“So he used it as an excuse to check up on my date?”
“No. Well, maybe a little.” She sighs. “Look, I know you’re still mad at him. You have every right to be. But he still cares about you.”
“He has a funny way of showing it.”
“He’s flawed. Deeply flawed. But his concern for your safety is genuine.”
I don’t respond, because I know she’s right. Miles, for all his faults, would never let anything happen to me if he could help it. That was always our problem—he tried to protect me from everything, including living my own life.
“Just... be careful, okay?” Megan continues. “Not just about Rick. About everything.”
“I’m always careful.”
“Are you? Because Julian seems nice, but?—”
“Stop.” I cut her off. “I appreciate the concern, but I don’t need everyone micromanaging my love life.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Isn’t it?” I finish my wine in one gulp. “I need to go, Megan. It’s been a long night.”
After we hang up, I sit in the silence of my living room, feeling restless. I should be tired, but adrenaline is still coursing through me. The mention of Rick has awakened old anxieties I thought I’d buried.
I pull out my laptop and hesitate before typing his name into the search bar. Several results come up—mostly old news articles about his arrest. There’s nothing recent, nothing about his release.
I switch to social media, but his profiles seem dormant. Maybe he doesn’t hold a grudge. Maybe he’s moved on, forgotten all about me and Miles.
Or maybe he’s just being careful.
JULIAN
She’s not my girlfriend.I shouldn’t care about her ex-husband showing up unannounced. But it’s eating at me. Why did they get divorced? How often does he come to her house to check up on her?
It’s not a roadblock I expected, but Ellie is an interesting woman. I’d be stupid to give up now. Even if she didn’t count last night as an actual date, maybe I need to be more forward.
The thought of making my intentions clear brings a rush of anxiety. What if she doesn’t feel the same way? What if the ex is still in the picture more than she lets on?
I stare at my phone, considering whether to text her. What would I even say? “Hey, by the way, what’s the deal with your ex-husband?” That would sound possessive, jealous even. I have no right to those feelings.
My thumb hovers over her name in my contacts. Three dots appear suddenly—she’s typing. My heart skips. The dots disappear, then reappear. Finally, a message comes through.
Ellie: About tonight... I had a really good time.
A smile spreads across my face.
Me: Me too.
Ellie: Sorry about Miles.
So she senses my discomfort. I take a deep breath and decide to be straightforward.
Me: It’s okay. I was just surprised. Does he drop by often?
The three dots dance for what feels like eternity.
Ellie: Not usually. He’s still figuring out boundaries.
I wonder if I’m setting myself up for disappointment, becoming the rebound guy. But there’s something about Ellie that makes me willing to take that risk.
