After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 102

“You should get some rest too, Ethan. You have work tomorrow.”

Ethan just grunted in reply.

Susan slipped out quietly, leaving the room still and silent. He was alone now.

He picked up his phone again and again, wanting to call Isabella, but every time, he hesitated. He couldn’t face the idea of her ignoring his call. That kind of rejection would sting too much. Out in the world, he was someone people chased after, someone important, someone who didn’t get ignored. Isabella just didn’t realize how lucky she was.

After a long stretch of silence, Ethan finally made a call, but not to Isabella. This time, he called Jesse. He almost dialed Harold, but remembering that Harold had bought a kite for Isabella made him change his mind.

Jesse had just gotten back to his family’s house when Ethan’s name popped up on his phone. It was a surprise. Usually, when Ethan was spending time with Jordan and Natalie, he wouldn’t bother calling him or Harold. Everybody knew there was tension there.

“Ethan,” Jesse answered, stepping out of his car with his keys in hand. “Didn’t expect to hear from you. I figured you’d be busy with Jordan and Natalie, and wouldn’t need me or Harold anymore.”

“Come on, Jesse. Don’t say that. We’re friends. That won’t change.”

Jesse let out a laugh. “Alright, alright. No more talk about them. So, what’s up?”

Ethan sighed. “Honestly, I’m just in a bad mood. Thought maybe we could grab a drink.”

“I just got back from the coast and I’m beat. Not heading out tonight. I’ve got work in the morning, and my schedule’s packed.” Jesse leaned against his car, wishing he could just give up and ignore all his responsibilities. But he couldn’t. He was the future of The Mason Group, and the pressure was always there.

“You know hanging out with them is only going to make you feel worse, right?” Jesse said, a little frustrated. “You’re doing this to yourself.”

“Ethan, you have to let it go. Natalie’s married now. She isn’t leaving Jordan. You could wait forever and nothing would change.”

Silence hung between them for a while. Then Ethan’s tone softened. “Jesse, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Where did you see Isabella?”

“Was Harold with her? Were they together?”

“Whoa, Ethan, slow down. Harold was with me the whole time. He just got home. He wasn’t with Isabella,” Jesse said quickly. “Don’t even think like that. If Harold heard you say that, he’d be crushed.”

Jesse knew Harold had a thing for Isabella, but there was no way he’d ever say that to Ethan. That would just blow up everything between them.

“I’m actually interested in Isabella’s best friend. I dropped off some seafood at her place, that’s all. That’s where I ran into Isabella. We didn’t plan to meet up or anything,” Jesse explained, hoping to ease Ethan’s worries.

Ethan always claimed he didn’t care about Isabella, that she was just part of his strategy. But the way he reacted whenever Harold did something for her told a different story. When Ethan found out Harold had bought her a kite, he tracked him down to pay for it, then told him not to help Isabella again. “Isabella is my wife,” he’d said, possessive as ever. The jealousy was impossible to miss.