Ella The atmosphere of the restaurant was alive with a cacophony of murmurs and a symphony of glassware clinking, but my focus was narrowed to the drink that I was nursing in the wake of Marina’s presence. I wasn’t alone for long, though, before I glanced over to see that Logan had silently appeared beside me. “I have something to show you,” he insisted, his eyes shrouded in

Ella Logan’s blue eyes finally met mine, filled with an emotion that I couldn’t fully read. Remorse, maybe. And pain. “Ella, it’s not—” “Save it,” I cut him off, a sudden surge of anger bursting through my veins. “Just save your breath, Logan.”

Ella The silence of my apartment was a loud contrast to the charged atmosphere in the car ride home. Logan’s proposition still lingered in my mind, accompanied by an unwavering feeling of dread. Soon, Logan might have to meet my parents. This wasn’t what I wanted. This wasn’t what I had planned. And

 Ella The 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

 Ella The 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