Chapter 96: With Friends Like These…

ELLIE

Will got up from the table and headed toward the bar, taking Ethan and Bennett with him.

“So, what did you two talk about?” Zoe turned her attention to me.

“You can stop now, okay? He’s gone.” I said, making sure they were far enough away.

“He deserves it, and you know it,” Anna replied.

“I told you I didn’t want any interference this time. I don’t want you two getting involved. Got it?”

“So it was all a lie? No lunch with the hot scientist?” Zoe frowned, looking confused.

“Like I said before, we only talked about work. Drop it, I already told you I’m not interested in dating anyone.” I stood up. “I’m leaving. Good night!”

“Ellie…” Anna started, but I cut her off.

“No. I’m tired and need some rest.”

I walked out of the bar, taking a deep breath.

I hadn’t known he would be there. I wasn’t ready to see him, and even less ready to spend the whole evening sitting at the same table as him.

To make matters worse, Anna went and did that. What the hell was she trying to do, making him jealous? Why couldn’t she just accept that it was over?

I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to have lunch with Jorrick. But he’d had good intentions and raised relevant questions about my research. In the end, he seemed like a nice guy.

*

My phone buzzed as I stopped in front of my apartment door. I pulled it from my bag, surprised to see a message notification with Jorrick’s name on the screen.

I swiped to open the message.

_“Just wanted to make sure you saved my number. I’ve been thinking about your research; it seems I’m always thinking about it, somehow. I think you’ve gotten into my mind in a unique way.”_

I stared at the message, trying to convince myself it wasn’t a kind of flirtation.

I don’t think exchanging contacts was a good idea. Maybe his intentions weren’t entirely professional, but I had to make it clear that mine were.

_“You brought up some valuable points about it, so consider your contact saved.”_

I looked at the message before hitting send. It wasn’t rude, but it wasn’t flirtatious, either. I needed to set boundaries, but I didn’t want to be impolite.

Just then, Todd stepped out of his apartment, catching my attention. I put my phone away.

“Good evening, Ellie,” he said.

“Good evening,” I replied while searching for my keys.

“How are you? I haven’t seen you at the gym this past week. Everything okay?”

“Yes. I was just visiting my parents.”

“They’re doing well?”

“Yes.”

“So… was it something to do with that nice boyfriend of yours?”

“That’s none of your business,” I said, unlocking my door.

Why was he being so nosy?

“Sorry, it’s just… you don’t look too well.”

I sighed, trying to keep my irritation in check.

“Don’t worry, and if it makes you feel better, you won’t be seeing him around here anymore. Good night!” I said, and went in, shutting the door.

Damn it. Why had everyone suddenly decided to pry into my life? All I wanted was my bed, and maybe a bit of wine.

Lately, that was the only thing helping me deal with missing him. And after seeing him tonight, I knew falling asleep was going to be an even bigger challenge.

*

The next morning, I had just gotten out of the shower when someone knocked on my door. When I opened it, I was unpleasantly surprised. It was Todd, and for some reason, he was only wearing a towel around his waist.

Looking away from his body, I couldn’t help letting out a long sigh of disgust.

“Good morning, Ellie,” he said, looking like a lost puppy.

“Seriously? What do you want at this hour?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you, but I’m out of options… It seems my shower isn’t working.”

“And you want to use mine?” I said indignantly.

“I know it’s weird, and I swear I wouldn’t ask if you hadn’t given the impression that you ended things with your…”

“Enough.” I closed my eyes, trying not to lose my patience. “Fine. You can use it, but be quick,” I finally said.

“Thanks, El.”

He walked past me into my apartment. I closed the door, but when I turned around, he was still standing there.

“What? You know where it is,” I said, impatient.

He nodded before heading toward the bathroom.

I threw myself onto the couch, trying not to freak out.

_Seriously, Ellie? You just agreed to let your ex use your shower? What is wrong with you? Having your ex completely naked in your apartment? You must be going crazy._

I took a deep breath, trying to relax. Todd’s presence made me think about what had happened with Ethan.

We’d broken up, but if he even suspected this, he’d go insane. Maybe that was why he’d insisted so much that I move.

There was also the fact that he’d been cheated on. No. It was worse than that. He’d been cheated on right before his wedding. I couldn’t imagine how that must have felt.

But it was bad enough that just having Todd in the apartment next door bothered him and made him feel threatened.

But was there really any reason for it? Not on my part, of course. But was Todd really telling the truth about his shower not working? Or was he just doing this because I’d told him about my breakup with Ethan? I was tempted to go check his apartment.

Damn, this was crazy. And why did it even matter? It was all over. Dwelling on it was pointless. And even if Todd had other intentions, he’d be wasting his time.

*

After finally getting Todd out, I went to the gym and then drove to work. And, just my luck, the first person I ran into in the hallway was Mr. Wyatt.

“Good morning, Miss Brown!” He stopped, making me stop too.

“Good morning!” I forced a smile in return.

He was undeniably handsome and attractive, always dressed well, with his hair perfectly in place.

If I weren’t completely at rock bottom, in love with another man, I might even find myself attracted to him.

"I was wondering if we could have lunch again today and continue discussing a few topics," he said, breaking the silence. "What do you think?"

“Oh, actually, I think I’m having lunch with Anna today.” I lied.

“I see. By the way, I just saw her. She invited me to some kind of get-together with a few of her friends. Apparently, you’re one of them.”

Damn. She did what?

“Did you say get-together?”

“Yeah. She said you guys usually do that.”

I can’t believe she did that. What’s wrong with her?

“Oh, right. Just talking and drinking, something like that.”

“So, will you be there?”

“I think so.”

“Well, that makes me more inclined to say yes.”

“Right. Hope you enjoy it. Well, I have to go. I’ve got something urgent to take care of. Excuse me.”

“Of course, see you around.”

I nodded, walking past him.

My heels echoed down the hallway as I walked with firm steps toward Anna’s office.

She was going to have to explain what the hell she thought she was doing. Actually, I knew exactly what she was trying to do, so I was just going to give her a piece of my mind.

Stopping in front of her door, I knocked hard before going in, not waiting for an invitation. She was sitting at her desk.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I said, after closing the door.

“Huh?” She frowned, looking confused.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I just ran into Jorrick, and he told me you invited him to one of our get-togethers.”

“Oh, that.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Didn’t you hear what I said last night? Wasn’t that enough?”

“I was just being nice; he’s new in the city and doesn’t have many friends.”

“Do you really expect me to believe that?”

"Well, I also had a talk with Will last night, and I think Ethan needs to learn a lesson."

"I don’t want to fight with you, but I need you to stop meddling! This isn’t any of your business!"

"The thing is, Ethan’s my friend too. And I’m going to do whatever I think is necessary to help him. Even if that means making him suffer a little."

"You know what… do whatever you want. But I’m not going to be a part of it. I’m not going to that get-together."

"No? Not even if I make it a baby shower?"

I couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t use that.

"You can’t do this."

"You know what’s even better? I know you and Ethan love kids. So I’m sure you’ll both be there," she said with a sly smile, leaving me speechless.