Same Old Love (sequel to Heartbreak Girl)

eleven.

H A R R Y

One whole hour of coffee with Bella, only to be interrupted by her husband and his cold demeanor. I was grateful for the time that we spent, but Ashton's behavior might have put Bella on edge, and that was something I didn't want.

After he went upstairs, Bella hopped off the chair, excusing herself to go check up on him. I followed her, but only to make my way to my own room to check on Elizabeth. On the way there, I passed Ashton's and Bella's closed bedroom, only to hear muffled yells.

"Oh my goodness, Ashton! I just came to check up on you. How did the job-hunting go?" Bella's voice changed from annoyance to concern in a matter of seconds.

"In case you forgot, I didn't go to college. It isn't that easy, Bella!" He responded.

"I know that." Bella's tone was soft, almost as if she was attempting to soothe her angry husband. "But anything is better than nothing."

Ashton sighed heavily, and I heard some movement on the other side, until Bella broke the silence. "Harry's taking us out tonight. I'd really like it if you at least showered."

There was silence on the other end. Before I could hear Ashton's reply, I walked off in a hurry. I didn't want to snoop on their private conversation, especially if Bella brought me into the mix. As much as I hated it, Bella was Ashton's. My only concern should be to make things right.

But it wasn't. I would do anything to be the subject of Bella's affection. Especially since Ashton and Bella's relationship was rocky- at least from what I'd noticed from the last forty-eight hours. I would never say it to Bella, but they were showing signs of a couple well on it's way to divorce. Granted, they were going through a hard time. But Ashton was shutting Bella out, an unhealthy thing to do, and possibly the destruction of a relationship I saw blossom from my own eyes.

I thought about Bella losing her job. Fashion was everything to her, and I knew it from the start. I was the first person she told about her dream to become a designer. She said that she knew it was close to impossible, but something she never could let go of. While her mother forced her to study medicine for a year, I let her pick out or even design some of my clothes for red carpets, giving her the exposure to get accepted into an esteemed fashion program. But she lost her job, and making it in any sort of artistic industry after failure was extremely difficult. I wanted to advise her, but for now she needed more of a stable job than a shot at making her dreams come true.

I walked into the bedroom with Elizabeth sitting up, watching me quietly. "What's up, baby girl?"

She smiled. "This place is nice. Riley and Will are nice."

"They are, aren't they?"

She nodded. "They love each other very much. I wish I had a big sister like Will does," she said, innocently.

I smiled at her, sadly. Elizabeth was an accident. I didn't plan on having children with Scarlett, but she was not an accident I regretted. She was what kept me sane for the last five years.

"Everything's going to be okay, right Daddy?"

"I hope so, baby," I said, softly. "I hope so."