She hadn’t been so wrong, Ellie thought. She had stayed polite as much as she could, given the circumstances, because she didn’t believe in vilifying professional and powerful women. Still, she resented Bethany for stirring up trouble with such glee. Although—there didn’t have to be trouble, right? If Jordan hadn’t mentioned it, this episode belonged in the past. That’s where they’d leave it.
* * * *
The initial plan had been to make it an early night and stay at Ellie’s apartment, since it was closer to town. Ellie had trouble letting go of the conversation with Bethany, even though the conclusion was obvious: She had won. Jordan was here with her. She wanted her. That was all that mattered, right?
Ellie knew that Jordan had cheated on Bethany before during their long-term relationship. It wasn’t up to her to forgive the incident or obsess about it. She hadn’t brought it up in the early days, because whatever was happening between them, seemed so fragile…Then, a lot happened within the span of weeks that made them take a hard look at their priorities, and they had found it was each other.
So far, so good?
“What’s on your mind?” Jordan asked, a soft whisper against her neck, while Jordan’s hands were wandering across her body, familiar territory.
“Nothing. Except you, of course.” That wasn’t even a lie, but Jordan sat back and studied her curiously.
“For some reason, I don’t like it when Bethany catches you alone.”
“What, you’re worried about the things she could tell me? We’re past that. At least I thought we were.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jordan’s tone wasn’t defensive, simply inquiring. Ellie wished she knew a way to bring this conversation to a halt and bring them back to where they’d been moments ago. She had no illusions though.
“All right. A.D.A. Esposito? Why didn’t you tell me you two had…something, a while ago?”
“What?” Jordan shook her head with a bemused laugh. “I wasn’t aware we were doing full disclosure listing all of our exes.”
“Not all of them. Just the ones we might run into on a regular basis.”
“Then we’re okay on my side. Can we put this to rest now?”
Ellie was tired and still a bit tipsy, not the best circumstances to press the subject. At the moment, she also lacked caution—and part of her felt slightly offended by the insinuation that only one of them seemed to attract gorgeous, tempting women walking in and out of her life.
“You still didn’t answer my question. Why didn’t you tell me when she came back—if it means nothing?”
“Jesus, the woman spent years in my head. There’s no need for her to get into yours too.” Jordan got up and started to dress.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home. I’d like to catch some sleep before the meeting tomorrow—even though we all know how it’s going to turn out.”
“Jordan. Come on. You remember it’s a half hour drive as opposed to five minutes from here? Besides, you had a couple of drinks.”
“Speak for yourself. I had one beer. Good night, Ellie.”
“Could you please wait…?”
By the time Ellie had put on a robe and opened the door to the hallway, Jordan was gone. Kate and Derek sat in the kitchen, pretending they hadn’t witnessed the scene.
“What are you looking at?” Ellie wasn’t in the mood to indulge their pretense.
“I better go too,” Derek said, getting up. “See you, Ellie.”
“Yeah,” she muttered, walking to the fridge where there was still a half-empty bottle of wine. “Don’t say anything,” she warned Kate who shrugged.
“I wasn’t going to. Give me a glass, too, and tell me what’s up. You’ve been acting strange.”
Ellie poured each of them a glass and sat down across from Kate. “Bethany told me that Jordan and Esposito were…” What exactly? A couple? For how long?
“Oh. I see, but that was a while ago, right? Do you think there’s still something?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. But if it’s irrelevant, why not answer a simple question?”
“Maybe it was painful? Sometimes it’s a good idea to just be with the person you’re with, you know what I mean?”
“I’m sorry.”
Her situation differed greatly from Kate’s. Her friend was in a new relationship after her fiancé had been killed in the line of duty. It was hardly something you could compare to the jealousy Ellie wasn’t proud to feel—but she did.
“No need, just friendly advice. I thought you were doing great.”
“We were. We are. This just took me by surprise.”
“It’s understandable. Tomorrow will be better.”
“Yeah. I hope so. Thanks for the pep talk.”
Kate smiled wistfully. “Any time. I’m going to bed now. Rogers asked me to come to the meeting as well.”
“Oh, really? That’s…good.”
“Yeah. I realize that is the only thing I can do for Jennifer and her mother now.”
“Have a good night,” Ellie said. She went into the bathroom where she sat on the edge of the tub, tired, on the verge of crying for no good reason.
She was good at planning, Jordan had said so.
She had wanted Jordan, and a career, and she had made both happen, but she felt like all those accomplishments might be in danger. She should be in that meeting, as she was planning to take the detective’s exam soon. Sergeant Bristol seemed to have no problem with Kate attending. Of course, she had worked with Detective Rogers during the search for Jennifer Beaumont. Ellie, however, would have to ask, and it wasn’t even clear if he’d say yes.
Jordan—she wasn’t going to lose her after everything they’d been through together. She was simply frustrated to see her getting testy over this subject. Ellie understood getting testy, and impatient, with something trivial. She understood Jordan needed room to work through the latest upheavals in her life, but damn it, Ellie’s life had been disrupted too, by getting abducted and kept in the dark for days. Literally, and then as to her kidnappers’ intentions.
She didn’t want to go back there, think about it. She did pretty well distracting herself when Jordan was sleeping beside her. Obviously, that wasn’t an option tonight.
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