Chapter 150
Elena's POV
Breakfast was... quiet.
Hector sat across from us at the kitchen island, watching with barely concealed amusement.
"So," Hector said, drawing out the word with a shit-eating grin. "Did you two sleep well?"
I nearly choked on my porridge.
"We slept fine," I managed.
"I'm sure you did. Separately. In your respective rooms. With the door closed." Hector's eyes were dancing. "Because I definitely didn't hear any—"
"Hector."
The single word carried enough warning that even Hector backed off, though he was still grinning.
"I'm just saying," he continued, undeterred, "you could be a little more... emotional." He waved a hand at Caleb's impassive face.
"Maybe you got dumped last time because you talk too much."
I ducked my head to hide my smile, warmth spreading through my chest at the easy back-and-forth. This felt normal. Comfortable. Like maybe I actually belonged here.
"At least I try," Hector shot back. "How many dates have you been on in the past year? Wait, don't answer that. I already know it's zero."
"I don't chase every woman who smiles at me," Caleb's tone stayed level, but there was an edge to it now. "Unlike some people."
Hector opened his mouth, closed it, then muttered something unintelligible into his coffee.
I bit my lip, fighting back a laugh.
Caleb's gaze slid to me, and something in his expression softened just slightly. Not quite a smile, but close. "Eat," he said quietly.
I did.
After breakfast, Caleb and Hector left for the office, and the house fell into quiet.
---
The doorbell rang at three. I thought they'd finished work early, but when I opened the door to find Lila standing there with swollen eyes—she'd clearly been crying.
"Lila—"
She walked straight past me into the house. I closed the door and followed her to the living room, where she collapsed onto the sofa and buried her face in her hands.
"What happened?" I sat down beside her, my hand hovering uncertainly over her back.
"Ethan," she choked out. "He said I'm too immature for him."
My chest tightened. "He said that?"
She nodded, wiping at her face with the back of her hand. The gesture only smeared the makeup worse. "He said he needs someone mature. Independent. Someone like that executive in the department."
I grabbed the tissue box from the side table and handed it to her. She took one, pressing it to her eyes.
"I'm so stupid," she whispered. "I thought if I just kept trying, kept being there for him, he'd eventually see me. But he doesn't want me. He wants someone polished and sophisticated and—" Her breath hitched.
"Lila, you're not stupid—"
"You don't understand." She looked at me then, her eyes red and desperate. "I've been chasing him for two years. Two years of waiting for him to notice me, to care about me the way I care about him. And all this time, he's been looking at someone else."
"That's his loss," I said quietly. "You're smart and brave and loyal. If Ethan can't see that, then he's the one who's immature."
She let out a bitter laugh. "That's what you're supposed to say. You're my friend." She pulled her knees up to her chest, curling in on herself. "God, Elena. You're so lucky. You and Caleb—you have something real. Something mutual. I can feel it when I see you two together."
My throat tightened. "Lila—"
"I'm serious." She turned to face me fully, her expression raw. "He looks at you like you're the only person in the room. And you look at him the same way. It's not one-sided. It's not one person giving everything while the other takes." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I want that so badly."
"You'll find someone," I said softly. "Someone who sees you."
"Maybe." She wiped at her face again, then let out a shaky breath. "Sorry for barging in like this. I just... needed someone to talk to."
"Don't apologize." I squeezed her hand. "Stay as long as you need."
She nodded, leaning her head on my shoulder. We sat like that for a long while, the afternoon light stretching across the floor.
Two hours later Hector got back first. He took one look at Lila's swollen eyes and said, "Who do I need to punch?"
Despite everything, Lila let out a watery laugh. "No one. Just heartbreak."
Hector pulled out his phone. "So what are we waiting for? We're going out. The Glitch Bar. My treat. You look like you need to get extremely drunk and yell at someone who deserves it."
"I'm not really in the mood—"
"I wasn't asking." He was already texting someone. "Elena, you're coming too."
I hesitated. "I should probably check with Caleb first—"
"Already done." Hector held up his phone, showing me Caleb's response: Fine. I'll be right there.
I smiled. So efficient.
"See?" Hector stood, grabbing his keys. "Even your overprotective shadow approves. We're leaving now."
Lila looked at me uncertainly. I squeezed her hand and nodded.
---
The Glitch Bar was packed, bass vibrating through the floor. Hector ordered shots for Lila, a light cocktail for me—I remembered too well what happened last time I drank around Caleb—and whiskey for himself and Caleb, who'd met us there after his meeting ended early.
The drinks came fast. Lila knocked back her first shot, then her second. By the third, color was starting to return to her cheeks.
"You know what?" she said, her words just slightly slurred. "Fuck Ethan. Fuck him and his stupid 'mature woman' bullshit."
"That's the spirit," Hector said, grinning.
Though she was cursing, her eyes were still glassy.
"Why wasn't I good enough?" she whispered. "What's wrong with me?"
Hector looked panicked, awkwardly patting her back. "Nothing's wrong with you. He's just—he's blind. You're great, okay?"
Caleb sat beside me, silent but present. His hand found mine under the table.
Two hours later, Lila was slumped against Hector, mumbling incoherently. He grimaced as he hauled her upright. "Alright, I'm getting her home. You two—" He glanced between Caleb and me. "Take your time. Walk or whatever. I've got this."
He half-carried Lila toward the exit, leaving us alone in the booth.
Caleb stood, offering me his hand. "Want to walk?"
I nodded.