Page 52 of Ella Gets the D
“That said, a woman with kids is nothing to mess with—and yours isn’t even divorced yet. I get that you developed feelings after a week, but if you want my honest opinion….” I nod for him to continue. “There’s too much shit going on right now to pursue anything. Let’s start with the fact that you live together, with herkids. And that you don’t know if she wants to hop from one relationship to another. And what about you?”
I grimace. “What about me?”
“You’re amazing with Duke, but what happens if you go for it and things don’t work out?”
What happens if they do?
Nate leans his forearms on the bar. There’s no masking his deepening frown. It’s the one Doctor Strange gave Tony Stark when there was no other option but one.
“I have to go back to London.”
“It might not be a bad idea for a while, at least to get your head straight without your cohabitation complicating the situation even more.”
“I’ll miss you, bro.”
“Same,” Nate says. “But do what you gotta do to move with clarity.”
Our conversation moves to shooting the shit before I head back home. Twenty minutes later, I’m packed and calling a car to the airport so I can hop on a red-eye.
Putting distance between us is for the best. Even if it’s hard to say goodbye.
Chapter 21
Ella
“Ineed a warm bath and an IV of wine.”
My head hits the back of my office chair for the first time since six this morning. These kids keep me on my toes.
Miss Greene!
Is it snack time?
Do I have to take a nap?
When is it time to go?
I stepped in for a teacher who’s visiting her mom in the Dominican Republic on Monday, and between holding down the classroom and taking care of staff scheduling, program planning, and enrollments, I’m ready to use up all of my vacation time with an IOU.
“Bottom drawer on the left.”
My cinder block eyelids lift to find Rose in the doorway. How her bun held up through the onslaught of toddlers and preschoolers testing boundaries is a miracle. Her five-two frame collapses into the chair in front of me. She points at the desk. “Give me a hit.”
“You make this sound illegal.”
Her head shifts from side to side. “It’s for emergency situations.” She checks her watch. “The center closed fifteen minutes ago. Give me a hit.”
With a giggle, I pull out the biggest chocolate bar. It’s peanut butter, an ingredient we don’t allow around the kids in case one of them has a peanut allergy. Rose runs a tight ship, but everyone has a breaking point.
“I’m on my way to dinner, so I’ll take a rain check.” It takes a wide grip to hand her the thick-packaged dessert.
“Hot date?”
“The opposite. Meeting my ex.”
She scoffs and raises her shot of sugar with two hands. “Good luck with that.” Her head tips back to swallow the chocolate.
“Who are you telling?”
