Page 27 of Tail Me


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As they took their cups from the barista, Gerri grabbed Ellie’s elbow and hurried her over to an empty table. Ellie looked into Gerri’s expectant face and felt her heart sinking. There was no way this was going to go well.

Just get it over with.

“Well, actually, we broke up,” Ellie said firmly. “We’re just very different people, and we don’t want the same things. I’m sure you understand.”

Ellie looked into Gerri’s face, almost wincing when she saw the woman frown. Her disappointment was obvious.

“I’m so sorry, Gerri,” Ellie said. “I know you thought we were perfect for each other. It just didn’t work out.”

Gerri took a sip of coffee, watching Ellie thoughtfully. Ellie told herself she didn’t have to answer to Gerri, but she still felt like she was about to be painfully interrogated.

“Why, exactly, did it not work out?” Gerri said softly. Her gentle tone was more persuasive than any argument. Ellie found all her hurt gushing out of her as if Gerri had just lanced a wound with her words.

“I can’t travel all the time and just leave my life here,” Ellie said, her voice a little plaintive. “And Mason won’t give up his lifestyle; he said so. We’d never see each other. It would be endless torture for both of us. Besides, if he was always away from me and lonely, of course, he’d end up warming his bed with one of those beautiful women that are always chasing him around.”

Gerri shook her head in disbelief. “Are you telling me that you took one trip with him, and he didn’t even try spending a few days with you here, and you called it off?”

Ellie floundered a little. When Gerri put it like that, it did sound kind of ridiculous.

“We were clearly moving in different directions,” Ellie said, struggling to find the right words to defend herself. Everything had seemed so clear just a short time ago. Now, Ellie felt like there was no certainty anywhere.

“Ellie,” Gerri shook her head. “I’m shocked by the lack of creative thinking here. You are both smart, well-read, and capable people. I’m simply amazed that you both decided there were only two options for the relationship and that neither of them would work.”

Ellie had been floundering. Now she was drowning. The fact that Gerri was regarding her with a look of pity only made her feel worse.

What exactly is she pitying me for? My stupidity?

Ellie knew Gerri wasn’t that mean, but at that moment, her own stupidity was all she could see.

“Ellie, honey,” Gerri leaned forward and patted her hand, smiling warmly at Ellie. “Sometimes people don’t even know what they really need.”

“So, what is it that Mason and I need, then?” Ellie said hesitantly.

Gerri squeezed Ellie’s hand. “I think you need someone who you know will be there for you no matter what. Mason needs to see that settling down isn’t an end to his freedom … it’s the beginning of a whole new life.”

Ellie realized that Gerri only had pity for her poor broken heart. She was suffering right now, and so was Mason. From Gerri’s perspective, the pain they were experiencing was unnecessary.

“When did you last hear from him, dear?” Gerri asked.

Ellie took a deep breath, realizing that she might actually cry. “Last night. But before that, he didn’t contact me for a whole week.”

“Oh, my dear girl,” Gerri said softly. “He must have been utterly heartbroken to lose you. What did his last message say?”

“I don’t know,” Ellie said, finally cracking. Tears ran down her cheeks as she tried to hold in her sobs. “I blocked him.”

“Well, let’s unblock him.” Gerri grinned, her expression as triumphant as a conquering general. “Come on, get out your phone, and we’ll see what he said.”

Ellie fumbled to get out her phone. Finally, she felt like she was doing the right thing. She was still afraid, terribly so, but answering Mason hurt a lot less than keeping him blocked.

In a few quick swipes, Ellie unblocked Mason’s number. His heartfelt words felt like they struck her a blow to the chest.

“He says he was here … I know that bar,” Ellie said, wiping her face. “Well, I know of it. I can’t imagine what he was doing there. It’s an utter dive.”

“He was getting mindlessly drunk, Ellie,” Gerri said.

“What do I do?” Ellie said softly.

“Call him!” Gerri demanded.

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