Page 6 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

“Whoa, no need to be a dick,” she retorts before walking away from me.

Ralph pulls up a chair beside me. “You should try being nice to her.”

I shoot daggers his way. “Why? She’s not my friend. She gets paid to pour drinks.” I know it’s a dick thing to say, but Ella gets under my skin in a way no one ever has before.

“She has put up with your shit for months. She doesn’t have to listen to you ramble, but she does anyway.”

Fidgeting with the napkin in front of me, I avoid Ralph’s stare. I know what I’ll see, and I don’t want or need the guilt trip tonight.

“No one told her she needs to listen.”

“No, they didn’t, but do you think there is a reason you didn’t come in here last night?”

Of course, it’s because Ella wasn’t here . . . but I didn’t think Ralph had clued in on that.

“I decided it was a better idea to drink at home.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself, Arden, but I suggest you start opening your eyes. You may not remember this conversation in the morning . . . but I’m going to tell you anyway.”

Glancing over, I nod my head, indicating for him to continue. I know I’m not getting out of this conversation.

“You need to stop acting like a dick. Ella is the only person you’ve opened up to—”

“What?” I ask, confused. I have no idea what he is talking about.

“Wow, not even drunk Arden remembers everything that drunk Arden does. You’ve opened up to her on more than one occasion. I’ve sat here and watched as she listens to everything you tell her. She comforts you when you need it, and she’s even stayed here forhoursaftershe’s technically finished working just so you can finish talking.”

“What? How do you know that?”

“Because Grumpy’s closes at midnight Monday through Wednesday, and most nights she’s here until two or three in the morning sitting with you.”

“Why wouldn’t she just throw me out?” I’m perplexed. Why would someone voluntarily stay behind while the bar is closed just to listen to me?

“Because she’s nice, and I have a gut feeling she likes being able to talk to you.”

“Talk to me?”

“Yes, she started opening up to you when she realised that you don’t remember anything about coming here.”

“What’s she told me?” Call me curious.

“That’s not my story to tell. I just hope one day soon you’ll clean yourself up and start to remember,” Ralph says as he gets up and heads around the bar to talk to Ella, who has been doing stuff at the other end, giving us privacy.

Everyone has been trying to help me, they just can’t. They don’t know what it’s like to be me. I’m Arden Blakely. I’m the one who takes care of everyone else. I know what they need, and I am there for them when they need me.

Except when Julia needed me.

I should have been there.

But I wasn’t.

Arden

I wake in the morning, groggy from the pain pills I had to take last night. By the time I got home, everything hurt.

As I walk into the kitchen, I can’t help but notice a letter has been slipped under my door. It’s in a black envelope, so it’s a little hard to miss.

That’s weird.

---