Page 2 of Scoring with my Bestie's Ex

I run my hands through my hair. “Sorry. It’s been… tense.”

Aaron nods, his expression soft and understanding.

“It’s all true,” I say, my shoulders slumping. Ellen has been deliberately avoiding talking about it, but I find myself wanting to say it aloud. “I spent two years planning the perfect wedding only to bolt at the last minute.”

“Right before saying ‘I do’ huh?” Aaron says.

I snort, the tension easing. "Bolted? Oh, I didn't just bolt; I practically left a cartoon dust cloud behind me. If you listen closely, you can still hear the organist playing the theme from Mission: Impossible."

Aaron laughs, and this makes me smile for the first time in what feels like forever. “I don’t need to hear the details.” He gestures along the path, and we start walking together. “I know I’m not a close friend, but if you’d like my opinion, I can give it.”

“Nope. I have enough opinions right now. But I appreciate your offering.” I wrap my arms around my waist as the wind rushes in from the lake. “Ellen decided I needed a break from… life. She dragged me out here, saying I need to recharge.”

Aaron laughs. “Ah, yes. That sounds like Ellen. Is it helping?”

“No. I want to go back to work. I want to pretend like nothing is wrong and just try to focus on my career again.” I let out a soft chuckle.

Steven always told me I was far too focused on my career. It left me no time for him. Maybe it’s true. Maybe that’s why I ran.

“How is that going? I heard you started as the assistant to…” Aaron frowns as he glances at the sky. “Imogen?”

I raise my eyebrows. “You remember that?”

Imogen is my favorite designer. She started off with a small boutique but took the design world by storm.

And now I’m lucky enough to work for her.

“You brought her up all the time.” Aaron laughs. “So? You’re working with her?”

I nod. But rather than being happy, my chest aches.

Aaron dated Ellen three years ago. He and I didn’t spend much time together outside of group settings.

Yet he remembers who my favorite designer is. Unlike Steven…

I rub my forehead. “Yeah. We’re working together. I started last year, and it’s going well. She was understanding when I said I needed some time.”

“You getting anywhere with your designs?”

My hand drops. “I don’t think I want to keep talking about this. I was in a bad headspace when I ran into you. Thinking about Steven. I’m not really much company.”

Aaron lets out a soft noise of understanding. “I have some things to do anyway. But again, I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you.”

He’s so genuine about it.

I turn back to my cabin, muttering some sort of thanks. My throat starts to swell as I hurry away. Out of all the people I could have run into here…

Well, Aaron isn’t the worst person I could have run into. But it’s ironic that after breaking up with my fiancé, I’d run into Ellen’s ex too.

His casual kindness is a stark reminder of how unaccustomed I am to it.

The cabin Ellen and I are sharing is one of the cheapest options. It’s a small, one-room building with a loft that holds two twin beds. No plumbing but it does have electricity.

I clear my throat and wipe my eyes to make sure I’m not visibly crying before I enter the cabin.

Ellen lounges on the sofa, reading. She looks up when I come in.

“Do you have the ice?”

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