Chapter 19
Maybe it was Alex’s late-night call or just the struggle of settling into a new place, but Ellie couldn’t sleep a wink.
The next morning, her alarm clock woke her up right on time. After splashing water on her face, she was shocked by the dark circles under her eyes.
Rummaging through some makeup samples Haley had given her, she put on a bit of makeup to mask her tired look.
The workday flew by, and after clocking out in the evening, Ellie called Aaron as she stepped out of the hospital. He suggested they shop for a birthday gift for Haley together.
Coincidentally, Ellie also wanted to pick something up for Whitney to thank her for letting her stay.
As she walked by a temporary parking spot, the window of a shiny silver Phantom sports car rolled down, and Alex honked.
Ellie had to stop. She didn’t want to engage, but after living under the same roof for over ten years, it felt right to at least say hello. “Hey, Alex,” she greeted him.
“Get in,” Alex said, but Ellie shook her head. “I can’t. I have other plans.”
When Alex unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door, Ellie instinctively took a step back. It had been a few days since they last saw each other, and she realized they still had nothing to say.
“Hanging up on me like that? You’ve got some bad habits,” Alex said, grabbing her by the neck and pulling her into the passenger seat. “Not going home again? Where are you staying?”
Ellie looked down, biting her lip and staying silent.
“Cat got your tongue?” Alex said, frustration clear in his voice. His gaze roamed over her before landing on her lips. He swallowed hard, tossed a pack of wet wipes at her, and said, “Wipe off that lipstick.”
Ellie complied, pulling out a wet wipe to remove her lipstick.
Alex shot her a sharp look. “Come with me first. You’re staying home tonight.”
“I can’t go with you. I’m meeting Aaron,” Ellie insisted, reaching for the lock to get out of the car.
Alex smacked her hand away. “What could your brother possibly want? Buckle up.”
Twenty minutes later, Ellie found herself in a swanky mall in downtown Jaslands, feeling out of place as she stepped out of the elevator with Alex.
She glanced down at her budget-friendly outfit and couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious.
“Alex, why are we here?” she asked, hesitating to move forward.
“I need your help picking out a birthday gift for Haley,” he replied.
Before Ellie could react, Alex had already steered her toward a jewelry counter. So, this was the real reason for the rush.
His gaze was drawn to a beautiful pink diamond pendant necklace. The sales clerk eagerly presented it. “Sir, this would look stunning on your girlfriend. With her fair skin and beauty, it would be perfect.”
“I’m not—” Ellie started to say.
Alex, sitting at the counter, chuckled at her flustered expression. “Don’t worry, I have better taste than that. My girlfriend is way prettier than she is.”
