Make sure you've read chapter 30 before this one!

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Lucky for me, Audrey had realized I was not in favor of meeting up at a juice place. So, we compromise on one of the most hipster coffee shops I know of so she can get the real LA experience.

I also brought a gift basket. Just small things like beauty supplies because she's boarding a plane in a few hours. I'm still considerate.

I sit at the table, shifting through some important documents when she comes in. Upon seeing that I'm already drinking a coffee, she goes ahead and orders some for herself. I make sure to clean up my papers before she sits down.

"So, catch me up on everything," I say as soon as her butt touches the wooden seat. We don't have a lot of time so I want to make the most of it. Then I almost smack myself at my urgency. "Oh, I brought you this gift basket to solidify my apology." I nudge the package toward her.

She stares at it in disbelief. A sense of pride washes over me at my immaculate gift-giving skills, until her eyes switch to me and the expression doesn't change. I'm confused. Normally people look impressed or overjoyed at the idea of a gift basket. Why does she seem... offended?

My eyes widen in panic. "Oh no. You didn't like makeup. Should I have gotten you something else? I'm not implying you got uglier, because you actually got prettier. I just thought-"

"Ellie!" she interrupts. I clamp my mouth shut and wait for her to continue. Her lips twist into a smile. A small one, but a smile nonetheless. "Are you treating me like one of your business partners?"

Oops. "Guilty," I sheepishly smile. "But in my defense, they're the only people I've had to solicit in a long time."

She laughs as she draws the goodies toward her. "This is ridiculous. You've turned into one of those workaholic dads they show in Hallmark movies."

I laugh because I know I'm not that bad... right?

"Okay, we don't have a lot of time! Catch me up on your life," I urge.

And, man, she does.

"Yes, okay. So, I no longer live in Florida because it's hard maneuvering the fashion industry from there. I know I'm just an editor but we all know the big companies are in New York, so that's where I am now - I know, it's pretty predictable," she giggles. "Anyway, after Drew passed his police exam, we moved up to New York where he had to do some more examinations but now he's working a desk job at the station."

"A desk job?" I crinkle my nose. Drew was always the type to be more hands-on. He loved the thrill of driving a cop car.

"Yeah," she grimaces. "He has to work his way up. He's bummed out about it but I'm relieved because I don't want him to die in a random shootout, ya know?" When I nod, she continues. "So, yeah. Nothing much has changed if I'm being honest."

"Nothing much?" I gape in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? You're all grown up! Both of you!" A sense of sadness engulfs me as I realize that I missed so many important moments in her life.

She rolls her eyes. "Please! Look at you! You're the one who has a degree and is now working in LA! I never thought I'd see the day!" She takes a sip of her scalding coffee and winces before putting it down.

"Hot?"

"No! Weird taste."

I laugh and nudge my safe iced coffee toward her. "Here. You'll need the caffeine for the plane ride." She gratefully smiles before claiming it. "Yeah, I mean I knew California was the best place to use my Media Communications degree. It's full of wannabes. I just got lucky enough to get someone who was already climbing her way up."

"I bet! How is it?"

"Boss is eh but job is amazing! Literally, nothing takes my mind off of life like burying myself in emails. I know I sound cynical but I'm being genuine. It's so fun."

"You think... you think working is fun?"

"Yes," I laugh. "Just ask my coworkers. The office is my second home."

She opens her mouth to says something but her expression changes, switching gears. "Speaking of, why do you live in a dump if you have a good income?"

"Hey! I do not!" I suddenly feel defensive of my... colorful apartment. "It's a great place."

"Ellie, come on."

"Daff doesn't pay that well," I admit. 

She gives me a look. She's caught on to my lie.

But before I can justify myself, her eyes flicker behind me. They widen in surprise, then satisfaction. She raises her brows with a teasing smile. "Well, Mr. Styles. Here I was, thinking I'm in the exclusive remeeting-Ellie club."

I make an annoyed face as he pulls up the seat next to me, but not at him. I don't want to offend him or anything.

"Did you invite him?" Aud asks me with excitement.

I laugh. He laughs.

"No. Are you crazy?" Harry snorts. "I just happened to be in the neighborhood."

She narrows her eyes are they flicker between us. "Wait... Are you telling me that he's known about your existence longer than me? I'm offended!" She then turns to him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Mentally, I feel relieved that he hasn't told her. It makes me trust him a little more.

"Wait, you two still talk?" I ask in surprise.

"Well, not all of us ghost our old friends," Harry teases before noticing my tense expression. "Shit, sorry El. I didn't mean-"

"No, it's fine. You're right anyway." I flash him a tight-lipped smile.

My hands itch to grab my laptop and start working again.

"Okay... well. Anyway, Ellie this cafe is shit. Your taste in coffee has gone down," Aud says as she grimaces at her own coffee. I roll my eyes, considering she didn't mind my taste when she stole my own coffee. "So, how'd you two meet anyway?"

Harry goes on to explain our multiple meetings the past few months. She listens with amused eyes, pausing to glance at me every once in a while.

I don't know why.

"I thought I was teasing when I said the thing about you treating me like a client... Now I'm scared. Jesus, you're actually addicted, aren't you?" Audrey asks once he's done. He didn't spare the details about how I basically ignored him.

"I bet she's dying to pull out some work right now. Actually, I'll bet she was working on stuff before you came," Harry teases.

I purse my lips and subtly eye my bag. Awkward.

"Whatever, we're not here to talk about me," I scoff, desperately wanting to change the topic. For a second I'm tempted to ask how everyone else is, like my family, but I stop myself while I'm ahead.

"Yes we are," she deadpans.

"I told you everything."

"Fine how about we talk about..." she trails, a suggestive smile on her face. I cock my head in confusion. It's implied she's talking about Harry considering it's expected for us to have undeniable sexual tension (which we don't) but she wouldn't talk about him when he's right there. When she sees my confused look, she sighs. "You know, that hot piece of ass?"

Nope, still confused.

Before she can elaborate, some girl squeals. Our heads whip toward the source to see a rainbow-haired girl run over and latch on to Harry, planting a fat kiss on his lips.

Audrey and I share looks but something tells me we aren't thinking the same thing. She's thinking something along the lines of 'ooh, are you jealous?' while I'm thinking 'gross, PDA right next to me.'

If I'm being honest, it doesn't bother me in the least.

He looks surprised at first, but smirks when she unlatches. Still, she remains in his lap, oblivious to our company.

"Baby! You never called me after that night," she whines.

"I know... I was just busy," he nonchalantly replies. She pouts but giggles when he shoots her a wink.

Audrey makes gagging noises, which reminds the girl of our presence. She narrows her eyes at my friend before looking over at me.

"O.M.G! Ellie! How are you? I'm so sorry, I didn't even know you were here!" she gasps, nearly pushing Harry off his chair as she reaches over to me.

I hug her back, suddenly less annoyed with her. She's one of the girls I've met when I've had to socialize with Daffodil. I'm not exactly sure what her occupation is but she was super sweet.

"Violet!" I grin as she pulls back. "I'm digging the hair. Although maybe you should change your name now," I tease, referring to her rainbow hair and colored name.

She laughs as she weaves the colorful strands through her fingers. "How have things been? Wow! I didn't know you know Harry."

I almost tell her that Daff is collaborating with him but I remember it's a secret so I hold off. "Yeah, mutual friends," I reply instead.

She nods in understanding. "Ah, well I have to go. My girlfriends are waiting up." She points to a gaggle of young girls waiting by the counter. "It was nice seeing you though! Hope we run into each other soon."

"Me too!"

I watch her get back to her friends with a smile. My job is to rope in clients but it always makes me extra happy when they remember me too. It's so sweet.

Also a confidence boost.

Both Audrey and Harry are giving me bewildered looks.

"What?" I ask self-consciously.

"You weren't jealous?!" Harry asks at the same time Audrey screeches, "Who the HELL was that?"

First I turn to Harry with a flat look. "No. Why would I be?" Then I turn to her. "She's one of the girls I met. Super sweet. A little ditzy but sweet."

"I... I can see that," she responds with a hint of shock.

Once Harry breaks out of his frustrated surprise, he smirks a little. "You should see her work a room. She has everyone captivated."

I narrow my eyes at him. "How do you know that?"

"Eleanor's birthday."

"You were there?" I ask in surprise. I don't remember seeing him... then again, I was in full-on work mode. Almost everything went past my head. If I wasn't talking to important people, I wasn't listening.

"Seriously, El?" he asks, half-amused, half-annoyed. I sheepishly shrug. "We had like two conversations."

I rack my brain and slowly remember. Of course! It was the first time I saw him after all these years.

"Sorry, yeah," I shake my head. "I forgot."

Audrey snorts from across the table. "You sure know how to make a man feel special." Then she checks her watch with a frown. "Aw shucks, I need to head out if I want to make it in time."

I find myself frowning. In these short minutes, I felt happy to reconnect. Now she's leaving me.

"Hey, we'll still talk, right?" she asks warily.

Harry snorts this time, probably recalling my false promises. I shoot him a glare before turning to her with a smile. "As long as I'm still a bridesmaid at the wedding." I mean the part about keeping in touch. The whole reason I haven't called her was because I was scared of her reaction. Plus it wasn't fair of me to come and go in her life as I pleased. Now that I know she's not upset, I'm determined to upkeep our relationship.

"No."

I look at her in shock.

Her face splits into a wide grin. "You're still going to be my maid of honor."

I slump down in relief. "Technically the maid of honor is still a brid-"

"Shut up and hug me before I leave." she feigns annoyance. I find myself smiling and crumbling into her arms. We hold each other for a long time before she realizes how bad LA traffic is. "I love you and I'll miss you. Come to New York sometime."

"I'll try to manipulate Daff into going there," I reply. She laughs and pinches my nose before grabbing her belongings - gift basket included - and leaving the cafe.

And then I feel a little emptier inside.

Harry lets out a low whistle. "So, you really weren't jealous of me?"

"Should I have been?" I ask, confused. My hands are just dying to pick up my laptop and work again but I don't want to prove him right about being a workaholic.

He shifts on his chair so he can see me better. "As an ex-girlfriend and soulmate, definitely."

"Sorry," I distractedly mumble as my eyes scan the menu from here. "Hey, isn't it bad for your publicity to be sitting with me in public?"

He scoffs, sounding very offended that I even suggested that. "You still think I care about that?"

I tap my chin thoughtfully. "Well, maybe not considering you let random girls kiss you."

His brows shoot up and his eyes flash with triumph. "You are jealous."

I pull out my laptop because screw his opinion of me. I just want to work, to fill the new void from Audrey leaving. "If it helps you sleep at night."

I'm not jealous, but he looks a little happier so it's okay if he believes my lie.

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Short to make up for the last, long chapter! I'll probably update sooner because I'm (finally) back at college.