always was. I guess when you know no different, what you’re experiencing seems like it’s just the way things are. That the way our relationship was and the way he treated me was normal for a married couple. Some of the things he said to me were not okay, and it floors me that I didn’t see it then.
Just as I finish making the bed, my phone rings from the living room.
When I see it’s an unknown number, I decline the call and start to head into the bathroom to shower. I need to be at Cord’s in a little over an hour, so I should start getting ready.
The phone rings again before I even make it out of the living room. When I see it’s the same number, I figure I might as well answer it in case it’s important since they took the time to call back.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Ellie?” A sweet voice asks and I immediately know it’s Sami.
“Hey girl,” I respond. “How are you?”
“I’m good. I just wanted to talk to you real quick before you go to Cord’s for dinner.”
The tone of her voice worries me a little bit.
“Ooookay,” I draw out. “What’s up?”
“I spoke to Cord this morning and he said you were coming over to make him dinner tonight as sort of an interview to work at Saint.”
I don’t respond, because she’s not asking me a question.
She continues. “I just wanted to kind of see what your thoughts are on this dinner.”
“Well, my thoughts are I’m going over to Cord’s to make him seafood paella, hope he loves it, and hires me on the spot.”
She doesn’t respond for a second and I’m wondering where this is going.
“Look, Ellie, I really like you. You seem really genuine and I appreciate that. But Cord isn’t just my brother-in-law, he’s my best friend. I know you haven’t known Cord long enough for him to have shared our story with you, but please know he has been through a lot. Cord doesn’t date. Like ever. So for him to be interested in you is huge for him. He hasn’t dated in a really long time.”
I almost tell her I know about his wife, but stop myself. I need to know the real story, not the one that’s been spread through a college full of kids for the past twenty years. It makes my stomach flutter that both his sister and now his best friend have basically told me he is interested in me as more than a friend, and although I know I’m not ready for that, Cord seems to be okay with us becoming just friends.
“We aren’t dating, Sami. We just met a few days ago. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Angelica at Saint last night. I am newly divorced after twenty-one years of marriage. I’m not going to hurt Cord because I will be completely honest with him about not being ready to date. I enjoy talking to him, and I enjoy his company, but friendship is all I can offer him right now.”
“Thank you for being honest,” Sami replies, sounding relieved.
“I have to go now. I’ve got to finish getting ready for my dinner interview,” I tell her with a smile. I really am looking forward to this.
She laughs. “All right, girl, I’m sorry to throw this heaviness on you. I just worry about him. He may have the world’s biggest heart and I don’t know if he can survive having it broken again.”
We chat for a minute longer about getting together next week for lunch some time and then say our goodbyes.
By the time I put my hair up in a bun, brush on a little makeup, throw on my favorite holey jeans, AC/DC t-shirt, and flip-flops, it’s time for me to head over. Claire would probably have my ass for dressing this way for dinner with a hot guy, but I know this is nothing more than a job interview based on my culinary skills. Cord’s not going to care what my wardrobe is tonight. I’m cooking.
I grab my favorite apron, the bags of ingredients on the counter, and the seafood from the refrigerator and head out the door.
I kick Cord’s door due to my hands being full, and the moment he swings the door open, I almost drop everything in my
Just as I finish making the bed, my phone rings from the living room.
When I see it’s an unknown number, I decline the call and start to head into the bathroom to shower. I need to be at Cord’s in a little over an hour, so I should start getting ready.
The phone rings again before I even make it out of the living room. When I see it’s the same number, I figure I might as well answer it in case it’s important since they took the time to call back.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Ellie?” A sweet voice asks and I immediately know it’s Sami.
“Hey girl,” I respond. “How are you?”
“I’m good. I just wanted to talk to you real quick before you go to Cord’s for dinner.”
The tone of her voice worries me a little bit.
“Ooookay,” I draw out. “What’s up?”
“I spoke to Cord this morning and he said you were coming over to make him dinner tonight as sort of an interview to work at Saint.”
I don’t respond, because she’s not asking me a question.
She continues. “I just wanted to kind of see what your thoughts are on this dinner.”
“Well, my thoughts are I’m going over to Cord’s to make him seafood paella, hope he loves it, and hires me on the spot.”
She doesn’t respond for a second and I’m wondering where this is going.
“Look, Ellie, I really like you. You seem really genuine and I appreciate that. But Cord isn’t just my brother-in-law, he’s my best friend. I know you haven’t known Cord long enough for him to have shared our story with you, but please know he has been through a lot. Cord doesn’t date. Like ever. So for him to be interested in you is huge for him. He hasn’t dated in a really long time.”
I almost tell her I know about his wife, but stop myself. I need to know the real story, not the one that’s been spread through a college full of kids for the past twenty years. It makes my stomach flutter that both his sister and now his best friend have basically told me he is interested in me as more than a friend, and although I know I’m not ready for that, Cord seems to be okay with us becoming just friends.
“We aren’t dating, Sami. We just met a few days ago. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Angelica at Saint last night. I am newly divorced after twenty-one years of marriage. I’m not going to hurt Cord because I will be completely honest with him about not being ready to date. I enjoy talking to him, and I enjoy his company, but friendship is all I can offer him right now.”
“Thank you for being honest,” Sami replies, sounding relieved.
“I have to go now. I’ve got to finish getting ready for my dinner interview,” I tell her with a smile. I really am looking forward to this.
She laughs. “All right, girl, I’m sorry to throw this heaviness on you. I just worry about him. He may have the world’s biggest heart and I don’t know if he can survive having it broken again.”
We chat for a minute longer about getting together next week for lunch some time and then say our goodbyes.
By the time I put my hair up in a bun, brush on a little makeup, throw on my favorite holey jeans, AC/DC t-shirt, and flip-flops, it’s time for me to head over. Claire would probably have my ass for dressing this way for dinner with a hot guy, but I know this is nothing more than a job interview based on my culinary skills. Cord’s not going to care what my wardrobe is tonight. I’m cooking.
I grab my favorite apron, the bags of ingredients on the counter, and the seafood from the refrigerator and head out the door.
I kick Cord’s door due to my hands being full, and the moment he swings the door open, I almost drop everything in my
Similar Books
