Why was I so nervous? Brushing my hair back, I nodded. “I heard them fighting, and I talked to Eli afterward—”
“Thank you, Gwen.” She put her hand on mine. “Thank you for being there for him. At first, I told myself he was only pretending to be all right for our sake, and then I realized he really is happy. So thank you. I hope I’m not putting too much on your shoulders. I know you two are friends, right?”
I felt like she was trying to read me, and I took a bite of my yogurt, looking away. Only I wished I hadn’t, because then I saw Hannah and her pretty, curled golden hair as she held her tray and sat three seats behind us. Her eyes met mine, and I was forced to look back at Meryl. She glanced over, and Hannah’s head dropped, eating her soup.
“She must still bother you. I never said I’m sorry for what you had to go through on that day. I can’t even imagine.”
“You have no reason to be sorry. None of that really bothers me. Part of me feels like I should be more upset, but I’m glad I’m not. I keep thinking I’m so glad we ended before I married him, or everything would have been much worse.”
“Good for you,” she said, drinking some of her coffee. “I, for one, am glad I do not have to worry about her and Eli again.”
“What do you mean?” I stopped eating.
“Once Eli cuts you out of his life, he cuts you out completely and never goes back. When I visited him three days after the wedding, I noticed he had already gotten rid of everything that once belonged to her. It’s just the type of person he is.”
I knew that wasn’t a hundred percent true. He might have thrown out everything physical, but he had still held on to her phone number for a while before finally allowing me to delete it.
“Who is what, Mother?”
Speak of the devil.
Turning, he came alongside us with a man with silver-pink hair pulled into a short ponytail, both of them holding trays of their own.
Meryl winked at me, standing up. “Nothing, we were talking about her work. How are you, dear?”
“Why do I have a hard time believing that?” He gave her a look, taking the untouched coffee from in front of me and giving it to his friend.
“Eli—”
“She’s allergic to coffee.” He kissed her cheek, taking a seat in front of me.
She gave me a look, and all I could do was nod.
“And if it was nothing, why don’t you stay?”
“Eli Philip Davenport, you don’t believe your own mother?”
“No, I know you were talking about me. You only throw out my middle name when I’ve said too much, or you have.” His eyebrow raised and a smirk crossed his lips.
She looked to the pink-haired man. “How you are his friend is beyond me, Dr. Seo.”
“I only endure his torture because you are his mother, Madam Chairwoman.”
She patted him on the shoulder, nodding to me before taking her leave.
At her exit, Dr. Seo tried to take a seat with us, but Eli gave him a look…a look he ignored, pulling a chair close. “Dr. Ian Seo. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms.—”
“Guinevere Poe, but you can call me Gwen. I like your hair.” I shook his hand.
“That cruel man made me dye it after cheating in a bet. Thank you, though.” He frowned at Eli, who spread jam on his bagel, not paying any attention to him.
“What was the bet on?”
Eli stopped mid-bite and glared at him.
“He was just trying to warn me not to touch something that was his. Lesson learned. Do you have any friends who like Asian men with pink hair?”
“All my friends are taken.” I laughed, shaking my head.
He sighed.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” I added.
He looked to Eli. “Must God bless only you?”
“That sounds like a conversation between you and whatever god you believe in. Can you take the coffee and go? It’s giving her a headache.”
It wasn’t, but I knew he was just saying that to get him to leave. I noticed he had started drinking tea instead whenever he was around me.
Dr. Seo winked at me before getting up. “I hope to see you around more, Ms. Poe.”
“I’m working here, so I’m sure we will meet again.”
He nodded, patting Eli on the shoulder, much to Eli’s annoyance, before leaving.
“So, what were you and my mother talking about?”
“What was your bet against Dr. Seo?”
He licked his lips, swallowing before nodding. “Fine, it’s a draw.”
“How’s your day?” I asked, continuing to eat.
He shrugged. “Saved a few lives here, saved a few lives there—”
“Wow, I am surely in the presence of greatness. Should I bow?”