Forever Us

“What can I get you?” she asked.

“Give me a scotch, make it a double, and bring me three.”

“You got it, sweetie.” She smiled as she walked away.

While I sat in my seat, I looked around at the area that I had frequently visited before I met Ellery. The waitress came back and set the three glasses down in front of me. I drank them and wanted more, so I signaled for her to get me three more. As I was downing the fifth glass of scotch, I heard a familiar voice.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Co

I looked over to the side as she sat down next to me. “Hello, Sarah.”

“What the hell are you doing here? Where’s Ellery?”

“She left me and took Julia with her,” I said as I leaned back.

“What? That’s crazy. What did you do to make her leave?”

“She thinks I put her life in danger because I didn’t tell her something. Fuck, maybe I did. I don’t know anymore,” I said as I threw back my last glass of scotch. “I thought I was doing the right thing. Maybe I was or I wasn’t. The only thing that mattered was Ellery thought otherwise and she left me for it.”

Sarah put her hand on top of mine, and I looked at her. “We had some good times, you and I. There was even a moment once when I thought maybe we could become something, even though it would be breaking your rules. Then Ellery walked into your life, and you instantly changed. I’d never seen anyone change as fast as you did. All those years, you were never the person you were meant to be until you met her. You’re a good man, Co

I hoped Sarah was right and that Ellery would be back soon, but until then, I drank my sadness away. I lifted my hand as I saw my waitress walk by. “Bring me three more doubles,” I yelled over the loud music.

Chapter 37 Ellery

The house felt empty without Co

“Listen carefully, Julia, and you’ll be able to hear the whispers of the ocean.”

The soothing sound of the waves lapping against the shoreline made me think of the special times I was with Co

“The sun setting over the ocean will be one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever see. Your daddy proposed to me on the beach, just as the sun was setting. He made sure everything was perfect.” I smiled.

Julia screeched and then looked at me and put her hand on my face. She knew I was sad, and I could tell how much she missed Co

“He misses you, and he’s not doing good,” I heard a voice say behind me.

I turned around and saw De

“What are you doing here? Should you even be here?” I asked as I kissed him on the cheek.

“I’m fine. Dana drove. She’s in the house, talking to Mason. I don’t want to talk about me. How are you doing?”

“I’m okay,” I said as I looked out into the ocean water.

“No, you’re not. I know you, Ellery, and you miss him just as much as he misses you.”

“I’m so mad at him, De

De

I laughed and shook my head. “That was different and we weren’t married.”

“You may not have been married, but you were a couple and you loved him. Listen to me, Co

“You’re always defending him,” I said as I looked over at him.

“Not always. I had a talk with him too. Believe me, I yelled at him and pretty much called him every name in the book. I think he got my point. The two of you can’t even be apart for one night, let alone an entire week. Everyone makes mistakes, Ellery.”

I glared at him with knitted eyebrows. “Okay, some more than others.” He smiled. “Should I remind you about how you lied to Co

“Just another thing he didn’t tell me,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“And for a good reason. You could have gotten yourself killed. You know that girl is crazy,” he said.

It was getting chilly and the winds were starting to pick up. “Let’s go inside.” I smiled as I picked Julia up and looped my arm around De

As soon as we walked inside, Dana came over and took Julia from me. “Why don’t the two of you stay here tonight and then we can all head back in the morning?” I said.

“You’re going back home?” De

“Yeah, I think it’s about time, and Co

After I put Julia to bed, the four of us sat around the table and talked. It was eleven o’clock p.m. and my phone started to ring. I looked over and saw it was Co

“Co

“Hi, Ellery, this is Sarah.”

I froze as I held the phone up to my ear and my heart started racing with the thought that he was with her.

“I know what you must be thinking right now, and this isn’t what it seems. I took Co

“What the hell is he doing there?” I asked.

“I’m assuming he came in to drink his troubles away. Listen, I’ll wait with him until you get here.”

“Thank you, Sarah. I’m on my way,” I said as I hung up the phone.

De

“Co

“Do you want me to go and bring his sorry ass home?” De

“No, I’ll go.” I picked up the phone and called a cab. “Mason, can you pack up all of Julia’s things and bring her home tomorrow? I don’t want to wake her up.”

“Of course I will,” he said as he walked over to me. “Go get your man and spend some time alone. We’ll be fine.”

As I got out of the cab, I stood in front of Club S as the line of people waited impatiently to get into the now famous club. I walked up to the front and stood behind the rope as I called Frankie’s name.

“Ellery Black! How are you, girl?” he said.

“I’m good, Frankie. It’s nice to see you.”

“What are you doing here?”