“Oh my gosh, no,” I laugh, shaking my head. “I would never get back with him.”
Ellie arches a perfectly sculpted brow. “Hmm.” A smirk pulls on her lips. “I can’t imagine why that is.”
I stare at her. “Maybe because he cheated on me, God knows how many times?”
“That’s definitely a reason why not to.” She tilts her head to the side, resting her arm on the back of her seat. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with Matteo Ford though, right?”
Ellie’s smile falters just as I’m about to respond, and her eyes shift to the side again. “Shit, he’s coming this way.”
Panic wells inside me. “What do I do? I don’t want to see him?”
“Too late,” Ellie mumbles as she purses her lips and looks past me. “He saw me and I think he saw you, too.”
Fuck me.
I turn in my seat to face the bar, pushing my empty glass toward the edge of the counter. If I can get the bartender’s attention, I can pay my tab and be on my merry way.
There’s movement to my right. The seat next to me that was empty? Yeah, it’s occupied now.
“Well, if it isn’t Jade Wilson.”
My spine stiffens. I draw my shoulders back and look to my right. “Oh, hey, Aiden.” The last time I spoke to Aiden was a few years ago, six months after we broke up. He called me drunk, begging for me to take him back.
He called me the next day to apologize, claiming he didn’t mean it. I guess at this point, we’ll never know if he did or not.
“How are you?” he asks. Ellie blows out a breath as I turn to face my ex-boyfriend. His hazel eyes rake over my body. “You look good.”
“I’m great, actually.” I smile. I have no animosity toward him now. It was years ago. It’s water under the bridge. We were both young and people make mistakes.
With that being said, I would still never consider dating him again.
“How are you? What brings you to Hillford?”
Aiden takes a sip of his beer, nodding his head as he swallows. “I’m good. I’m here for a cousin’s wedding this weekend. We have a few days off from games, so it worked out.”
“That’s great,” I say, my brow furrowing. “I don’t remember you having any family here in Hillford.”
Aiden laughs quietly. “Well, we haven’t spoken in a while, J. He moved here last year with his fiancée.” He pauses, tilting his head to the side as his gaze roams across my face. “A lot can change in a few years.”
“Yeah, it can,” I agree, nodding.
Ellie bumps her arm against mine, gaining my attention. “I’m going to go to the bathroom. If the bartender comes over, I’m ready to go if you are.” She glares at Aiden on the other side of me.
“He’s harmless, El. I’m not as stupid as I was before.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
Aiden clicks his tongue as I turn back around, looking for the bartender. “I see Ellie still hates me.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure all my friends do.” I give him the fiercest side eye that I’d imagine Candy Stone would throw at someone. “You did fuck me over.”
His body sags, an exasperated sigh leaving him, just as I catch the bartender’s attention. “My friend and I would both like to close out our tabs,” I say to her after she comes over.
“Of course. I’ll take care of it now.” She looks at Aiden as he dips his head and rakes his fingers through his hair. “Everything okay?” she asks me.
“Yeah, yeah. We’re good.”
She looks at Aiden once more, back at me and nods before heading back across the bar.
