8. Ella
8
ELLA
I had no intention of giving Chad my phone number when he hit on me at the bar. But after seeing Asher and meeting Coralie, I handed Chad a piece of paper with my number scratched across it, to which he whooped and hollered in celebration.
Never in my life would I have put Asher gets engaged in less than a month on my bingo card, but here we were. Asher was engaged, and I was pretty certain that I’d lost my best friend for good.
Sure, he wanted to pretend that things weren’t different. But they were. Everything felt different.
I drove myself home from the pub an hour later, unable to stay in the same bar as Asher and his fiancée. Sure, Coralie seemed nice, albeit a little demanding and dramatic, but overall, she was okay. She certainly wasn’t who I would have pegged Asher to end up with—but if I were honest with myself, I hadn’t really spent a lot of time trying to picture Asher with anyone.
It was always just him and me.
Now I felt stupid for not thinking that, at some point in our relationship, he was going to have a girlfriend and get married.
I swallowed against the lump in my throat as I pulled into my parking space. I turned the key in my ignition, and my car’s engine shut off. I pulled the key out at the same time I opened the driver’s door. I grabbed my purse from the passenger seat before climbing out of my car and slamming the door.
My heels clicked on the sidewalk as I made my way to my apartment building and punched in the security code. As I opened the door, I yawned. I rode the elevator up to my floor, and then when I got to my apartment, I unlocked the door and walked inside.
I kicked off my shoes right next to the door before dumping my purse on the kitchen counter closest to me. My mouth felt dry, so I padded over to the cupboard next to the fridge and grabbed out a glass.
After I filled it with filtered water from the fridge, I closed my eyes as I downed the cool liquid. It felt good against my dry throat. I was starting to feel a bit more human when I tipped the last bit of water down my throat and set the glass in the sink.
I grabbed a piece of chocolate from my emergency stash in my top cupboard and made my way into my bedroom, where I unzipped my dress and let it fall into a pile at my feet.
I found my sweatpants and matching sweatshirt and pulled them on. I could feel the stress leave my body as I threw my hair up into a messy bun and washed my makeup off. I made my way back into the kitchen and found my phone, which I’d tucked into my purse, before I grabbed the whole bag of chocolate from my stash and headed into the living room.
With remote in hand, I settled on the couch and turned on the TV. I was exhausted but buzzing from the events of the evening. I needed to unwind, or I was going to spend the entire night tossing and turning.
I unwrapped another chocolate and slipped it into my mouth before I picked up the remote and started flipping through the channels. Once I settled on some reruns of FRIENDS , I set the remote next to me and collapsed against the back of the couch as I licked the bits of melted chocolate from my fingers.
My phone chimed just as I moved to get another piece of chocolate. My heart picked up speed as I grabbed my phone, half expecting to see a text from Asher. I hated how we’d left things, and I was desperate for things to go back to normal. Back before he’d confessed what he did, and well before he brought Coralie to Harmony.
But it wasn’t a text from Asher. It was a text from Shelby.
I swiped my phone on so I could read the rest of her text.
Shelby: Girl, I’m so sorry. I will not plan Asher’s wedding if you don’t want me to. Coralie just grabbed me and bombarded me. But I’m A-OK to tell her no.
I shook my head as I read her message. That’s not what I wanted. If Asher wanted to hire Shelby to plan his wedding, I wasn’t going to stand in her way. It was sweet that she was worried about me, but who planned his wedding wasn’t what made me feel weird about the whole situation.
I didn’t want to lose my best friend. But over the last month, that was exactly what had happened. I had been left here, watching my entire life move forward without me. And no matter how hard I begged for it to stop changing, it refused.
I knew that wasn’t fair to Asher. He wanted us to be something that we couldn’t be, and I was the selfish friend who was content with the way things were. I’d put myself in this situation. I was just struggling with who I would be—who I would be to Asher—once all the changes were finished.
Me: Don’t be silly. I think this is a great idea. You will do amazing. Asher’s lucky to have you.
A few seconds ticked by before Shelby responded.
Shelby: You are the best. I am so excited. I came home and talked Miles’ ear off about it.
I smiled.
Me: I bet you did.
Shelby: Night, Ella! I’ll keep you posted on all the happenings.
Me: Night
I stared at my phone, knowing that Shelby was done texting me, but anticipating another text to come through. A text from Asher.
He would always text me after a night at the bar to remind me to put some ibuprofen on my nightstand with a glass of water for the morning. It felt strange that he hadn’t sent me one yet.
Was our friendship truly over?
My heart ached as I set my phone down. I didn’t want this. I wanted Asher in my life. I wanted him to be my friend. I wanted to believe that our friendship could withstand anything.
And then, feeling like an idiot for sitting on my couch and mourning a friendship that still existed, I picked up my phone and found my text message chain with Asher. If he wasn’t going to text me, that didn’t mean I couldn’t text him.
Maybe he was waiting for me to text. Maybe he was waiting for me to signal that I was okay with everything. That things weren’t going to be weird between us—at least on my end.
If I wanted my friendship with Asher to have a chance, I needed to make more of an effort. And that started with being interested in what was going on in his life. That’s what a true friend did, and I was Asher’s true friend.
Me: I’m so excited for you and Coralie. If there’s anything you need, let me know. And if you’re looking for a best man, I’m always here.
I sent off the text and then set my phone back down on the couch while I grabbed another chocolate from the bag. I was halfway through eating it when my phone chimed. I stuffed the rest of the chocolate into my mouth before picking up my phone.
Asher: Aww, I appreciate that. Coralie loved meeting you, too. And best man…I hadn’t even thought about who I was going to ask…
Me: Well, you need to think about that, Mr. I’m-Getting-Married-in-a-Week
My stomach lurched as I read back my words. Asher was getting married in a week. That was insane to me. Sure, Asher had made some rash decisions in the past. There was a time when I thought him moving to Harmony had been a mistake. But those paled in comparison to him getting engaged and married in a month’s time.
Was he really in love with her, or was this somehow related to me and his confession? I didn’t want to think it, but that hypothesis seemed determined to root itself into my brain.
When he didn’t text me right away, I wondered for a moment if I’d said the wrong thing. But when I reread the message, it seemed fine. What was there for him to get upset about? Sure, I had my doubts about this wedding, but I’d kept those doubts to myself.
Asher: Yeah, crazy.
That seemed like a strange reaction from a man who was marrying the woman he loved. I hated that I knew Asher’s tells. It made me question everything between us. In the past, when he got quiet, it meant he felt backed against a wall. Was that what was happening? Did he feel pressured to get married?
I couldn’t imagine why. It wasn’t like this was the 1700s. Marriages of convenience weren’t a thing anymore. I closed my eyes and tipped my head back. I just wished I could ask him what was going on without making it sound like I thought he was doing something wrong.
I wasn’t sure who I was in our relationship anymore. I’d never in my life policed my words more than I was doing right now. Normally, I would just tell Asher what I thought, and if he got angry, I’d apologize and we’d move forward.
Not anymore.
It felt like Asher had one foot out the door, and if I said the wrong thing, he was going to walk the rest of the way through and out of my life forever. Losing Asher was the last thing I wanted to happen.
Me: Anything I can help you with? Cake? Decorations? A venue?
I sent off the text. I doubted he’d take me up on anything. Truth was, he knew more about this town than I did. But if having a task kept me around him, then I’d do the research necessary to deliver for my friend.
Asher: Let me sleep on it, and I’ll get back to you.
My body grew heavy as I read his words. I was exhausted, and talking to Asher, even though we didn’t really say much, helped me feel better. At least I knew he didn’t hate me. He was willing to respond to my texts, which was more than I got when he was in New York.
I was going to count this as a win.
Me: I’m tired, too. I’ll talk to you in the morning?
Asher: Yep.
I nodded as I moved to text him. This was a good sign. There just might be a chance of us salvaging our friendship.
Me: Good night
Asher: Night
I smiled as I turned off the TV before I gathered the half-empty bag of chocolate and my phone. I stood and made my way into the kitchen to stash the chocolate until the next time I needed it.
I yawned as I walked into my bathroom. I brushed my teeth and slipped on a satin bonnet. Just as I snuggled into my bed and pulled my comforter up to my chin, my phone chimed again.
I flipped to my other side and picked up my phone. The screen turned bright as I read the text Asher had just sent me.
Asher: Put some ibuprofen and a glass of water on your nightstand for the morning. You’re going to need it.
I smiled as a sense of normalcy settled around me. I reread his text a few times before I sighed and set my phone face down on my nightstand. I closed my eyes and snuggled against my pillow as I let my body sink into the mattress.
Asher was still Asher, and maybe, just maybe, we were going to make it through this.
* * *
When the shrill ringing of my phone cut through my sleep the next morning, I slammed my hand down on it like it was an alarm clock. Of course, my phone didn’t care and continued right on screaming at me.
I didn’t want to answer a phone call this early on a Saturday morning, but the person was insistent, so I groaned and turned to my side before I reached over and picked up my phone.
“Hello?” I asked after I swiped the bar and brought my phone to my cheek. I didn’t care who was calling. I just wanted to get this phone call over with so I could go back to sleep.
“Ella?”
I frowned. “Gloria?” I pulled my phone from my cheek and glanced at the screen. Sure enough, it was Gloria. “Why are you calling me so early?” I asked right before I yawned and rolled to my back.
“Did you forget about my text from last night?”
I squinted my eyes for a moment as her question rolled around in my mind. “About the wedding article?” The cobwebs of sleep were finally clearing from my brain so I could think straight. “No, no. I remember.”
“Then why are you in bed?”
I frowned. This felt like a strange riddle. “Because I was up late last night and I’m tired.”
“I told you that you are going to be covering everything. We’re giving you as much real estate in the paper as you need.” She sighed. “If you can’t handle this, then I’ll just find someone els?—”
“I can handle it,” I said as I forced my body into a sitting position so I could more fully digest what she was saying.
She paused. “Really?”
I nodded. “Really.” Then I clicked my tongue. “You just tell me when and where…or who.”
“I sent you an email last night.” She paused, and I could hear disappointment in her silence. “Did you not get it?”
I pulled my phone from my cheek, switched it over to speakerphone, and then found my email app. Sure enough, right at the top was an email from Gloria.
“No, I got it and opened it,” I said as I clicked on the email and started to read. “Sorry, I was just half asleep when you called. I’m totally ready to cover the wedding of…” My voice drifted off as I whispered, “Asher Wolfe and Coralie Parks.” My stomach sank like a rock.
Asher’s engagement hadn’t been a dream. He was getting married in a week, and I was going to have to cover the entire thing for the newspaper.
“Coralie Parks is the daughter of the mayor of New York. I hope you realize what this could do for Harmony Island Gazette.” She paused. “I need you to cover this like you haven’t covered anything else in your life. I want you there in the planning. I want the most minute of details. The residents of Harmony and, really, the US want to know everything, Ella. It will all be about the details .”
My heart was pounding as I continued to stare at Asher’s name next to Coralie’s. He was getting married. Asher was really getting married.
“Ella?”
I blinked, pulling myself from my thoughts. I switched my phone off of speakerphone and brought it to my cheek. I needed to stop staring at his name or I was going to spiral. “Yes, Gloria. I’ll get all the details ,” I said, matching her tone.
“Good.” She blew out her breath. “This paper needs redemption, and I’m hoping this is the path to get it.”
“I won’t let you down.” I started to pick at my comforter. I was ready for this conversation to be over with. I needed a hot shower, some ibuprofen, and some food. Then I would feel more human and be ready to face my best friend and his wedding plans.
“I have faith you won’t.” Gloria said her goodbyes, and I quickly hung up.
I tossed my phone onto my bed in front of me before I closed my eyes, covered my face with my hands, and sighed. This was not how I wanted to be woken up this morning. This was not the article I ever wanted to write. But I knew if I failed, it wouldn’t be just Gloria who was disappointed in me, but Asher as well. I’d already failed him with the Proctor article; I couldn’t let him down again.
If Gloria wanted an amazing wedding feature, then she was going to get one. I was going to do the best dang documentation of this wedding that I could. I owed it to this town. I owed it to Asher.
I picked up my phone and swiped it on. I found my text chain with Asher and selected it.
Me: Guess I’m your own personal Barbara Walters. I’ll be hanging out with you for your wedding planning, so you might as well ask me to be your best man.
I sent it off, hating that my stomach was in knots over this.
When he didn’t respond right away, I set my phone down on the nightstand and then pulled my comforter off my lap and slipped out of bed.
Time to start my day.