Ella Sullivan is an 18-year-old high school senior with a sharp wit and a penchant for sarcasm. Her life revolves around her close-knit group of friends and the love for her dog. But her world is thrown into disarray when she encounters Ms. Catherin...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
———༺✵༻——— POV Ella ———༺✵༻———
The bar is buzzing with the usual Saturday night energy, a lively hum of conversations blending with the clinking of glasses and the low thrum of music playing in the background. I've been in my element tonight, moving between tables and the bar, taking orders and serving drinks with practiced ease. After a few intense days spent with Catherine.
It's been a few days since Lily's birthday, and though it was an emotionally charged time, Catherine and I found some peace together. I stayed with her until last night, heading back and forth to check on Max but mostly sticking close to her side. It felt good to be there for her, to offer whatever comfort I could.
As I make my way behind the bar, I catch sight of Joe perched on his usual stool. His face lights up as soon as he sees me, his usual slurred greeting already on his lips.
"Ella!" he calls, his voice loud enough to rise above the din of the bar.
"Hey, Joe," I say with a smile, making my way over to him. "What can I get you tonight?"
Joe grins, his eyes twinkling with that familiar mischievousness. "The usual, darlin'. And maybe a little conversation to go with it?"
I pour his drink and slide it across the bar to him. "You know I'm always up for a chat," I say, leaning on the counter. "What's on your mind?"
Joe takes a long sip of his drink, sighing contentedly as the alcohol hits his system. "Ah, nothing much. Just the usual ramblings of an old man." He pauses, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looks at me. "But what about you, Ella? How's life treatin' you?"
I shrug, a small smile playing on my lips. "Can't complain. Things are going pretty well."
Joe raises an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening with interest. "Things with that pretty lady of yours, you mean?"
I can't help the grin that spreads across my face at the mention of Catherine. "Yeah, things are good," I say, feeling a warm flush of happiness at the thought of her. "Really good, actually."
Joe chuckles, a deep, throaty sound that makes his belly shake. "That's what I like to hear," he says, raising his glass in a toast. "You two make a good pair, you know that?"
I nod, a warm feeling spreading through my chest at his words. "Thanks, Joe. That means a lot."
Just as Joe is finishing his drink, the door to the bar swings open, and a young woman walks in. She's got that look about her—like she's had a rough night but is trying to hold it together. She heads straight for the bar, taking a seat two stools down from Joe.
"I'll be right back, Joe," I say, giving him a quick smile before turning my attention to the new arrival.
The woman looks up at me as I approach, her eyes a little weary but still sharp. "What can I get you?" I ask, pulling out a glass and waiting for her order.
