With the flow of events
I was staring aggressively into space, twisting the ring I had just taken off my finger. Dam was pacing around, provoking me even more, while Ella curled up in the chair with her face hidden in her palm. We had made considerable efforts to step into another room just the three of us to “talk,” but it was obvious that we wouldn’t get rid of them so easily. Now, feeling completely different emotions, we were trying to figure out what to do next.
— Let’s start with how they found out where we are… — Dam spoke first.
— Loretta, — I cut him off.
— I don’t believe that, — Ella protested with red eyes, and I looked at her almost pleadingly. Her ability to trust people even in such situations undermined my self-esteem.
— Fine, let’s say that. But that doesn’t solve our problem. We need to think about what to do next, — I didn’t know which I was angrier about: the fact that all this made my best friend feel like an idiot again, or the fact that something inside me started to rejoice wildly at the sight of Leo. I felt my nails digging into my palms, trying to hold back my emotions.
I stood up and walked toward the uninvited guests:
— I understand that you’re in shock and not in the mood, but we all need to talk, — Leo said as he caught sight of me, and I just raised my hand, forcing him to stop talking.
— Good, your brain is still in place, but I could change that, — I shot him a fierce look.
— Still in the mood, — he smiled. And those dimples… Saintes…
— Why are you here? If you still haven’t understood, let me explain: we are not some kind of trophy for you, so I’ll say it again that your plan has failed, Nicolas, you can stop courting Ella and leave her alone, — that was what I needed—to let it all out.
— That’s why we’re here, to clear everything up, Adele, you misunderstood everything, — Leo stood up and approached me, and I stepped back, increasing the distance between us. — You matter to me, and I don’t want to forget your existence just like that. Please, let’s all meet in a calmer atmosphere, maybe tomorrow, and talk, — I didn’t even know what shocked me more, his sincere confession about his feelings for me or the way he said “please.”
For a few seconds, I formed a response because I totally didn’t expect that, and then I raised my eyes to them again and hissed:
— Tomorrow at half-past five. You choose the place. And now, could you please go away? — I didn’t know how else I could send them off. They left, and I slumped into the chair next to me. Damiano came out of the room, followed by Ella. We looked at each other nervously.
— Delli… — I heard a creak and a quiet voice.
— Why aren’t you sleeping? — I sat up and rubbed my eyes to see my friend better. I hadn’t turned off the lamp by the bed because I had fallen asleep while reading, but that only made it worse.
— Can’t sleep.
— Why? — I was surprised. Ella sat next to me, and I placed my hand on top of hers.
— I was ready to forgive him, — even in the moonlight streaming through the window, I could notice how her eyes reddened. — I’m afraid I love him.
I don’t know who I wanted to lash out at more: Leo or Nick.
While Ella was preparing breakfast, I set the table. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and a message from De Vill appeared on the screen: the address of some hotel. Three dots were bouncing on my screen, but I wasn’t going to read it. Dam came out of the corridor with a substantial package.
— This is for Elizabeth, — he announced. — From Sara.
Ella raised her brows and handed Dam a spatula and towel and took the package in her hands. — Here, — I gave her a knife, and with one swift motion, she sliced through the tape that kept the box closed. The girl’s eyes widened, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
— What’s in there?
— Nothing important, — and she dashed upstairs, probably to leave the box with the mysterious contents in her room. When five minutes passed and Ella still hadn’t returned, we exchanged brief nods with Damiano, and then I got up to follow my friend.
I opened the door to the room: envelopes and letters were scattered across the bed, one of which Ella was holding in her hands; she was quietly sobbing but continued to read.
— What’s this? — I quietly asked, but my friend blushed at the sound of my voice.
— Letters, — I raised my eyebrows and bit my tongue to avoid saying anything unnecessary; Ella looked up at me. — From Nick, — and now my eyebrows shot up to the heavens.
— How is that? — I wasn’t sure I understood what was happening here. — It doesn’t matter. What matters is that they’re here, and I’ve read almost half of them, — she looked around and pointed at the letters that were already opened and lay in the box.
— Can I? — Elizabeth nodded.
I took the letter that was on top:
“Lizzie.” No one had called her that in my memory. I felt a bit dizzy, but I still took the next letter.
Clearly, there was one of the first ones:
And another one:
When I finished reading, Ella handed me the letter she had been holding; her tears had already stained it:
I couldn’t look at Ella or read any more letters; I was afraid I would break down myself. At the bottom of the box lay a note from Sara:
I will do everything I can or cannot for your happiness
I wrote to Leo that we were on our way, and we got into a taxi. The streets were full of people, cafes were packed to the brim, music played everywhere. The evening was just beginning.
The men met us at the entrance, and before I even had a chance to reach for the door, Leo had already opened it and extended his hand to help me out of the car. The blonde was dressed in a blue shirt, already casually unbuttoned at the top button, and almost white pants. I ignored him and got out of the car by myself. Nick settled the taxi fare and nodded briefly to Dam. They led us to the hotel restaurant. We sat at the bar because surprisingly all the tables were occupied.
— Didn’t you reserve a table? — Dam wrinkled his nose.
— We couldn’t; they were all booked a week in advance, — Leo admitted rather sluggishly. He wasn’t used to such problems.
— Great, — Dam was clearly not thrilled about the idea of sitting at the bar like it was work. But when I saw a cute guy he was looking at, I thought this evening wouldn’t be so bad for him after all.
We sat in silence for about two minutes while piano music played in the hall. Then the music faded: the musicians were choosing a new composition. No one, except Damiano, wanted to order anything:
— One “Manhattan”! — he yelled to catch the bartender's attention.
— Well, — Ella started, — you wanted to clarify something. That’s why we’re here.
— I… — Leo didn’t finish.
— First I, — Nick protested. I smiled to myself: finally someone shut him up. — Ella, listen to me.
— That’s why we’re here, as I mentioned a second ago, — my friend’s irritation was feigned, but I doubted anyone except me noticed.
— Everything you heard is a lie. I invented this because I was afraid to tell someone about you. And I know it’s wrong.
— It is, — Ella agreed.
— Did you read my letters? At least one? — the brunette looked at her almost pleadingly. — Sara sent me them. I read them all, — the tension in Elizabeth’s voice disappeared, — I don’t know what to say.
— Ella...
Dam fell silent, no longer sipping his cocktail. Leo quietly stood up and, muttering something like, “— I won’t disturb,” left the restaurant. I got up to follow him. I was still boiling with anger at him. Damiano grabbed my elbow, but I just brushed him off.