Chapter 99: On the Brink of the Storm

ELLIE

His lips covered mine, but I didn’t kiss him back. Pressing my hands against his chest, I pushed him away. My mind was still hazy, but his audacity ignited anger deep within me.

“No... What are you doing?”

“I’m sorry. I...”

“Don’t ever do that again!” I turned to open my door.

“Ellie...”

When I finally managed to get it open, I stepped inside and slammed the door shut behind me. What the hell was he thinking? Throwing my bag into some random corner, I dragged myself to my bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.

But not even the anger I felt toward Todd was enough to keep sleep at bay; I soon drifted off, lulled by the effects of the alcohol.

*

The next morning, I woke up with a mild headache, which persisted even after a hot shower.

After getting dressed, I left my room. Pausing by the living room window, I looked out at the sky blanketed in gray clouds, blocking out the sun. It seemed like it could rain at any moment. The perfect weather for a Saturday.

I headed to the kitchen to brew a strong cup of coffee. It was ready when someone knocked on my door. Opening it, I found Todd standing there, holding a bag.

He was dressed in a hoodie and looked like he had just come back from a walk. A long sigh escaped me. I had been trying to push last night’s memory out of my mind, and seeing him wasn’t helping.

“Good morning. And before you slam the door in my face, I brought fluffy pancakes and crispy waffles to apologize for last night.” He extended his hand, offering the bag. “I know you like them.”

“What do you want?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I just told you. To apologize. Please, take them.”

“Fine, but only because I’m starving,” I said, grabbing the bag.

“I’m really sorry, El. I didn’t mean to overstep. I’d like to blame the alcohol, but I don’t think I drank that much.”

“Good for you, not dealing with a throbbing headache right now. Anyway, thanks for the coffee. I’ll try to be nice and forget you did that, but if you ever try it again, I won’t hesitate to kick you in the balls. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Great.”

“Wait...” he said as I was about to close the door. “Maybe I can make it up to you better.”

I raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“I’ve got a work meeting tonight,” he continued, “at one of the best restaurants in the city. Let me apologize by treating you to dinner afterward. Just as friends, of course.”

“Friends don’t try to kiss friends, which is why the answer is no.”

“It’s just dinner, Ellie, I swear. I know you could use a distraction, and I promise I won’t try to flirt or anything.”

“That’s exactly why you should invite someone who’s interested; flirt with her, you know, like on a real date.”

“Your company is more than enough for me.”

“No. Not after what you pulled.”

“Wine, conversation, and nothing else, I promise. And I won’t take no for an answer unless you’ve got better plans for tonight, which don’t include staying here alone watching TV.”

“That sounds like a better plan to me.”

“I’ll see you at nine.”

“I said no.”

“You can’t say no to the best food and wine Manhattan has to offer. Nine o’clock,” he said, heading toward his apartment.

“I’m not showing up!” I yelled after him.

“Then I’ll come get you and drag you off that couch if I have to,” he said with a wink before disappearing inside.

*

As the hours passed, Todd’s invitation to taste the best food and wine in the city became increasingly tempting—especially compared to the alternative of spending the night on the couch watching a movie.

What risks could he possibly pose, anyway? I was more than ready to kick him for real if he tried anything.

But we weren’t really friends, so I shouldn’t go. Still, it was the best restaurant in the city, and this had nothing to do with our past.

Screw it. Todd was right. I needed a distraction, and if I stayed home, I knew exactly how the night would end: memories and tears.

Before I knew it, I was already finishing getting ready, but there were still about two hours left until nine.

Maybe I was just eager to leave my lonely apartment and all the memories that lingered within it. On the couch, in my bedroom... all I could see was Ethan, and it only made the ache in my chest worse.

Suddenly, there was a knock at my door. Anna was standing there when I opened it.

“It’s good to see you’re alive,” she said, stepping inside.

“What are you talking about? I told you I was fine,” I replied, closing the door behind her.

“You mean the two words you used to answer me this morning?” She stopped in the middle of the living room, near the couch.

“I just need some time.”

“A whole week wasn’t enough? I thought I was your best friend.”

“Don’t be dramatic. You know you deserved it,” I said, standing near the window.

“Wow! I spent the whole week worried about you, and that’s all you’ve got to say? I thought you cared about my state of mind.”

“Okay, I’m sorry, alright? I was just tired of having my friends interfere, even after I asked them not to.”

“You know I only want the best for you.”

“Do I? All I know is I’m tired of being a puppet in your little games.”

“Games? I was just trying to help you two hard-headed idiots.”

“You did exactly what Zoe did during that damn trip, even though you knew I didn’t want it.”

“Because I thought Ethan would actually do something about it!”

“Well, he did. He broke my heart again, so thank you very much.” I tried to hide the pain, but it was no use as a lump formed in my throat.

I moved to the couch and sat down, trying to hold back the tears.

“Ellie...”

“You should go. I don’t want you getting upset because of me.”

As angry as I was, I didn’t want her to get upset and risk harming her pregnancy.

“I’m sorry, okay? I really thought it might work,” she said, sitting beside me.

“I know you had good intentions.”

“Hey, I was really worried. I hate thinking of you here alone, like this,” she said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

“Like what?”

“Don’t try to fool me.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Of course you will.”

I rested my head on her shoulder. It was still comforting to know I had friends who genuinely cared about me.

“This wasn’t a fight. I’m still going to be the favorite aunt,” I whispered, placing a hand over her still-nonexistent baby bump.

Anna laughed.

“Looks like my husband won’t be the only one I’ll have to put up with doing this.”

“You can bet on it.”

“Wait...” Her gaze scanned my outfit. “You’re dressed up. Were you going out?”

“Uh... yeah, but I’m not late yet,” I said, sitting upright.

“Where are you going?”

“Um... just dinner.”

“Dinner? Wait... like a date?”

“No. Not a date.”

“And you’re not going to tell me with whom?”

“Okay,” I sighed. “But you have to promise not to freak out because it’s not what you’re imagining.”

“Spill it.”

“Todd invited me to dinner at Eleven...”

“Wait... Did I hear that right, or am I hearing things?” she interrupted.

“It’s not a big deal; we’re literally just having dinner.”

“You can’t be serious!”

“It’s not a date.”

“Oh, God! You can’t be this naive!”

“Alright, that’s enough,” I said, standing up. “See? This is exactly what I was talking about. But you know what? I’m a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions.”

“Fine, but when he breaks your heart again, don’t come crying to me!” she yelled as I walked toward my room.

***

ETHAN

The forecast predicted a storm soon, yet they still managed to drag me out of the house. Not that it was difficult; staying alone in my apartment had become torture and only worsened my miserable state.

My brother, Will, and Jack were seated around the table, and our glasses were almost all half-full in front of us.

Work and these guys were the only things I had left, and I was trying to hold on to them to keep myself from sinking back to rock bottom.

Jack was telling some story about Sophia, trying to scare Will, when Anna suddenly approached our table. She looked nervous.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Will asked as she stopped beside him.

“No, it’s not okay.”

“What happened? Did something happen to El?”

The mention of Ellie instantly made me apprehensive.

“Oh, yes, something happened. She’s lost her mind, that’s what! And it’s all your fault!” she said, turning her attention to me.

I shrank inwardly, bracing myself for another lecture.

“Calm down, babe,” Will urged.

“I am calm. He’s the one who shouldn’t be,” she shot back, glaring at me in irritation.

“Why?” Will finally asked before I could summon the courage to do so.

“Because right now, she’s on her way to have dinner with someone.”

The revelation twisted my stomach, but it shouldn’t have come as a surprise—not to Anna, considering all her efforts to push Ellie toward other men.

As for me, I had already imagined what I’d do when this finally happened, because I knew it would. I just thought it would take a little longer.

I had hoped it would take months or even years, but it came much sooner than I’d expected. And no matter how much I’d tried, I wasn’t prepared for it.

“How are you staying so calm?” she asked, exasperated.

“What do you want me to do? Maybe you’re looking for congratulations? Well, congratulations! You got what you wanted.”

“Ethan...” Will warned.

“No. Let her gloat. Go on, whose player finally scored the goal? Anthony or the—”

“It’s not like that, you idiot! It’s not either of them. I’m talking about the damn ex!”

What?

No. She couldn’t be serious.

“Feel free to thank me now.”

“It must be a mistake,” I said in disbelief.

“Fine. If that’s what you want to believe, then just sit there.”

No. I couldn’t believe it. She wouldn’t do that. After everything... I could accept anyone, but not him. He didn’t deserve her.

I stood up, feeling my blood boil.

“Where?” I asked with determination.