Page 28 of Reconciling With the Rival

“I told you guys I wanted to read another book! Workplace romance and I are not friends at the moment.”No matter how much I love that trope. I wish Amelia joined us Wednesday, because I know she would’ve picked the other book like I did. But Hads and Paige outnumbered me, and they chose our read for next month.

“Whoops!” Hads says, and I know she understands how I feel about Leo—it’s similar to how she felt about Grant at first—butI think her boyfriend is slowly turning her to their side. Paige and Grant are relationship cheerleaders. The two of them want all of us to be happy and in love like they are, but I’ve told them countless times I’m okay how I am.

I have too much going on to have a relationship anyway. My dad and sister still rely on me a lot, and work keeps me busy. I like my life, and I don't need anything else putting a hitch in my routine.

“Ella, look—” Paige says, but as she’s talking, the faucet slips and starts to spray her. “Ah! Oh my God!”

The three of us are yelling, trying to turn it off, but Paige only points it at me and Hads, spraying us too.

“Hey!”

“Paige! This is not the time for a water fight!”

She only continues to laugh as Grant comes in, and she points the detachable faucet at him.

“Not my linens, Paigey! What are you guys doing?” Grant says as he gets soaked. I cannot stop laughing, even though my kitchen is a mess.

Hads turns the faucet off as Oliver and Alissa join us, eyes wide as they see the water all over the place.

“Well, now we can’t say we’re boring adults.” Paige smiles, and after a few seconds of silence, we all start to laugh. “I’ll clean it up, don’t worry.”

“I’ll go grab some towels,” Alissa says, headed for our bathroom.

“Just so you all know, we’re not boring. We’re growing up,” Paige tells us. “Never use that word ever again when describing us, deal?”

“Deal.”

And for the rest of the afternoon, we clean the water out of my kitchen and laugh like idiots as we reminisce.

As far as I know, the good old days are whenever I'm with these people.

10

Mommy Issues

August 8th, 2024

I think this isthe first year my birthday won’t end in sex.

A fucking shame, that is.

I started my day the same way I always do: by going to the gym. My birthday has never been my favorite thing to celebrate. To me, it’s just another day of the year. It’s nice to go out when I’m in the mood, but lately, there hasn't been a single reason to celebrate.

Well, maybe getting a job is a reason, but even that doesn't bring me much of anything, since I’m too worried about my dadback home. This past year has been tough as hell, and turning another year older isn't a big deal.

Now, I'm sitting at my desk at work, going through a portfolio Ella gave me to familiarize myself with the company’s typical campaigns.

My body shivers when it hears her name in my head. It hasn't been horrible working alongside her here, but I’m starting to get sick of all the fucking attitude she throws my way. Not only is there no reason for it, but I’m trying my best not to cause any commotion while I’m here. All I want to do is come in, do my job to the best of my ability, and leave. Work-life balance is important to me, and if something happens to my dad again, I’m probably going to end up moving back to London. This job is a means to an end, no matter what way I look at it. It would be nice if Ella did the same and not cause any more squabbles between us.

I do start shit sometimes. I’m not completely innocent in anything between us, but Ella Williams pushes my bloody buttons more than anyone else on the fucking planet. She gets under my skin, and somehow, she always knows which ones to press.

It’s exactly how we were back in college, and even then, I didn't understand it.

The only time we ever got along was when we had sex that one night, and even then, she fought me.

Stop thinking about sex with Ella while you’re at work, I remind myself. It has been popping up in my mind recently, and that’s only because we’re back in such close proximity. On top of that, add my dry spell, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

It was only one time, and it will never happen again.

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