LoganI could barely focus on the objects around me, my mind still echoing with the remnants of the day, but it was the mask in my hand, the last piece of evidence from the fight in the empty warehouse, that rang the loudest.“Garrett, was there really nothing else?” I asked, my voice terse as I tried to suppress the rising anxiety inside of me.
EllaThe crisp air bit at my cheeks as I walked the familiar route to work on Monday morning. The city, with its towering buildings and crowded streets, was awake and buzzing with the day’s promise.I felt well-rested after my exciting weekend, and ready to tackle whatever else came my way. Even though memories of what had transpired at the wedding shower and what-ifs about the potential meet
EllaThe day had taken a sudden turn, and the collision with Logan was something I didn’t see coming. He was the last person I wanted to meet after our passionate—and very much accidental—encounter at the party over the weekend, but there he was, looking as unbothered as ever.“Logan?” My voice betrayed my surprise. “What the hell are you doing here?”
EllaThe light filtered into the offices as I walked into the open floor plan, and I felt like I was walking into a den of wolves. My coworkers had that shifty, guilty look on their faces that I had become all too familiar with recently. I already knew why.From the corners of my eyes, I noticed heads quickly swivel back to their desks, computer screens blinking to life as if they had been hard at
Ella“Well,” I said, offering my colleague a warm smile. “How about we go together?”As I made the suggestion to Sarah, her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Lunch, together?” she echoed, a touch of incredulity in her voice.
EllaWith my evening of pizza and true crime shows having been abruptly shattered by Logan’s obnoxious honking outside, I sighed and leaned on the balcony railing. There he was, sitting in his red convertible with a sheepish grin on his face.“Wanna go for a joyride?” he called up to me, the grin on his face only widening even more.
EllaWe settled into the hard plastic seats, the cacophony of engines and crowd noise enveloping us like a heavy blanket. Even from our spot, I could see the intensity on the drivers’ faces, their concentration palpable even from a distance.There was something both exciting and terrifying about it; and something addictive, I was sure of it. This was a place for adrenaline junkies, for people
LoganIt was supposed to be simple—a night out at the racetrack, full of life, energy, and maybe, just maybe, the softening of Ella’s guarded heart toward me.The air was warm, filled with the scent of gasoline and grilled meats, as I wandered through the maze of food vendors. I was in a good mood, an incredibly rare feeling for me. Ella seemed to be enjoying herself, and that made me t
EllaThe reception was in full swing, the air filled with the soft sound of music, the clinking of cutlery and champagne glasses, and the pleasant murmur of guests. It was the perfect night, too; the sun had set, and the air outside had cooled to a pleasant temperature as the crickets and cicadas sang.Walking hand in hand with Logan, we approached the multi-tiered wedding cake. It was unbelievably tall, adorned with carefully piped flowers and leaves. There were two little figures at th
EllaThe reception hall was filled with the soft, warm glow of hundreds of candles, and the sound of gentle music filled the space. It really was everything that we had wanted. The wedding planner had outdone herself.“What do you think?” Logan asked, holding my hand as we meandered around the room. “Quite the party, huh?”
EllaThe doors to the chapel opened, and the soft sound of orchestral music filled my ears. This was it; this was the moment. Everything felt like it was moving so fast, and yet somehow it felt as though time was standing completely still at the same moment.I watched as the wedding planner gestured from the sidelines for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to pair up and walk through the doors, preceded by the flower girl—a family friend’s daughter, who looked absolutely precious
Ella“Are you nervous, Ella?” the makeup artist, Jenna, asked as she selected a palette of soft, natural colors that complemented my skin tone.Nervous would have been an understatement. It was the morning of my wedding; the day had finally come, after what had somehow felt like both an eternity and no time at all at the same time.
LoganI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the little silver key in the palm of my hand.“I should just go and do it,” I whispered, more to myself than to my wolf. “Get it over with, right?”“What’s the worst that could happen?” my wolf added. “It’s
EllaAs I walked into the bridal boutique with my entourage, the little bell on the door chimed and I was immediately greeted with the scent of lavender and the smile of a bridal assistant.Daisy, Moana, Clara, and Sarah were with me; it was just a couple of days after the housewarming party, and our new house felt full to the brim with my family and Clara staying for a while. Not that I minded, though. It was fun having them here, and I was glad to have them all by my side as I tried on
LoganI was enjoying the party, watching with a smile on my face as Clara, Ella, and Sarah exchanged stories, when the sound of my phone ringing suddenly cut through the lively atmosphere.Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I felt my heart lurch in my chest. It was Hartman; I hadn’t heard from him in months. After Marina and Harry had taken off and Devon had been caught, I had paid Hartman for his help—even though our plan wound up being foiled—and that was the end of t
EllaThe months following Logan’s and my engagement was a whirlwind of change. We sold Logan’s mansion to a wealthy family from out of the area, and before I knew it, we were moving into our new home.It was a 1920s Spanish-style home, with warm stucco walls and breezy windows. The first floor was open concept, and I could already picture all of the wonderful parties we could have here. I fell in love with it immediately.
Ella“Sit down. Both of you.”Sarah and I exchanged wary glances. Her face was just as pale as mine probably was, and I felt a wrench in my stomach.“But Mr. Henderson, Sarah never—”