“Have a good night, Pamela. Text Ella and let her know you made it home safe.”
Before Pamela could climb into her ride, another driver pulled in. This time it’s a man. I make sure he sees me before I help Kyra and baby girl into the car.
I watched each woman leave, making sure they were safe. The last to go is Jada. She stops right as she steps past me out the door. She glances back through the house as if she’s looking for Ella before looking back at me.
“Tonight’s going to be rough for her. Keep her company.”
“I got her, Jada.” Always.
I left that last part out, but by the way Jada’s dark brown cat-shaped eyes stare back at me, you would think she heard it. Finally, she dips her head and walks down the porch to get into the car. I wait until the driver’s taillights fade before I shut the door and go back inside.
Ella is busy picking up the remnants of their night.
“El, leave that stuff. I’ll get it.” I take the empty tray out of her hands.
Immediately, she breaks down crying. Placing the tray onto the end of the couch, I pull El into me. Her head stops right at my chest. I wrap my arms around her, taking in her vanilla and chocolate scent.
“He’s getting married, Mitch. He swore to me it wasn’t about another woman. He said he never wanted to be married.”
I shut my eyes to tamp down my anger. I could fucking kill Andrew. If I had known he’d fuck up her heart this badly, I would’ve never stepped back in high school so he could have her. I would have fought for her then.
Placing my hand on the back of her head, I held her close to my chest. I don’t look for flowery words to ease her hurt. I allow her to spew her feelings. Nothing I can say right now will make her feel better.
About five minutes later, her sobs turned into sniffles. My shirt is soaked, but I don’t care. If all I can be for her at the moment is a shoulder to cry on, I’ll accept that.
Finally, she leans away from me, wiping her eyes and runny nose.
She shakes her head and laughs. “God, I’m a mess. I bet you think I’m so stupid for crying over that man.”
Grabbing her as she tries to walk away, I turn her back to me. “You’re not stupid. And you’re crying over a man you've been with since you were fifteen. You have a right to feel hurt.”
She drops her head and shakes it. “I’m so tired of crying. Tired of feeling like I wasn’t good enough. Like I failed to make him happy.”
I led her to the couch, where she took a seat. Sitting down beside her, I pull her into me. She leans her head on my shoulder; her feet tucked under her.
“I understand where you’re coming from. After Val and I split, I felt as if I’d failed too.”
It wasn’t a lie. Although I couldn’t wait to end my marriage with Val, I still went through moments where I questioned myself. So, I understand where she’s coming from.
“The girls think it’s time I dated again.”
My entire body goes rigid. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to notice. Look, I knew that at some point El would get back out there and date. This woman was incredibly gorgeous. Despite what she thought of herself. However, I didn't think it would be so soon.
The moment another man comes along, I imagine all the time I spend with her will have to end. I know if I were her man, I wouldn’t want another guy at her house every damn day. I don’t care who he was. But that’s the selfishness in me. I can’t keep her to myself forever; it isn’t right.
“What do you think?” It takes me a few minutes to get that sentence out of my dry mouth.
She shrugs. “I don’t know. I mean, I want to be loved again. But let’s be honest, I doubt that will happen.”
I turn to look down at her, my brows pinched in confusion. She lifts her head slightly to look up at me.
“Why the hell wouldn’t it?”
Lifting her head up she leans her back against the couch, staring at me.
“Look at me, Mitch. I don’t really give catch of the day.”
“You’re not a gotdamn fish, El. You’re a woman.”
