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

I'll sleep over tonight,"

she put her head

Ellie, stroking Ashley's

to her and gave her whatever she

a

were best friends for

already forgotten about Francis and had already taken him off her mind. Ashley

cake shop and left together arm

groceries in the supermarket and

you want," Ellie replied.

Ellie," she said

You're my

on the street, a red Ferrari that was hard to

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

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

was beside her.

said, "Ellie, I've

peek at the distracted Ashley and cleared her throat. "I'm going to

Francis was

that she was

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

to pick Ellie up," he said

and said, "Didn't I tell you to

was a playboy at heart. He had been with more women than one could count with

would only end up hurt if she gave him a

to protect Ellie from him.

know that they had already been together. They had already slept together

out, she would give Francis a really

Ellie and looked at

was speechless. "What kind of strategy

and how to deal with him. She was