Sage

40

Harry.

There's a throbbing headache that rests behind my eyes as I mindlessly sign off on papers, the signature is a scribbling mess but I can't be fucked with actually caring.

The office is deadly quiet, allowing me to hear the murmur of people in the hallways as they pass the closed glass door, looking into the office to give me a nod or a smile that I pretend I don't see. I don't have it in me to feign friendliness when all I want to do is rip this stack of white papers to shreds and bang my head against the desk in frustration.

My mind won't let me focus on the task at hand, instead, it wants to venture off to a familiar curly-haired woman. No matter how hard I try to push the sting of her words down, the feelings sprout right back up until the fine print on the sheets becomes a blur, and I'm having to wipe the moisture collecting in my eyes.

I hated that her wanting to leave got under my skin so much. It shouldn't have. Naturally, she's nothing to me but the mother of my child. We didn't fuck and choose to get pregnant, it happened from an impulsive one-night stand the night I first handed Quinn the divorce papers. I needed a distraction and an easy fuck and Ellie was available.

So when did it become something more? I wanted to say it was when I moved her in, and how in hindsight, it was the wrong thing to do. But I knew that was a lie, and the fine lines had blurred way before then. I just wish I could have caught it and nipped it in the fucking bud when I had the chance.

I bore the heel of my palm into my eyes as if to physically push the thoughts away. To no avail, I pull my glasses back over my eyes and grab the small glass of whiskey from the corner of my desk and take a sip, no longer being affected by the burn in my chest as I burp quietly and place it back down. After a few harsh blinks, I'm rereading over a paragraph for the tenth time, going through all of the terms and conditions.

I'd finished off signing paperwork for my actual job and was now trying to get this shit done for Quinn. The agreement we'd made those months ago about me endorsing her business and going to her fashion shows was immediately out the window when she tried to frame Ellie. She was supposed to come by today and sign her deal of papers and I'd put all of this shit behind me.

I do a double-take to the door when I see Gale's figure come from around the corner, drumming his knuckles on the glass before welcoming himself in. God, I really don't feel like dealing with his shit today.

"It's a Saturday, you know that right?" He wonders as he makes his way into the room and immediately heads to the copy machine with a few papers in his hands.

"There's a million copy machines out there," I pull my glasses up into my hair and run a hand down my face.

"Yeah, but yours is the best. And in my defense, you're not really supposed to be here..so."

I roll my eyes and decide to leave the conversation at that, flipping through the last little bit of papers and pushing myself through the last couple of signatures as Gale begins to print copies of God knows what.

"So, you and Ellie still coming to my party this evening? Maynard hooked me up with some cool fireworks, they spell shit in the sky,"

I inhale a breath at the mention of his party, one that had completely slipped my mind until now.

I wondered if Ellie remembered, and though I don't want anything to do with her right now, I know I can't go without her. There will be too many questions from not only the other guests, but Gale himself.

"Yeah, we're going." I pull out my phone and check for any messages, only seeing the one that Madison sent me earlier. I knew that Ellie usually texted me throughout the day. Whether it was messages about snacks she wanted me to pick up, or what I wanted Julio to make for dinner, she texted.