Page 9 of Blindside Love

Ellie sets the little girl down, a forced smile on her face. Her eyes are dark with anger as she does her best to hold her composure.

It’s impressive because I can tell from here just how pissed she is. I can feel it in the air, almost taste it.

“This is not a conversation we’re going to have in front of our daughter.”

“We need to have it, she’ll be fine. Besides, this is more important. My father finally approached me about making me a partner at his firm. Unfortunately, I also have to convince the board I can live up to their ridiculous standards. My becoming partner is contingent on me having no red flags. This is a red flag, Eleanor.”

I can’t believe the audacity of this man. Everything he’s said has been about him, not giving a single fuck about anything she’s said. I can see her body language change as she just stares at him, her anger palpable. But in the blink of an eye, she’s smiling as she looks back down at her little girl, who’s still smiling as she holds her mom’s leg. “Addy, can you do me a favor? Mr. Walker is right over there by the door and mentioned he had a butterscotch for you. Would you go say hi to him?”

“Okay, mommy. I’ll be right back. Bye, Dad.” She waves politely, with no emotion on her face as she walks away. No embrace. No hug or I love you—and even worse is the fact that her own father didn’t even respond to her. I hate him.

“If this is a red flag, you should have thought about that before you stuck your dick in holes that didn’t belong to your wife. So, no, I will not help you. I won’t do anything for you. I didn’t make this mess; you did. Not only that, but you are a walking, talking red flag with flashing lights and bright red glitter because glitter fucking sucks and ruins everything, just like you. So, the fact that they’ve even considered you for partner tells me you still have your father convinced you’re a decent human being,” Ellie says, her tone sharp, words cutting, but the volume just quiet enough that we had to walk closer to hear her properly.

He looks like he’s about ready to explode at her words, but Ellie stands tall, a devious smirk on her face as he just glares at her. She remains unbothered.

“She’s kind of scary,” Rex grumbles under his breath.

“I know. I like it.”

“Of course, you would.” He shakes his head as we continue making our way towards the elevator, forcing us towards Ellie and a furious Tom. When we’re close enough to hear everything perfectly, Tom decides to open his stupid mouth.

Chapter 5

Ellie

It doesn’t matter that it’s been less than a month since I left him; I already wish I could do it again for good measure. I wonder what the hell it is that I ever saw in him. He truly is a ginormous red flag and should come with a warning label.

Right now though, I’ve officially pissed him off, and I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t love it. It brings me so much joy knowing I’ve pissed him off, especially because all I’ve done is tell him the truth.

“You better watch your mouth, Eleanor,” he seethes through his teeth, but he doesn’t scare me.

“Or what, Tom? What will you do? I have all the control here. I don’t need you for anything, but you? You need me for everything. Your image. Your career. Your family. So, it’s you who needs to watch their mouth,” I snap, a little louder this time, shock written all over Tom’s face.

Out of the corner of my eye, I recognize my new neighbor, Trevor, standing with another guy watching me. Trevor’s jaw is clenched, his fists balled at his side as his other hand holds a bag.

“You think you have all the control, but you’ll find no one to take your case unless I okay it. I have the power when it comes to our divorce, which is why I’m telling you there won’t be one. I’m not sure who you think you are, but this is unacceptable. I expect you at the company dinner next month. Get your little”—he waves his hand over my outfit, looking disgusted at my scrubby overalls and pink hair—“rebellion out of your system while it lasts before I drag you back home. No one supports this. No one is going to help you. You’re all alone; you’re nothing?—”

“I’m going to request you don’t finish that sentence because honestly, I’m not really in the mood to explain why I knocked your ass through that window, but if you keep talking I’m going to have no choice,” Trevor’s rough voice says from beside me, with a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes.

His bright green eyes are dark with anger, and I’m not surprised that Tom immediately takes a step back. I take a quick glance and see that Addy is sitting behind the front desk laughing with Mr. Walker and the front desk manager, Christy, so I know I’ve still got a few minutes to get this over with.

“Who the fuck is this, Eleanor?” Tom growls, his face almost turning purple.

“I’m Trevor,” he says, and I watch confusion flash through Tom’s eyes before turning back to anger.

“Why do you look familiar? Are you a lawyer, too?” Tom grumbles, his eyes narrowing between Trevor and I.

“No.” Trevor chuckles before looking over at me and winking. I nearly died on the spot. “I’m far too interesting to be a lawyer.”

It takes everything in me not to laugh at his cheap shot, but Tom just ignores it, probably because he notices someone behind Trevor. I’ve never met the guy, but goddamn, he’s handsome. “Did you two need anything? I’m in the middle of a conversation with my wife.”

“Yeah, I actually did. I was just coming over to see if Ellie was ready to come over to watch the game with us,” Trevor says to Tom with a smile before turning to me, and at that moment, I’m certain he’s doing all of this to piss off Tom, and honestly, I could kiss him for it. “And a piece of advice. If she was my wife, I’d treat her with much more respect than you just did. You don’t deserve a woman like her.”

The guy behind Trevor actually laughs, but I’m too afraid Tom might do something stupid like hit him to join in. To diffuse the situation, I figure it’s best to take the out Trevor just gave me; even though I don’t need his help, I had this figured out.

“Yeah, I’ll come up now. This conversation with my soon-to-be ex-husband was over anyway,” I say, winking at Trevor before turning back to Tom with a glare. Tom looks uncomfortable, like he’s torn between being furious and running with his tail tucked between his legs. “Let me go grab Addy, and I’ll meet you at the elevator.”

Trevor’s eyes light up as his smile widens; his friend behind him even smiles at my response before they both turn and head over to the elevator to wait. It’s confusing because their smiles seem genuine, like they’re truly nice guys. Every man I’ve ever known has wanted something from me, whether physically or socially, especially Tom.

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