3. Ellie

3

Ellie

I’d gone out on a limb and sent a graduation invite to Ethan. I’d gotten his new address out of Grams’ phone book without her knowledge.

Maybe it was stupid, but I wanted to extend an olive branch.

Damn if I don’t miss my best friend so much.

What kind of crazy person holds on for two years to a man that cheated on her?

“Oh, Elena, I’m so proud of you,” Grams says as she comes up beside me and interlocks her arm through mine. “You’re about to travel the world, explore everything these foreign countries have to offer. So many people only talk about doing these things.”

“Thanks, Grams. I’m so glad you’re here.”

My eyes keep scanning the crowd, hoping that my family surprises me by hiding Ethan behind them or something.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Huh? Oh, nobody.”

“He’s not here, baby girl,” she sighs quietly in my ear. “He didn’t think you wanted him to come.”

I nod and swallow hard, fighting back all of the tears that want to rush forward.

How can he think I didn’t want him to come when I sent him an invitation with a handwritten note inside?

Is that what he told them so I looked like the bad guy?

Or does he think I’m pathetic for sending it in the first place, I mean he does have a very public girlfriend.

“Man, look at Ethan living the life,” Ryan says as he interrupts my conversation with Grams. “On a photo shoot in Bali with that hot ass supermodel girlfriend of his. Looks like he’s definitely forgotten about you.”

He thrusts his phone in my face showing me a picture of Ethan shirtless on the beach. He and his girlfriend are staring lovingly into each other's eyes while ten women are on their knees bowing to them both and touching them.

I want to rip all of their faces off.

“It’s work,” Daniel interjects as he rolls his eyes.

“Still, El can’t compete with that,” Ryan teases.

My grandmother narrows her eyes and looks like she’s about to mentally deck Ryan. She takes a step forward and moves in between us. She rolls her eyes.

“Let’s go celebrate before you fly off to Australia in a few hours.”

Tate and I are no longer together, but I’m still going on the trip. There are rumors all over the tabloids that Ethan is going to propose to Mercy and I can’t get out of here fast enough.

That was supposed to be me.

***

A few hours later, my family and Ryan are at the airport dropping me off as I’m about to embark on a solo journey of exploration and getting out of my comfort zone. I need this.

I need to be alone, exploring the world and relying on no one but myself.

“I’m going to miss you, make sure you text,” Ryan says as he hugs me tightly.

“Take a selfie for the road.”

He throws up his phone and takes a picture of the two of us together. I get annoyed because he’s constantly posting pictures of us together, with corny captions like my favorite girl, the most amazing woman, and so on. He told me once that he does it because it makes other women think he’s desirable and they slide into his DM’s.

Isn’t that disgusting?

I hug my family tightly and step out into the unknown. I’m both excited and terrified.

This is how I get over Ethan. I know it is.

***

“Hey, Ellie, how’s Paris?”

“It’s amazing, Grams. You definitely have to see it sometime. I’ve never seen a more beautiful city. The rest of the group left already but I stayed behind to explore more.”

“Elena, that’s not safe. A beautiful girl like you shouldn’t be alone in a city like Paris. Watch out for pickpockets. My friend traveled there as a teenager and fell in love with a very bad man who wasn’t at all who he seemed to be. Please, be careful.”

“I keep to myself Grams. No one has bothered me. I promise, I’m safe.”

She lets out a long sigh. “Okay, but please be safe. People aren’t what they seem sometimes.”

“I know. How are you?”

“I’m great, sweetie. I called to let you know that Ethan’s grandpa passed away.”“Oh no,” I breathe.

I didn’t know much about Ethan’s family in our time together. He was rarely with them and changed the subject anytime I asked about them. I’d never seen his parents at any of his hockey games either.

All I knew was that his parents were extremely wealthy and part of the social elite in Frostwood Falls. For as long as we were together, and living in a small town, you’d think I’d have met them but he kept us far apart for whatever reason.

His grandpa though, his mother’s father, was a good man who lived in Tennessee. I’d met him a few times. He and Ethan were as close as they could be and he adored him.

“He’s not handling it well. I don’t know what news you’re getting over there about what’s going on over here but Ethan is… not well. He’s reckless.”

“How’s his hockey career?”

“He’s been suspended, again,” she sighs. “I’m afraid we might lose him if someone doesn’t step in.”

“I thought things were good for him. They said he and Mercy were getting engaged.”

“Not anymore. They broke up and she went off the deep end on a seven day partying binge. Her father put her in rehab when she almost overdosed. I think that’s why Ethan keeps getting suspended, his coach is retaliating and blaming Ethan for Mercy’s demise. From what I understand, she’s the one who brought Ethan to where he is now.”

“Overdose.”

If Mercy overdosed, does that mean that Ethan is doing drugs too?

Do I even know him anymore?

“Yeah. Hotel staff found her. I thought you should know about his grandpa, baby girl. Don’t let it ruin your good time.”

“Thanks Grams.”

My heart is heavy and my stomach hurts for Ethan.

First, he loses Mercy, now his grandpa. His coach has a reputation for being overprotective of his daughter. I can’t imagine what he’s doing to Ethan if he blames him for her near death experience .

I hang up the phone and go to my contact list. I go to the blocked numbers and unblock Ethan.

I stare at the number for a good ten minutes before I Facetime him. It rings and it rings.

“Ethan’s phone,” a naked redhead giggles as she answers.

“Um, is… Ethan around?”

“He’s… busy,” she giggles.

“Why do you have my phone?” I hear Ethan growl from somewhere in the room.

There’s no mistaking that he’s drunk and probably high too. The redhead giggles again. The phone swings around and I can see a very naked Ethan stumbling forward as at least three different women are hanging on him. The redhead laughs hysterically before she hangs up the phone.

I can’t believe that I felt sorry for him.

Fuck him.

He tries calling me back and I immediately block him again.

It’s time, Elena. It’s time to forget him and let him go completely.

***

“Hey bro, how goes it?” I ask excitedly as I answer my brother’s call.

“Oh damn, I didn’t think you’d answer,” he teases from the other side of Facetime.

“I’ll always answer for my big brother. What’s up?”

“I’m worried about Ethan,” he blurts out.

My stomach clenches involuntarily at the mention of his name. Three years have passed, but the pain is still raw, a wound that hasn’t quite healed. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check.

“Why are you telling me this, Daniel? We haven’t been together for three years. He’s not my problem anymore,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intend.

“I know, Elena. I know. But he’s in a bad place, and I don’t know how to reach him. I thought maybe you might know what to do.”

“Stop being a pussy, Daniel. If you’re so worried about him, then confront him about the bullshit he’s doing. If I could change one thing, I would have done that back in college when it all started,” I say, my voice laced with frustration.

“I’ve tried. He doesn’t listen to me.”

“Ethan Anderson has rarely ever heard the word ‘no.’ I was the only person who ever held him half-ass accountable, and that’s what he needs. That’s what you need to do. Grow a spine and tell him the hard truth. And for God’s sake, stop dragging me back into this. I don’t want to hear about him ever again.”

There’s a heavy silence on the line, the weight of my words hanging between us. I can hear Daniel breathing, see him running a hand through his hair, looking for the right words.

“I understand, sis. I’m sorry.”

I close my eyes, the anger slowly ebbing away, replaced by a lingering sadness. I don’t want to be cruel, but the wounds are still too fresh, the scars too deep.

“It’s okay,” I lie.

“Where are you, anyway? When are you coming home?”

“I’m working on my book,” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips despite everything. “And I took on a marketing job with a company that’s in Dubai right now on a campaign. I’m along for the ride.”

“Wow, Dubai? That’s amazing, Elena. I’m so proud of you. It seems like you’re growing into who you’re supposed to be. I just hope you come to visit soon. We miss you.”

“Thanks, Daniel. I miss you too. I’ll come visit soon, I promise. But for now, I need to focus on this. It’s important to me.”

“I understand, take care of yourself, okay?”

“You too,” I reply, my voice gentle. “And remember what I said. Be strong, for both of us.”

“I will,” Daniel promises, and I believe him.

As I hang up the phone, I feel a mixture of relief and sadness. The conversation with Daniel stirs up old emotions, but it also reminds me of how far I’ve come. I’m no longer the same person I was three years ago, caught in a toxic cycle with Ethan. I’m building a new life, chasing my dreams, and finding my own path. And for now, that’s enough.