Never Again(20)

“I feel reborn,” he says, stretching. “Who would have thought such a petite girl could give such a killer massage?” He shakes his head.

“I’m glad,” I respond, pleased by his compliment. “I’ll leave you so you can get dressed.” I exit the room, and go to the reception area so I can issue him a bill. Suddenly, Sophie rushes through the door. “What are you doing here?” I’m surprised to see her.

“I have news, do you want to grab some coffee?”

“Sure, let me just finish up here. Sit down. I won’t be long.” She nods and grabs a magazine. Brett comes to the cash register.

“You wore me out,” he says. “I don’t know if a woman has ever worn me out like that.” Winking at me, he hands me the money and leaves. Sophie is next to me in a second.

“He’s cute,” she starts. I shrug.

“I didn’t notice.”

“Come on, you’re not blind. Ella, guys are constantly flirting with you. It’s time to start living again.”

“I am living! Can’t you see?” Raising my arms, I wave around.

“I was talking about guys.”

“I’ve been on a date,” I defend myself.

“On one date,” she raises her thumb to emphasize her point, and puts the other hand on her hip. “Josh would want you to be happy,” she says with begging eyes.

“I am.”

“No, you’re not. I’ll stop poking my nose into your affairs, but you can’t spend the rest of your life alone,” she says firmly. “Well, should we go grab some coffee?”

I nod. It’s 4pm, and I’m exhausted enough to crave coffee, which will give me some extra boost. I wave goodbye to my co-worker, who is working an afternoon shift, and we head to a café close by.

“So, what’s your news? Tell me already. You know how impatient I am.”

Grinning wide, Sophie holds my hands that are resting on the table. “Matt took me on a trip with his bike. We stopped by some lake where we had a little picnic. It was so romantic. And then...” She sighs contently, while I wait impatiently for her to continue. “He asked me to marry him and I said yes!” She jumps in her chair excitedly.

“Wow, congrats! Sophie, that’s wonderful news. It was about time for Matt to pop the question. I’m really happy for you guys.” I reach across the table and give her a tight hug. “So, when’s the lucky day?”

“I’m not sure yet. In summer, probably, so we have plenty of time to organize everything.”

I’m so happy for her. Matt and Sophie have been together for six years, as long as Josh and I would have been if he were still alive. I wonder if we would also be engaged by now. Sadness overwhelms me, but I quickly put myself together as I don’t want to ruin Sophie’s happy moment.

“Would you be my maid of honor?” she shoots the question. “You are my best friend and I can’t imagine the happiest day of my life without you by my side. Please, say yes.” A happy tear rolls down my cheek. I’m so overwhelmed that I can only nod. We hug, tears of joy in our eyes. People are looking at us sideways, but we don’t care. This is our special moment, nobody will take it from us.



Sophie went to see the apartment with me in the city center that I liked so much. It’s on the third floor of a newly built apartment building, almost fully furnished. She was as impressed by the apartment as I was, so I decided to buy it. I’m moving in in a week and truth be told, I can’t wait to have a place of my own. Now that Sophie and Matt are engaged, even more so.

I’m just in the middle of reading an epic love story between a charming pirate and a feisty vicar’s daughter on my e-reader, when my phone beeps on the coffee table. I reach for it, and read the text.



Jake: What are you doing, beautiful?



I know it’s Jake’s number as I put it in my contacts the other day so I won’t have to guess who it is every time. For a second, I think about ignoring his text, but I still reply.



Me: Jake, what do you want?



I exhale to release all the tension that has built up inside of me.



Jake: I already told you. I want you. And I always get what I want. I won’t bite, at least not right away ;)

Me: I’m busy.



I really don’t want to get involved with anyone, especially not with a motorcycle racer. And I don’t do one-night stands. I swore to myself I would never, not in a million years, get involved in any way with a man who owns a motorcycle. Never again. I don’t want to, and I can’t go through the same traumatic experience I went through when I lost Josh. And Jake not only owns a bike, racing is his profession. I expect another text, but the phone starts ringing instead.