“Look me in the eye and tell me that you are happy. With words.”
I slowly stopped moving side to side with the beat of the music. I stilled as I stared into her eyes. “I’m?—”
“Just remember that we promised we would never lie to each other.”
I closed my lips for a moment as I held her gaze. Her deep brown eyes made me feel like I was swimming in them as she held my gaze with equal intensity. She was waiting for me to mess up, and I knew if I did she would see it.
So I mustered images of my dad and George. I replayed the moment when we told Coralie’s parents we were getting married. I let all the reasons why I had proposed in the first place flood my mind before I took in a deep breath and said, “I am happy.”
Ella held my gaze. I could see her analyzing my performance. For a moment, I wondered if she’d caught the lie, but then she slowly started to nod.
“Then I’m happy for you,” she whispered.
We finished the dance in silence. Once the band ended the slow song and an upbeat one took its place, I told her that I’d heard enough to feel good about booking the band, and asked if she was ready to get out of there.
She nodded and followed after me as I led her through the crowd to the front door. My ears were ringing as I stepped out of the bar. I could feel the gravel crunch under my shoes as we walked across the parking lot and over to my truck.
I stopped at her door and held it open as she climbed inside. Once she was situated, I shut her door and jogged around the front to climb in beside her.
We kept our conversation light. I asked her how the articles were coming, and she told me not to worry, I was going to be happy when I read it. My thoughts returned to the article that she’d written about the Proctors and how I’d never really apologized for being upset with her.
She’d had every right to call me out on working with the Proctors. She had been protecting residents of Harmony when she decided to write that article, while I had only been worried about my bruised ego.
I made so many mistakes that day, and I hated that she had taken the brunt of those mistakes. She really was a true friend. One that, if I lost, I would be hard-pressed to find anyone like her again.
When I got to her complex, I told her that I’d walk her to her apartment. She waited for me to round the truck and pull open her door. Once her feet were firmly planted on the ground and she’d stepped out of the way, I shut the door behind her.
We walked side by side across the parking lot to the complex’s main door.
“Why didn’t you text me back?” she asked as she punched in the code at her door and a loud buzzing sounded as she pulled it open.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said, reaching over her head to hold the door so she could pass through. And that was the truth. I was sorry about that. “I saw it and then got distracted.” That was a partial truth. I’d been distracted with how to tell her that Coralie didn’t want her to be my best man, so I’d stupidly thought avoidance was the better option.
“Let’s not get distracted again,” she said as she glanced at me from over her shoulder. “You had me thinking something was wrong.” Her voice was low, and I had to lean in to make sure I was catching everything she said.
“I promise,” I said as I followed her to her apartment.
Once we got to her door, she paused and then turned to face me. Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, I was brought back to that morning a few weeks ago when I’d come here with the newspaper in hand. I dropped my gaze, unable to handle the frustration I felt with myself. I’d been so brokenhearted that I’d just reacted. If I could take back the things I’d said, I would.
I would do anything to change that day.
“I’m really sorry, El,” I said softly as I slowly brought my gaze up to meet hers.
“I got that.” She studied me. I could feel her hesitancy.
“Not just about the text…” I blew out my breath. “I’m sorry for all of it. I’m sorry I got mad about the article. I’m sorry that I said the things I did. I’m sorry I changed our relationship.” I gave her a weak smile. “You truly are the best friend I could have ever asked for.”
When she didn’t respond right away, I feared that I’d said the wrong thing. I watched her, trying to judge her reaction but coming up empty-handed because this woman was so unreadable to me. I used to know what she was thinking before she even said anything. Now, I was having a hard time understanding even when she spoke her feelings out loud to me.
“Thanks, Asher. That means a lot to me.” She stepped forward with her arms stretched out.
I didn’t hesitate. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her toward me. It felt so good, hugging her. Not only because my feelings for Ella were still as poignant as the day I spoke them out loud to her, but also because I missed my friend. This hug meant that we just might be on the right path.
And I wanted that more than anything.
“I should hit the hay,” Ella said as she pulled away and then stepped back.
“Yeah, me too.” I pushed my hand through my hair and offered her a small smile.
