Eloise

The moment I stepped out of the tub and changed into my pajamas, there was a knock at the door.

“Eloise, it’s us. Open up!” Natalie shouted.

Rolling my eyes and mad as hell that they couldn’t respect my wishes, I reluctantly opened the door and all three of them stood there with pouts on their faces.

“We’re your best friends and we’re here for you,” Natalie spoke as she pushed me aside and walked in.

“We brought pizza,” Claire spoke.

“And ice cream.” Scarlett smiled.

“I appreciate it, you guys, but—”

“No buts,” Natalie spoke. “When you’re hurting, we’re hurting. That’s how it’s always been.”

Scarlett placed her arm around my shoulders and led me over to the couch.

“You go sit down and get comfortable. We’ll bring the food over.”

“And then you’re going to tell us what the fuck happened with Christian,” Natalie spoke.

Claire brought the paper plates, napkins, and the box of pizza over to the coffee table. After placing a piece on a plate, she handed it to me.

“I’m not hungry.”

“We don’t care,” she spoke. “You know the tradition. When one of us is upset, we all eat comfort food together.”

“Tell us what happened,” Scarlett spoke.

“You’re never going to believe it. So brace yourselves. Christian Blake is Mobile Man.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Natalie exclaimed.

“Oh my god, Eloise,” Claire spoke.

“I’m sorry. What?” Scarlett asked.

I explained to them the whole story and they sat there in complete shock.

“I have no words for what you just told us,” Scarlett spoke.

“I’m sorry, Eloise.” Natalie hooked her arm around me and pulled me into her, which made me cry even harder.

“I’m sorry,” Claire spoke. “I can’t believe Christian would do something like that.”

“Well, believe it,” I spoke with a hint of anger. “He’s an asshole like the rest of them.”

“Eloise, I know you’re in shock over this, but just try to think rationally for a minute. Yes, he knew you were Digits and he didn’t tell you. But you knew Mobile Man before him and you connected with him instantly. Then you met Christian and you connected with him almost instantly. The same person. Doesn’t that say something?” Claire asked.

“He used knowing that I was Digits to his advantage! He pushed me to go out with him. To give him a chance. I will never forgive him for that. He deceived me and that is something I will not put up with.”

We talked until about one a.m. and the girls decided it was time to leave.

“Try and get some sleep. We’ll call you tomorrow,” Claire spoke.

“Thanks for being pushy.” I managed a smile.

“That’s what sister friends are for, baby.” Natalie hugged me tight.

After they left and I locked up, I climbed into bed and tried to get comfortable. I lay there and stared at the side that was still made up where he’d lay with me at night. Even though we hadn’t spent many nights together, it felt like it had been years. I fell for him and I fell fast. Just like I knew I would the moment I met him. I closed my eyes and finally drifted off into a deep sleep.

I struggled to open my swollen eyes, and when I did, it was daylight. When I rolled over and looked at my clock on the nightstand, it read two thirty. My head was pounding and my eyes hurt too much to keep them open, so instead, I gave in and went back to sleep. I didn’t care what was going on in the outside world. All I wanted to do was sleep and forget about everything and everyone.

****

Christian

I stumbled into the office around twelve thirty, and when I walked past Claire’s cubicle, she looked at me.

“You look like shit,” she spoke.

“I feel like shit, and don’t forget I’m still your boss.”

I walked into my office and she followed behind me with a cup of coffee.

“Here,” she spoke.

“Thanks.”

I sat down at my desk and immediately took out the bottle of aspirin from the top drawer.

“How is she?” I asked.

“How do you think, Christian? She’s broken, devastated, and a mess. We were at her apartment last night until one a.m. trying to comfort her because she couldn’t stop crying.”

I sighed.

“I sent her a couple of text messages, but she didn’t respond,” I spoke.

“You really thought she’d respond to you? She probably already #Deleted your dumb ass. And she probably blocked your number as well. I’ve been with her through many heartbreaks and I’ve never seen her like she was last night.”

“I’m sorry, Claire. I really am. I’m in love with her and I won’t accept never seeing her again.”

“Well, I don’t know what you’re going to do. All she kept saying last night was how you betrayed and deceived her. You’re just going to have to give her some time to calm down. Maybe once she does and she clears her head, she’ll be able to think more clearly and be open to talking to you about it.”

“Thanks, Claire. I’m sure your other friends hate me.”

“They do.” She smiled. “I sort of stuck up for you, but Eloise wasn’t having it.”

“I appreciate it. But I don’t want you to get involved. The last thing I need is for her getting mad at you.”

“I’ve got to get back to work.”

“Thank you for the coffee and the chat.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled as she walked out of my office.