Page 63 of Ella Gets the D
Ella goes into a monologue about overpriced restaurants and unseasoned food. “The ancestors aren’t pleased, Julie,” she says in a huff.
My chest expands at her use of my nickname. I hated it the first time Antonio shouted it across the hall after school. The rugby team eventually remixed it to Jules, no thanks to him. Ella doesn’t call me Julie much, which makes the times she does special. We’ve become more comfortable around each other, the awkwardness from our first encounter long gone.
The fact is she is more than a family friend. She’s someone special who fits into my life without effort. “How’s your date? Any chance it ends on a good note?” The worddateleaves a weird aftertaste. Ella anddatedon’t belong in the same thought, let alone room.
“Who, me andTwilight?” She laughs at my scrunched face. “His name is Carlisle. He’s into finance and pauses after every sentence like he just said something profound. He probably sparkles in the sun the way he thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”
My head tips back with the weight of laughter. “Go easy on the guy. Maybe he’s nervous.”
“I caught him swiping right on a dating app after I told him I’m going through a divorce and have two kids.”
I frown. “I’m sorry, El.”
She waves it off. “Don’t be. I should’ve said I have the summer flu and canceled. You know daycare kids pass around diseases like Cheerios.” Her groan is a shock to the dick. “I’ll pull out thefamily photo album if it gets me out of here faster. I just want tacos and peace.”
“You deserve both.” I hesitate to say the next part. “You also deserve someone who appreciates all of you. Your children are a bonus, not a burden.”
Eyes that have captivated me since our chance encounter glisten. Her chin wobbles, and she takes a moment to look away before facing me again. “Thank you.” The words are soft, wrapped in the vulnerability she tries to hide.
I meant every word I said. Ella is extraordinary. Any man who doesn’t comprehend that after a second in her presence isn’t worthy of her.
Are you?
“I should let you go.”
Her eyes meet mine. “Yeah.” She nods. “Erica will send a search party. I’m going to call it a night.”
It’s my turn to nod. “Sounds good. Text me when you get home.”
The smile that curls her lips is a direct hit to the heart. “Will do. Goodnight, Julie.”
“‘Night, sweetheart.”
“Can I get you two anything else?”
The rest of dinner went as expected. If the sting from Robyn’s glare doesn’t take me out, hunger will. The server took my untouched food while I was in the bathroom, leaving me with a blank space and a woman who’s demanding an explanation with unspoken words.
I lost track of time with El—twenty minutes, in this case. It wasn’t my intention to keep Robyn waiting, even if she deceivedme to come here. I apologized for my absence but gave no further detail.
“I’ll take the check, please.” I hit submit on my phone and stuff it back in my suit jacket.
“You’re a busy man tonight.” I don’t miss the irritation in her tone.
My shrug is nonchalant. I take the billfold from the server with a smile. “That I am.” I scribble in a thirty percent tip for food I never ate and sign the bill. “You’ll have my full attention next time”—we lock eyes—“if it’s business related.” I stand and button my suit. “Shall we?”
Robyn gets up in a rush, her mouth pinched and her posture stiff. “I’m good with leaving it here.” She’ll have red marks on her shoulder from her fingers curling on her purse strap by the time she reaches her condo.
This is the end of the road for our romantic partnership. Our paths will cross again, but only in the boardroom. “See you around.”
My phone chirps on my walk back to the office to wrap up for the night. The clouds lifted, offering a moonlit reprieve to a once bleak day. I pull out my phone and grin at the photo of Ella pressing her lips against the bag of tacos I ordered assuming she’d hightail it back home. Turns out I was right.
Ella
My hero! Thank you.
My pleasure. Enjoy.
Ella
