Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
ELLE
No one really likes me. My family only seems to tolerate me most days because of their ‘love’ for me.
I get along with our right hand man, Jude because he’s quiet like me and when I ask for information, he gets it to me within a consistent time frame.
Henry loves me, and Patrick acts like he wants to get to know me because he thinks I’m hiding some nice cinnamon roll underneath my grouchiness.
When he finds out that’s a lie, he’ll never talk to me again.
Then there’s Loop. The Farm’s accountant and my ex-boyfriend.
We met in high school, started dating our senior year, and dated for around 4 years.
I broke it off when I started to feel like he was trying to change me.
He’d started making comments about how I needed to smile more and our dates kept subtly pushing me out of my comfort zone and I eventually got tired of it.
I know compromise is a part of any relationship but I don’t play around with boundaries and he didn’t seem to understand when to not cross the line.
We hadn’t talked since the break-up but then he started working with the company that we contracted and took over our account once our previous accountant had retired.
He’s a good accountant.
I was worried at first that things might be awkward but Loop’s been nothing but professional, which I really appreciate and considering he almost exclusively works with me, it could have been a problematic conflict and lead us to requesting a new accountant.
I really didn’t want to be the reason he lost the job or give my family another reason to believe I was the problem child of the family.
That fire didn’t need any more kindling.
I’d been able to get all my wrap up work done just as Loop had arrived to pick up some paperwork, so it gave us the opportunity to chat but I was ready to wrap up the conversation and head home.
“When did you get glasses?” Loop’s question confuses me for a moment but then I remember I put on my blue lights earlier. “Oh, no, they just help when I look at a computer screen.” I pull them off my face and drop them on my desk. An interesting look crosses Loop’s face. “There’s my girl.”
What?
The door is open and I see Patrick standing with a frown on his face, his whole focus on Loop who feels closer to me than he was a moment ago.
“Patrick, where have you been?” The question escapes before I can stop it.
His absence had been bugging me, a fraction of my brain kept wondering where my Intruder was.
I stand from my desk, I’m not comfortable having two men standing over me.
Patrick’s eyes move to me and the frown is gone but a look of confusion still paints his features.
“Hey Elle, I had to go fix one of the trail information markers. Did you miss me?” I bite the inside of my cheek at his question, I shouldn’t have been missing him, I should have been happy to have my space to myself again.
I should have been happy to be alone again.
But I wasn’t and I don’t know what to do with that, so I plan to ignore it.
A throat clears to my side and I jump slightly, bumping my desk and knocking my blue light glasses to the ground.
“Oh, fuck, sorry. Loop, this is Patrick, he's our new tour guide for the Farm. Patrick, this is our accountant Hyrum Lupovich, everyone calls him Loop. He stopped by to pick up some paperwork.” Patrick offers Loop a welcoming smile and sticks his hand out to shake and for a brief moment, his hand just hangs in the air and Loop just stares at him, his jaw clenched. “Hey man, nice to meet you.” It seems like Loop has to force the words out but he extends his hand for what might have been the shortest handshake I’ve ever seen.
This is so awkward and I don’t know why.
“Alright, well, I better get heading out.” Loop turns his focus and body back to me, effectively blocking Patrick out of the conversation.
I don’t like that but since he’s saying good-bye, I decide it’s not worth it to say anything.
“Have a safe drive back to the office.” I come around my desk to walk him out and am surprised when Loop wraps his arms around my waist in a hug.
What the fuck?
We don’t hug anymore. I freeze in shock and he must feel my discomfort because he lets me go but, again, is standing really close.
Too close.
Loop checks his watch before looking back at me,“You know, it’s about that time. Do you want to grab some lunch with me?” Now, his hand is on my arm.
What the hell is going on today??
“Oh, um, no. Thanks but I need to finish up some stuff then head out to prepare for tomorrow.” My gaze slides to Patrick and I swear I see something flash in his eyes but he still remains silent.
Add that to the list of stuff going on that I don’t understand. “Alright, rain check. I’ll catch you later Ellie belly.” He squeezes my arm before dropping it and heading out the door, he doesn’t even acknowledge Patrick as he walks by.
I hate that stupid nickname.
“Ellie belly?” Patrick sounds and looks disgusted, like he ate something rotten. It’s so unlike his usual chipperness, I can’t help it, I chuckle.