A Love Trap

Ashley nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're probably right."

The girls hung out until it was time to get off work. Ashley meanwhile didn't seem to want to leave.

Ellie looked at her, seemingly puzzled. "Why hasn't he come to pick you up?"

'Isn't he normally punctual? He's always here at five o'clock sharp. It doesn't matter if there's a rainstorm or a hurricane—he has never been late. Not even a minute late.

Even if he needed to work overtime, he would have asked somebody to come and pick her up.

What's going on?

Did he forget?'

Ashley turned, wanting nothing more than to leave. She really wasn't in the mood to talk about it.

This didn't go unnoticed by Ellie's sharp eyes. She squinted then raised her voice, "Ashley, stop!"

'Ahhh, ' Ashley thought to herself. 'Why do we need to talk about it now? I'm not ready to talk about it just yet.'

She slowly swiveled and put on a fake smile. "What is it, Ellie? Nina and Cheryl have already left. Let's get our things and leave too."

Ellie ignored what she said and asked her instead, "What's happening? Isn't Andrew coming to pick you up? Did you two have a fight?"

Ashley pressed her lips together and said, "Why would we fight?"

"Then what's the matter?" Ellie wouldn't let it go.

"Just forget about it," said Ashley, her face turning ugly.

Ellie approached her so she could hug her. Then in a soft voice, she asked, "What happened? You used to tell me everything. We never keep anything from each other. Why won't you tell me now?"

She was almost sure that they did have a fight. But they didn't look like the type of couple who would fight.

As Ashley let herself be enveloped in Ellie's arms, she felt her sadness surge inside her. She murmured, "Ellie, let's go home first. We can talk there, okay?"

first. We can talk there. Don't

sleep over tonight,"

said glumly as she put her head on Ellie's shoulder.

said Ellie, stroking Ashley's hair.

listened to her and gave her whatever she wanted.

a

friends for that

already forgotten about Francis and had already taken him

door of the cake shop and left together arm in

buy some groceries in the supermarket and cook our dinner

anything you want,"

said as she leaned on Ellie's shoulder.

You're my

red Ferrari that was hard to miss suddenly pulled

car. He looked

he couldn't even see

whoever was beside her.

said, "Ellie, I've

at the distracted Ashley and cleared her throat. "I'm going to sleep over at Ashley's tonight.

Francis was

on her face. She took a step forward so that she was in

heard it. He turned his head only to see Ashley. "Oh, Ashley. I didn't

to pick Ellie up," he

and said, "Didn't I tell you

held a boy's hand while Francis was a playboy at heart. He had been with more women

if

to protect Ellie from

that they had already been together. They

give Francis

and looked at Ashley

speechless. "What kind of

forgot about all her problems. She focused on Francis and how to deal with him.