I shake my head. “I have not told her that yet.” I shoot him a withering look, and he holds his hands up in defeat.
“Sorry.”
“Okay, one of you better start talking,” Ella says, her delicate features scrunching into a scowl.
An hour later, I’ve filled her in on everything that’s transpired with Professor A-hole. We're sitting on the couch, Alyx in the middle, my feet propped up in his lap while hemassages my foot through my sock. Ella is on the opposite end of the couch, practically sitting on the armrest to avoid being near Alyx, her legs tucked tightly against her body.
She wiggles a finger between us. “You two have the weirdest co-dependent relationship I’ve ever seen.”
Alyx gives me an annoyed look before turning his face to hers. “Says the girl who hops from guy to guy because she hasn’t dealt with her daddy issues.”
“You’re one to talk, fuckboy. How many flavors have you been through this week?”
“Jealous?” He grins.
Ella squeaks out an awkward laugh. “Oh, you’ve got jokes now?”
“You’re the one attacking me for being friends with your sister. There’s nothing wrong with our friendship. And labeling us co-dependent just because you don’t understand it is ignorant. Physical touch is hard for her, but she can handle mine. So what if I rub her feet or shoulders? I’m not trying to get in her pants.”
“If there’s nothing wrong with it, why doesn’t Ethan know about it?”
Alyx pauses his massage at her words, thinking carefully about how to respond.
“On more than one occasion, he’s been suspicious that something was going on with me and Emma because she kept showing up here. It wasn’t my place to tell him about her aversion to touch and how I’d helped her. I’m not sure there’s a way to explain it to him that he would understand. He told me not to fuck with his sisters, but he also told me to watch out for her.”
“He did?” I ask, touched as Ella speaks at the same time.
“What about me? He didn’t tell you to watch out for me?” Ella asks.
“Jesus, Ella, not everything is about you.” Alyx drops his head back onto the couch in exasperation. “Just like how Iknew that Emma was capable of taking care of herself, I knew Ethan was worried about her, but he was also pretty distracted at the time.”
“Maybe I need someone to take care of me,” she pouts.
“Something tells me you can take care of yourself just fine,” he says, swiveling his head to her.
I can see all the emotions she’s holding back as she glares at him.
“So what’s the plan, are you going to talk to him? Hear him out?” Ella asks, shifting her focus to me.
I groan. “I just want to keep my head down and get through this week.”
“Are things any better with that actor guy? Jeremiah?” Ella asks.
“Jeremy,” I correct her. “Kinda? We’ve been able to get through the show with minimal issues. He’s been really understanding and respectful of everything I’ve asked of him. He even blocked a stage kiss where he tilts me upstage and covers my mouth with his thumbs so he can kiss them instead of me.”
Alyx shifts his attention back to me. “So he hasn’t tried to make any moves on you? Ethan would want me to ask.”
“No, he’s harmless. If I were attracted to him more, I could see myself giving him a chance, but I just don’t like him like that. He’s just a good friend.”
“What about when the play’s over and you don’t have to see John at rehearsal anymore? Are you going to talk to him then?” Ella asks.
“Ugh, I dunno. I probably should, but I can’t even think about that. I just feel numb. I can’t believe any of this is real.”
“It’ll hit you. Breakups are kind of like grief that way. You’re still in denial. You’ll go through all the phases: bargaining, anger, depression, before you get to acceptance. Trust me.”
“Is that what happened with you and Chad?” Alyx asks, his tone teasing.
Ella doesn’t break eye contact with me, a look of sadnesswashing over her when she speaks. “Sure, Chad.” Something tells me she’s not thinking about her breakup with Chad, but I wrack my brain for what breakup could be affecting her like this.
