I shrugged, not even bothering to deflect. “Yeah. I know.”
She leaned against her station, arms folded like she was settling in for the tea. “And you’re always all blushy and smiley when you talk about him. The sex that good, huh?”
I choked on air. “What? El and I never had sex.”
The salon fell into stunned silence. Even the soft hum of London’s blow dryer came to a stop.
“Still?” Esther blinked at me like she couldn’t have possibly heard right.
I cleared my throat uncomfortably and tried to keep my face neutral. “Yes. We’ve never even kissed.”
Esther’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “But you’re always at his house.”
“So? We’re friends. I’ve crashed at Hope’s place too, and you and I live together.”
Hope tilted her head, eyes sharp. “Yeah, but he’s a man. He’s always buying you stuff and taking you out. You’re saying he’s getting nothing in return?”
I slouched a little in my seat. “Well… I wouldn’t saynothing. We enjoy each other’s company.”
But Hope wasn’t letting it go. Her gaze narrowed like she was picking apart a puzzle. “Ellie, cut the bullshit. You sleep in his bed every night.”
I shrugged again, casual, as if the whole thing didn’t suddenly feel weird under this much scrutiny. “We like to cuddle.”
Esther gave me a long, slow look.“Girl.”
I sighed. I knew exactly how insane it sounded. It’s why I usually kept my mouth shut about it. Itwasweird. Sweet, comforting, familiar—but weird when you said it out loud.
“Itisweird, isn’t it?” I muttered.
Chelsea pursed her lips and gave me a gentle nod. “Just a little.”
That was when Hope sat up straighter, her eyes suddenly gleaming with something too close to smug. “Well. If you two aren’t together, maybe you should put me on.”
Esther’s head snapped in her direction so fast I heard her earrings jingle. “Girl, did you not just hear her say they cuddle when they sleep together?”
I glared at her.
“Sleepinthe same bed,” I corrected. “‘Sleep together’ sounds wrong.”
Hope waved a hand dismissively. “So? If Ellie hasn’t made a move yet, she isn’t going to. She’s probably still hung up on that situation with her sister and her ex.”
The room shifted. The air grew heavier.
London’s voice cut through, sharp. “Hope, seriously?”
Esther looked like she was two seconds away from lunging. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Hope rolled her eyes. “What? It’s the truth. She’s not ready to move on, and Elliot is too fine to sit around waiting. You don’t mind, do you, Ellie?”
I should’ve laughed it off. Should’ve told her to go for it, that Elliot wasn’t mine. That he could do what he wanted. But the image ofherwith him—her in his space, her in his bed—made my stomach twist tight.
“You’re too shallow for El,” I said, the words low and sharper than I meant.
“Oop,” Esther whispered.
Hope blinked. “Huh?”
I sat forward, my voice steadier now. “You’re not gonna take care of him properly. You’re not gonna wake up in the middle of the night if his sugar crashes. You won’t keep an eye on what he eats or remind him when he forgets to eat altogether.”
