Page 58 of Scoring with my Bestie's Ex

Ellen hugs me again, then looks at me worriedly. “You’re not upset that I didn’t tell you sooner, are you?”

I shake my head. “I’m happy for you. Both of you. Though I hope we’re going to have time to design you the dress of your dreams before the wedding?”

“Don’t worry about that!” Ellen laughed. “I want the biggest, most expensive wedding we can dream up.”

“Anything for my darling,” Mike says.

I wonder, briefly, if his salary is more or less than Aaron’s.

Then I dismiss the thought. Ellen is wealthy in her own right, so nobody will break the bank for their elaborate wedding.

“There’s linguini in the fridge and the garlic bread is ready to toast,” I tell Ellen. “I really hate to duck out just after you shared this exciting news. But I’ve had a wicked headache all day.”

“You haven’t been drinking enough water,” Ellen accuses.

She knows me well. Usually, when I get headaches, it’s from dehydration. “I’m just going to go lie down for a bit. You and I are going to have to have one massive ice cream and spill session.”

“Next week, after your show,” Ellen says firmly. “Until then, we’re going to pretend like this is just any other piece of jewelry.

“Oh, sure,” I tease. “And Mike’s just some guy, right?”

Ellen gasps and throws her arms around him. “Never!”

Aaron laughs. “Go on and lie down, Bella. I know you’ve been dealing with that headache for a while.”

I smile, grateful that he’s helping me with this lie.

I head to my room as Ellen launches into telling Aaron all about how she knew the ring was the one as soon as she laid eyes on it.

Once alone, I close my eyes. Even though I know it’s a process to heal from my relationship with Steven, I never expected to have this sort of reaction.

I don’t want to have this sick feeling in my stomach.

Why is it there?

Not because I think Ellen and Mike are making a mistake.

No.

This is the same sick feeling I had when Steven proposed.

Despite everything, despite thinking I’ve finally cut out the last of the things that connect me to him, I’m wrong.

Because we share memories, and I can’t just get rid of them.

The dress form with my latest design draws my eye. I haven’t done any of the work I need to do today. Right now, I don’t feel like I have the strength to use my needle and thread.

But I pull a stool over anyway and put on some light background music.

As I’m working, my thoughts are consumed. Steven fades to the background as Aaron comes to the forefront.

Things between Ellen and Mike have gone very quickly. It’s the same with Aaron and me.

It hasn’t been so long since I broke up with Steven. Even though Aaron and I have decided that we aren’t in a relationship, is he still a rebound?

Aaron deserves better than this.

Have I made a mistake in moving this as far as I have? Or is it too early for me to have daydreams about kissing?

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