When you realise

23. Couch Dates

I got out of the bath around 3, threw on my boxer shorts and one of Damian's oversized t-shirt I knew Damian would be home around 4:30, so I called down to Antonio and asked him to make our special pizza and have it sent up at 5. The freezer was already fully stocked with ice cream.

I didn't end up eating lunch today, so I put in some microwave popcorn to snack on, I was feeling guilty for how I spoke to Melanie when we were in the elevator heading to the meeting earlier today, the jealousy in me came out, I just couldn't get it out of my head that she was trying to get back together with Hunter, they appeared to be playing happy family since I walked away, she was going over to his parents' house for family dinners on Sundays now, they just always were together now.

Rosie was so much happier that they were all getting along, every time she came in, she would talk about them all doing things together, I was happy for her, I wanted nothing more than Rosie to be happy, I really just wish it was me with them.

I guess that's why I accomplished so much with Hastings Inc in the past few weeks, I wanted to distract myself from life and after the last time I tried to distract myself the way I used to with some random guy, it just sent me further down in a downward spiral, work was all I wanted, it became an addiction to consume my mind completely.

However, after seeing Melanie and Oliver together at lunch today, I think it is safe to say, she is not trying to get back with Hunter, I don't know why I feel so relieved, I have promised myself never to be put in the situation again to be hurt, so I won't go back to him, I want to just hide my heart away and run my business, I want to go back to the time before I met Hunter, before I knew what it felt like to love someone.

I sat on the lounge with my popcorn and the half of bottle of wine I haven't finished yet, I put the tv on in the background but I turned the sound down and I picked up my phone again, I still was not ready to go into the voice messages from Hunter but I unlocked the phone and read some messages from Rachel and Bianca.

Rachel- I've tried calling you 3 times already can you please pick up; I am so worried about you. That was the first message that I received from her the night that I walked out of Hunter's house.

Rachel- Please Pick-up Ellie, Hunter is a complete moron, please at least text back and let me know your ok. There were a few more that night, telling me to meet them at a night club and her and Bianca had left Hunter's house after they found out what happened and they tried to contact me to tell me they were here for me.

I also had a few messages from Bianca not as many as Rachel though.

Bianca- Hi Ellie, just wanted you to know I am here for you if you want to talk, I hate the way Hunter acted, if it helps at all he looks completely sorry.

Bianca- OMG Ellie, Rachel is going crazy with worry, please just call us, either of us and let us know your ok.

If I wasn't already feeling guilty enough about how I treated Melanie, I was feeling worse now, knowing that Rachel and Bianca have been trying to reach out to me and I completely ignored them. Worse yet, I just turned my phone off so I didn't have to deal with them.

By the time I finished reading their messages it was 4pm, I didn't have long until Damien came home so I dialled Rachel's number, out of the 2 girls, I was closer to Rachel, it probably had something to do with the fact Hunter and James were business partners and they came over to the house regularly and, Rachel and I would end up drinking and chatting while the boys talked about work.

After three rings she picked up, "Hello" she answered.

"Hi Rach, is that you" I questioned

"Ellie, oh my god, you called, I'm so excited, how are you", all of a sudden, she started to sob.