Chapter 72

Grant

Shit. Fuck. Of all places to be, she had to magically show up there. Plus, on a night like tonight when we had Ella here with us. Luckily though Ella didn’t question it. But deep down, I know she saw everything that happened. Her body tense. Suddenly worried for Ella do I move to speak up.

“Ella? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah… just peachy.”

“Are you sure? You don’t sound sure.”

“Yeah. Positive. Hey, I’m going to go use the ladies room, I’ll be back shortly, okay?”

Then, before I can do anything further does Ella move to make a beeline for the restrooms. Caleb and I now sharing a look of concern.

“Damn it” mutters Caleb.

“Definitely not good. If Ella ever found out that Hannah was an ex-girlfriend of Dylans I don’t think Ella would be too happy about it” I admit, already knowing the overall outcome of tonight’s dinner.

“No shit Grant. You don’t think I know that? Reece is going to kill me when he finds out” snaps Caleb. Caleb now trying to figure out what to do next.

“Kill who now?” comes the voice of Reece. Caleb and I both turning to address the last set of people to join our table. Reece, Dylan and Hayden.

“Hey, where’s Ella?”

“Ladies Room” I say, hoping to defuse the situation before it could escalate.

“What? Why?”

“To use it. But if I’m completely honest, I don’t think she was too happy about Hannah being here” admits Caleb. Caleb now moving to run his hand through his hair once more.

Reece now silently fuming as he moves to address Dylan. “You. You need to fix this now. Hannah was YOUR ex, so you need to address it with Ella before she leaves.”

“You think I don’t know that! It’s not like I was expecting her to show up here tonight. Especially not after 2 long years. Because encase you forgotten, she dumped me, not the other way around. She cheated on me first” snaps Dylan, his rage blooming from all the pain and hurt Hannah had put him through.

“Then fix it or else I will.”

“Don’t worry, I will” and with that said, Dylan moves to locate Ella. The need to fix things before things got crazy a must.

Reece, Caleb, Hayden and I all silently watching as we each move to sit down. Each of us now hoping and praying that we don’t magically run into anyone else from our past. Unable to handle another ex like Hannah.

\~~~~~~~~~

Ella

I’m such a fool. To think Dylan would ever want me over Hannah. I mean sure, I’m cute and my body filled out nicely over time, but her, Hannah had the body of a model. While I, on the other hand, had the body of a dancer.

And upon further inspection of Dylan and Hannah’s embrace did my heart suddenly begin to break. My body tense during the whole exchange. My body too stupid to move as I stood there watching them. My eyes carefully on Dylan the whole time as he stood there not moving, not even to move her off him.

A tiny piece of me hurt that he allowed another woman to touch him especially after each of them declared that all they wanted was me and me alone. A tiny voice inside of me secretly wondering if they had lied to me among other things.

Suddenly overwhelmed by random thoughts do I quickly move to excuse myself from Caleb and Grant. Tears threatening to fall as I rush for the ladies room. My body quick to enter once finding the associated area.

The bathroom vacant as I dash towards the sink. My eyes soon locked upon my reflection as I attempt to wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. My tears still burning at my eyes as I try to force them all away.

“I’m such an idiot” I mumble. My hands now reaching for the paper towel as I move to dab my eyes. Thankful I wore zero makeup upon the flight home or otherwise I would have been one hot mess right about now and that wasn’t something I wanted nor needed right about now.

Lost within my thoughts and the drying of eyes do I fail to hear someone else entering the bathroom until it was finally too late. A voice finally speaking up as I continued to dry my eyes.

“Your not stupid Ella. I am.”

Gasping at the voice do I instantly move to spin around. My eyes coming face to face with Dylan. My voice soft as I move to answer him back. “What?” I ask, confused by what he meant by being stupid and not me.

“I said your not stupid. I am. I should have stopped Hannah from ever touching me. It wasn’t right. Besides, you’re the only person I want. That we want. Not her nor anyone else” explains Dylan, his voice firm as he spoke.

“And yet, you didn’t. How do I know that your not just lying to me?” I counter. My voice a little harsher than it needed to be, but could you blame me, I was mad and hurt and above all, upset by what I saw.

“I know Ella and I’m sorry. But I promise you, I’m not lying. I swear it. Hannah is nothing more to me than just an ex. And if you don’t believe me then ask Reece. Hannah left me 2 years ago because she cheated on me. Tonight was the first night to ever see her again.”

“Do you mean it?”

“Yes, of course I do.”

Moving to chew upon my bottom lip do I move to weigh his words. That one part of me wanting to believe him while another had doubts. Doubts based on what I saw there tonight.

Dylan still standing directly in front of me even as I continued to mull over his words. Something in the way I was standing must have shown upon my face because in the next second he was walking straight towards me. His hand gently moving to cup my cheek.

“Stellina. I promise you, Hannah doesn’t mean anything to me. Only you” whispers Dylan. His voice hurt. His eyes pleading for me to believe him. Another part of me hoping that I wouldn’t regret my decision to trust him or his words.

“Dylan…. I….” unable to finish, does Dylan move to kiss me. My body quick to relax as lips rest against mine. My heart finally caving as I move to believe him once and for all. Our kiss eventually over once Dylan pulled away.

“Now do you believe me? I swear on my very life that I will never, ever, hurt you. You have my word Stellina” whispers Dylan, his hand still cupping my cheek even as I move to sigh softly. My own hand soon cupping his in return.

“Okay. I believe you. But I swear it Dylan, if you somehow manage to hurt me then I don’t know if I’ll be able to forgive you.”

“I know. But I promise you, with all my heart, that you have nothing to fear. I only have eyes for you and you alone.”

“I know you do. But it’s not you I’m worried about, it’s Hannah.”

“Don’t be. I’ll make sure to handle it”

That’s what they all say, concludes my mind just as Dylan moves to take my hand with his. Dylan quick to lead me back towards the others once positive I was done crying and the tears had finally stopped. Not wanting to alarm Caleb or Reece about my unwanted emotions.