Chapter 8♥Midnight Running Club
Edward shut down his computer and gathered his things. He usually didn’t leave this early, but it wasn’t fair to keep Elinor waiting for a ride. Except, when he ducked his head out his door, Elinor wasn’t there.
“Rosa, where’s Elinor?”
She shook her head. “Don’t look at me, boss. She made me promise not to say anything about leaving without you. And there are worse things in life than walking home. Like getting a ride from an engaged man. I thought maybe things weren’t working out between you and Lucy. But here she is today making kissy face with you. Let Elinor alone unless you’re single, young man.”
“I haven’t done anything.” Some days he loved how much Rosa acted like a second mom. Today was not one of those days.
“Mmhmm. Well, when I was young, if you offered a girl a ride home, it meant something. Jorge offered plenty of times before I said yes. Maybe Elinor feels the same way.”
“Never mind, I guess I’ll get some more work done before I leave.” He returned to his desk and turned his computer back on, feeling irritated with himself and Rosa. He didn’t want her to be right. It didn’t matter if he was engaged in name only, engaged was engaged. Not that he’d been trying to do anything but be nice and make sure Elinor got home safely.
He texted her quickly just to check.
Will you let me know you got home okay?
Yep. Almost there.
A minute later she sent a picture of her house with Greta standing on the porch waving. It was grainy and pixelated, reminding him that Elinor had a basic flip phone. He stared at the picture a little closer and realized the blob in Greta’s arms was her bunny, Babbity.
He wished he could be there with them. What was he doing agreeing to go out with Lucy on Friday? They were over. He picked up his phone and stared at it before deciding to just call. A text wouldn’t cut it.
Lucy picked up after the first ring. “Edward? Did I forget something there?”
“No. I just realized I can’t make it this Friday and wanted to call before you made a reservation.”
“No problem. Does Saturday or Sunday night work better?”
He squeezed the back of his neck. “I don’t think going out at all is a good idea. It just complicates things. When you need more pictures of us, call me and I’ll come by your place.” He hung up before she could respond, knowing whatever she’d have to say would be lengthy and full of emotional hand grenades he wasn’t up to dodging. But he felt better. A hundred times better.
After working for another hour, he gathered up his things and drove home, breaking into a smile when he saw Marianne, Elinor, and Greta sitting on their front lawn with Babbity hopping in lazy circles between them.
He parked and walked over, noticing there was a stack of hot pink fliers in Marianne’s hands, and she and Elinor seemed to be arguing about them.
“Just because you spent your lunchbreak making these does not mean we’re using them.” Elinor stopped talking and looked up at Edward. “Hi, boss.”
“Hey. How was your walk?”
“Lovely. How was the drive?”
“Solitary.” He moved to just over Marianne’s shoulder so he could read the fliers.
“The Midnight Running Club?”
“It’s not happening,” Elinor said firmly.
Marianne handed him a flier. “You should come to the planning meeting.”
“You shouldn’t come because we’re not having it.” Elinor grabbed the flier out of his hand and Marianne immediately snatched it back and smoothed it out before returning it to the stack.
Elinor crossed her arms. “Good thinking. We can use the backs for scratch paper.”
“Very funny, Elinor.” Marianne tugged on Edward’s sleeve. “Have a seat. Or is the grass going to ruin your work pants?”
He sat down between Marianne and Greta, holding still as Babbity came over to sniff his shoe. “Did I miss the dog walking again?”
Greta nodded. “It’s okay. It was just me and Elinor today. And Dumpling behaved much better this time.”
