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 talk there.

I'll sleep over tonight,"

glumly as she put her

said Ellie, stroking Ashley's

just listened to her and gave her whatever she

a

best friends for that

already taken him off her mind. Ashley was way more important

cake shop

groceries in the supermarket and

want,"

she said as she leaned on Ellie's shoulder.

course. You're

that was hard

car. He looked sexy and attractive as

couldn't even see

ignored whoever was beside

sweet smile and said, "Ellie, I've come to

Ashley and cleared her throat. "I'm going to sleep

was

so that she was in between them. She eyed Francis and said, "What are

could tell that the voice was familiar as soon as he heard it. He turned his head only to see

came to pick Ellie up,"

and said, "Didn't I tell

never held a boy's hand while Francis was a playboy at heart. He had been with more women than one could count

if she gave him a chance.

had to protect Ellie

they had already been

give Francis a really hard

behind Ellie and looked at

"What kind of strategy is

to deal with him. She was so angry that she wanted to