Page 81 of Ella Gets the D
Erica opens her mouth but snaps it shut at Morgan’s smile, which is tight enough to crack a tooth. She clears her throat. “I saw a food truck that has caramel popcorn. “I’ll, um…yeah.” With a final glance, she leaves, gripping a Caprese sandwich in one hand and a fistful of nuts in the other.
My eyes dart between Morgan and Joseph, who hasn’t taken his off his ex-wife. I dip a brow at her.He fucked up?
Her arms fold over her off-the-shoulder sweater.Yup.
I tilt my head.What he do?
She sucks her teeth and looks away.Girl, I can’t.
That bad, huh?
Our eyes drift back to the artist, wearing long sleeves and ripped jeans, who shakes out his hands. Joseph Catlett is a man of few words, but his silence alludes to the magnitude of whatever just happened between him and Morgan.
He clears his throat and says, “I don’t have to go,” low enough for only us to hear. It’s directed at Morgan, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t eavesdrop? Theyareright in front of me.
Morgan’s stare is distant, trained on the steady ripples of the Potomac River and not Joseph’s sidelong glances. She closes her eyes against the flood of golden rays breaking through the clouds and takes a deep inhale of the grassy field littered with damp leaves. “No.” Her focus shifts down to her hands until she musters the strength to face him. “Go. Duke is fine with me this weekend. Enjoy your trip…with Sky.”
Oh shit.
In the three years I’ve known her, Morgan hasn’t dated or seen another man since her divorce. This is the first time a woman has come up, which begs the question of whether Sky is the first or the one who’s serious enough to tell Morgan about. A weekend trip away signals more than just a friend.
“Morgan—”
“Just go.” Her voice is slack. Tears well, and she looks away. “I’ll bring Duke to you after school on Monday.”
Joseph reaches for Morgan when she walks away, but he lets his hand fall. The contradicting instincts to console her and respect her boundaries play out in his gaze, which is tracking her down the sideline. He rubs the back of his neck. “I’m gonna head out.”
My heart squeezes at his dejected tone. These two still love each other, that much is clear, but they never mended whatever broke between them. Sky might be Joseph’s current interest, but the hooded brown eyes on his ex-wife cause him a world of pain.
“Do me a favor, El,” he says, his attention on Morgan’s back. Glassy eyes trail to mine. “Take care of her.”For me.At my nod, Joseph heads to Duke and picks him up for a long hug. Then he high-fives Jackson and drops to his haunches, never letting go of his son.
“Hey.” I jump at Julian’s voice and clutch my chest. He raises his hands and laughs. “You alright?”
The weightlessness of his tone pulls a grin to my mouth, one that matches his. A brow lifts. “Did you win, or are you normally this cheerful after a game?”
His laughter is melodic. “Yes to the former.” His eyes crinkle. “I’m happy you came.” He scans the field. “Where’s your ex?”
“Extended his work trip after I asked to keep the kids until today. I’ll drop them off at his mother’s after this.”
“A work trip?” We share a look.
“He never cared about breaking the no-penetration rule with other women during our marriage.” I shrug. “Why start now?”
Julian steps closer and lowers his voice. “Does that mean you’re up for a few rounds of poke and play?” His fingers dance across the knotted belt at my waist and tug me closer. “For a game night?”
“Game night? Bro, you back to those?” The man bun in the number six jersey scratches at his broad chest and stands between us. “Please tell me it’s tonight.”
“What’s tonight?” Another teammate appears next to Julian. Brown eyes examine me under slightly raised thick brows. He leans forward to extend a hand. “I’m Viru, by the way.”
“Ella.”
“Nice to meet you,” he says with a slow smile.
Man bun’s eyes ping-pong between Julian and me like he’s solved a murder mystery. “You’re Ella? You’re the friend? The—”
“Antonio.” The clip in Julian’s tone leaves no room for discussion.
“My apologies.” He exchanges a look with the man whose hand is now at the small of my back.Possessive much?“Heard a lot about you. It’s good to put a face with a name.” He studies the curves of my hips and smirks at Julian. “What a beauty you are,Ella.”
