ETHAN
Anna shot me a judgmental look before following Ellie. A date? She had to be kidding. Did this mean she had already made her decision about us? Blood boiled in my veins, and I clenched my fists tightly. The calls and messages were starting to make sense.
I had been wrong to think Anthony was a threat. The real problem was her idiot ex, Todd. What the hell was he doing here? And how could she be so naïve as to agree to go out with him after everything he put her through? Had they been in touch this whole time? Was she trying to make a fool out of me?
"Relax. You look like you’re about to explode," Neil whispered beside me.
"What are you two whispering about?" Will asked, leaning over the counter.
I stood up, leaving them alone. I climbed the stairs and walked toward the door at the end of the hall, feeling my irritation build with each step. There was no fucking way I was letting this happen. I opened the door to find the two of them sitting on the bed.
"Can you give us a minute?"
It took all my self-control to get those simple words out. Anna looked at me, then at Ellie, who nodded. She got up and walked past me, closing the door behind her.
"Have you made your decision?" I asked.
"Not yet."
Not yet? What the hell was she thinking? That I would just stand by and accept this?
"And you think going out with someone else will help you figure it out?"
"Don’t worry, I’m not planning to break any rules of this stupid agreement."
"Then why are you doing this? I thought you were smarter than this."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don’t be naïve. You know what he wants," I said, stepping closer to the bed.
"No, I don’t. Why don’t you tell me?"
"I’m just trying to warn you. Do you think it’ll be different this time? You know how much of a jerk some guys can be, but trust me, some can outdo even that."
"If you have something to say, just say it," she snapped through gritted teeth.
"He dumped you, and now he’s back saying he’s changed, but we both know he’s just trying to lower your guard to get under your skirt."
Anger flashed in her eyes as she stood up.
"You have no right to talk about that. You’re just worried someone else will use your little toy."
"Don’t talk like that. I’ve never treated you that way."
"Not all men are like you, only interested in sex."
"I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to listen to one of our friends talk about how poor Ellie was hurt. And now you’re defending that asshole?"
"I don’t know what this has to do with you. I thought you said we were keeping things simple."
"It doesn’t matter what I said, I care about you."
"Do me a favor, don’t care."
"You think I’m just going to sit here and wait while you go out with someone else? You think I’m an idiot?"
"This has nothing to do with what we’re doing."
"This isn’t happening."
"It’s not your decision."
"If it is, then you’ve made your decision."
"Do you really want to do this?"
"You’re the one doing it."
"You say 'Let’s keep things simple,' but you act like you have some fucking right to interfere in my life."
"Because I expected you to have some basic consideration for what we have, for fuck’s sake! But you’re right, I should stop caring about you." I spat the words before slamming the door behind me.
Why did I think she’d be different? This was getting completely out of hand, that was the problem. Somehow, we had crossed a line without even realizing it. This wasn’t just jealousy anymore.
I was genuinely worried that the idiot would take advantage of her, and I was furious that she still cared about him. Maybe she was still in love with him, or desperate enough to take him back. How could she do this after everything we’d shared over the past few days, especially last night?
I didn’t want to give up what we had, not now. I had expected to deal with this in three days, when the trip ended, not now. I didn’t want to, and I didn’t know how to handle it at this moment. It was easy to say I’d respect whatever decision she made, but I didn’t know if I could actually follow through.
I knew she was right about how I was acting, but I didn’t care. We were both already in too deep. She might still be in love with that jerk, but I knew she cared about me, even if just a little. I could see it in her eyes.
She couldn’t hide how my words had affected her last night, and that made me feel like the biggest asshole in the world. This was all a mess because if I kept acting like this, I’d end up hurting her. But if I had to take that risk to keep her away from that idiot, I’d do it.
*
I had to pry the damn hotel address out of Anna. It wasn’t hard to find them once I got there. They were sitting at the hotel bar. Keeping a safe distance, just out of sight, I sat in a far-off corner where I had a clear view of them.
She had barely glanced at me before leaving, but seeing how dressed up she was was enough to make my blood boil. The thought that she’d gotten all dolled up for him drove me insane with jealousy. And fuck, she looked gorgeous. That idiot didn’t deserve her. He’d had his chance, and he blew it. He was completely delusional if he thought he could win her back so easily.
Having to watch the two of them getting along only worsened my mood. I had to hold myself back from walking over there more than once. And every time I saw her smile at him, my stomach twisted.
Was she really considering giving this asshole a second chance? She couldn’t be that naïve. Watching them together for half the night was pure torture, but there wasn’t much I could do other than hope my plan would work.