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. We can

sleep

as she put

said Ellie, stroking Ashley's hair.

listened to her and gave her whatever

was a true

best friends for that reason.

him off her mind.

shop and left together arm in

groceries in the supermarket and cook our dinner at home. What do

want,"

Ellie," she said as

course. You're my

were walking on the street, a red Ferrari that was hard to

got out of the car. He looked sexy and attractive as he

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

ignored whoever was

put on a sweet smile and said, "Ellie, I've

distracted Ashley and cleared her throat. "I'm

Francis was

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

He turned his head only to

Ellie up,"

I tell you to leave

was afraid that Francis might hurt Ellie. Ellie had never held a boy's hand while Francis was a playboy at heart. He had been with

only end up hurt if she gave

had to protect Ellie

already been together. They had already slept

Ashley found out, she would give Francis a really hard

behind Ellie and looked at

speechless. "What kind of strategy

She focused on Francis and how to deal with him. She was so angry that she wanted to strike a punch