said next to me. “Your name is Ella.”
I turned to see a guy who looked to be my age with shaggy blond hair and rich brown eyes studying me. He was smiling, causing crinkles to form next to his eyes and just above his cheekbones that looked like they could cut glass.
“The one and only,” I said with a quick smile before I turned my attention forward.
“I’ve been sitting here, trying to figure out how to ask you for your name. Now I don’t have to.” He had this depth to his voice that made my body instantly respond. I was fairly certain anything he said would come out sexy. He could say hemorrhoid cream , and I would melt into a puddle of goo in front of him.
I peeked over at him again. “You were?” I asked, my cheeks warming from his words and the appreciative way he looked at me.
“Absolutely.” His grin grew wider as he held my gaze.
Not sure how I felt about this guy, I pulled my gaze away and studied the bar in front of me. I wasn’t at a place in my life right now to entertain a relationship. Everything was a mess. I was a mess. If only this guy could see behind the dress and heels, he’d run for the hills.
“What is the likelihood of the bartender coming back and announcing your phone number to those who might want it?” His voice was soft and close. Like he’d inched closer to me.
Shivers cascaded across my skin.
Oh, he was good. He must have sensed that it had been a while since a man had paid this much attention to me, and he was exploiting that fact. He wasn’t foolish though. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the closeness that came from being in a relationship. That I didn’t crave it.
But I still wasn’t in a place where I could entertain it.
I glanced back over at him. “I’d say the likelihood of that is slim to none.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You do, huh?”
I sucked in my breath between my teeth. “Yeah.”
He drummed the bar with his fingertips as he leaned closer to me. “So how about you announce it. then.”
I feigned a shocked look. “Me?”
He nodded.
I narrowed my eyes as if I was thinking really hard about what he’d proposed. “I don’t have a reason to just shout my number to an entire bar.” I moved closer to him. At least I could enjoy the flirting.
“I can think of one.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You can?”
He nodded. “Maybe I want it.”
“You want my number?”
He grinned.
“And who are you ?”
He stuck his hand out. “Chad Perkins.”
I glanced down at his hand and then back up to him. “Ella.”
“Ella…?” He raised his eyebrows.
I pursed my lips at his interruption, understanding what he wanted from me. “Ella Calipso.”
“Nice to meet you, Ella Calipso.”
I smiled at him as he shook my hand up and down. “You too, Chad Perkins.”
He continued holding my hand well after the socially acceptable time. His thumb methodically brushed over my knuckles as he studied me. “So, what’s the likelihood of you giving me your phone number?” He leaned in closer to me. I could feel his warmth, and all I wanted to do was lean into it.
“Mmmm…” I cast my gaze to the side to play up the whole I’m thinking about it act, but just as I did, Asher’s familiar face came into view.
My entire body froze as I watched him walk into the pub. He was grinning and talking to a buff, bald guy that I’d seen him work out with at Fitness Fuel, the Harmony Island gym. I think Asher told me his name was Jason.
I couldn’t pull my gaze away from Asher, even though I was still engaged in a conversation with Chad. Asher looked…different. My best friend—or ex-best friend, that was still up for debate—seemed happier. Lighter. Like the stress of the world had been lifted off his shoulders. Jealousy pinged in my gut that I hadn’t been a part of his transformation.
“Hey, everything okay?” Chad asked as he squeezed my hand.
I didn’t turn to acknowledge him. I just nodded and slipped my hand from his. “Uh huh,” I said as I moved away from the bar and headed towards Asher.
He hadn’t seen me yet, which I was grateful for. I needed a minute to formulate what I was going to say when I walked up to him. I hated how much had changed between the two of us, even though before he left, he’d promised me that things were going to be okay.
I was about five feet away from him when I heard a female voice call his name. My gaze drifted to see a younger woman with highlighted blonde hair and ruby-red lipstick hurry to join him. I would never forget the smile on his face as he reached out and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her next to him.
I was rooted to the spot as I watched her raise up onto her tiptoes and press her lips to his.
It was like everyone at the bar slowly faded away and it was just me, Asher, and this strange woman, who was now stroking his chest as she rested her head on his shoulder. The group of people who had been standing in front of me all seemed to decide that this was the perfect time for them to leave, together, and suddenly, there was nothing between me and Asher.
His gaze found me faster than I could get my feet to carry me away.
“Ella?” he asked, his eyes widening as if he, too, hadn’t expected to see me.
“Asher!” I said, all squeaky and way too loud. Not wanting him to see how stunned I was that he was standing in front of me with a woman wrapped in his arms, I closed the space between us and yanked him into a hug. “It’s good to see you, friend.”
I pulled back and instinct took over. I reached out and hugged the woman he’d brought with him. “I’m Ella,” I said as I let her go, revealing her very startled expression.
“Hi, Ella,” she said, her gaze slipping over to Asher as if to ask him, who is this crazy person?
“I’m Ella,” I said again. “Has Asher not told you about me?” I glanced over at him.
“Ella,” she said slowly before she started to shake her head.
“Yeah, Ella.” I studied Asher, but he wasn’t looking at me, so I flicked my gaze back to this stranger. “His best friend.”
Her eyes widened as she glanced over at Asher. “Oh,” she said softly before she glanced back at me. “It’s nice to meet you.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Coralie.” I raised my eyebrows, so she quickly added, “Asher’s fiancée.”