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?"

"All right. Let's go home first.

I'll sleep

she put her head on

said Ellie, stroking Ashley's hair.

just listened to her and gave her whatever she wanted.

a

were best friends

about Francis and had already taken him off her mind. Ashley was way more important than Francis.

cake shop

the bus back. We can buy some groceries in the supermarket and cook our dinner at home. What do you think?" Ashley

you want," Ellie

she said as

You're my

a red Ferrari that was hard

got out of the car.

was so focused on Ellie that he couldn't even see

whoever was beside her.

said, "Ellie, I've come to

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

Francis was

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

soon as he heard it. He turned his head only to see Ashley. "Oh,

came to pick Ellie up,"

"Didn't I tell you to leave

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

up hurt if she gave him a

had to protect Ellie from

they had already been together. They had already

would give Francis a really

behind Ellie and looked at Ashley

was speechless. "What kind of strategy is

with him. She was