When Your Life Is Falling Apart, Keep Your Exes To Yourself
Day 150 of The Andie Chronicles
I was about to walk out the front door when James came bumbling from his bedroom, pushing his tie fabric into an uneven knot. And dragging his compendium behind him, the bag unfastened, about to spill over with papers and his belongings.
This unkempt appearance didn’t suit James. He was always immaculate and put together and handsome and ready. Never late, never out of step with any occasion.
When we first met at university, I remember him telling me every day was a day you could run into a famous designer. And completely change your life. Or run into the perfect shag and completely change your afternoon.
Seeing him in this state, he wasn’t ready for anything. He wasn't James, at all.
“You leaving?”
I was holding my travel mug and my gym bag, hoping to catch a class on my way home. “Yeah, I was about to walk to the train station.”
I looked at my watch. If I stalled any longer, I would miss it and be late again. And I couldn’t stand Douglas commenting on my in-office behaviour one more time.
“The car is waiting out the front, come with me.”
I couldn’t believe James was still using the car service. I know he enjoyed the prestige of arriving in one of Douglas’ cars. But my independent, intelligent friend knew better than to mooch off a boss like this.
These were the moment I convinced myself I didn’t know him as well as I thought.
We didn’t say much to each other in the car. James sat with his iPad and flicked through emails. I thought I should be doing the same, but instead, I found myself wanting to produce my secret notebook and do research on my phone.
I couldn't do that without James wondering what I was up to. Instead, I sat there in muted silence, looking like a lost puppy.
A few moments before we reached the city's outer limits, I felt my phone vibrate in my hand. A new email, one from James, sent to the entire office.
I read it; he detailed he would be out tomorrow and to reschedule any meetings with him for Friday instead.
I looked over at him, staring blankly down at the email app he had opened on the screen.
“I got your email,” I said, showing him my phone. I don’t know why that seemed like a wise idea. He knew the email I was talking about.
“Oh yeah. I don’t know what time I will be back in the office.”
I searched his face for any indication of what was happening, for why he wouldn’t be there. But I didn’t want to guess and get it wrong.
“Good call. Do you have an appointment?”
“Court date. GG is coming with me, too. Though your ex isn’t happy about it.”
My ex? Now, suddenly, Douglas is my problem. Gees. “I hope it goes well.”
James scoffed. “Yeah, me too, babe.”
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?
Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx
