Perfect Bastard (by Mary D. Sant) novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

ELLIE

As I approached the table, I noticed that Ethan seemed

uncomfortable as he listened to the blonde speak, and when he saw

me,

his tension appeared to grow even more.

I stopped behind her, just in time to hear what she was saying.

“It’s great to have you back. Maybe we can plan something to

remember the old times,” she suggested, right as Rosie and Phillipa

walked past us, returning to the table.

Ethan was staring at me over the blonde’s shoulder, as if silently

apologizing.

I just waited, curious to see what he would say next.

“I can’t,” he finally said. “Ellie?” he called, making the blonde turn

toward me and stare.

The blonde turned toward me, her expression curious.

“Hello!” I greeted her, noticing the confusion on her face.

1/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

She was pretty, a little taller than me, with shiny blonde hair, much

like Charlotte’s.

Did Ethan have a thing for blondes?

“Jess, this is Ellie, my girlfriend,” Ethan said.

Her blink of surprise revealed her confusion and disbelief.

“Girlfriend?” she repeated incredulously.

Moving past her, I stopped beside Ethan.

“I’ll let you two finish,” I said to him, stepping toward the table, but

he stopped me by grabbing my arm.

“No. Wait. We’re already finished,” he said before turning back to her.

“It was nice seeing you, Jess.”

“Wait, are you seriously dating someone?”

She seemed genuinely surprised, almost skeptical, as though it were

unthinkable. And I knew why.

“Ethan Morgan has a girlfriend,” she said as if trying to convince

herself. “Wow…” Then she smiled, turning her attention to me.

2/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

“Sorry, where are my manners? I’m Jessica–or Jess, if you prefer.” She

held out her hand.

“Ellie Brown,” I replied, shaking her hand, noticing how her eyes

analyzed me.

“So, it looks like you’ve worked a miracle. I never thought I’d hear

Ethan introduce someone as his girlfriend,” she said with a smile.

I forced a smile in return. It seemed like she knew him well–but how

well? I thought their relationship had been nothing more than casual.

“Well, I have to go. It was nice seeing you, Ethan, and a pleasure to

meet you, Ellie.”

Ethan nodded.

“Good luck,” she said to me. “You’ll need it, for however long this

lasts.” She winked before turning her back on us.

For however long this lasts?

Her words echoed in my mind as I watched her walk away.

I knew exactly what she meant, and maybe I should have been angry

at her-but I wasn’t.

3/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

The look she gave me seemed more like she pitied me than like she

was trying to confront me. But her words managed to hit me where it

hurt the most.

“Hey,” Ethan said softly, stepping closer and tilting my chin up. “I’m

sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” I replied, brushing it off and avoiding his eyes. “I’m just

tired. Can we go now?”

I turned away, heading to the table to say goodbye to the others.

“Are you okay?” Rosie asked as I leaned in to hug her goodbye.

I nodded, forcing a smile to reassure her. But I wasn’t okay, and it had

nothing to do with Ethan or his ex being there.

It had everything to do with my fear, my insecurity, and how

insignificant things like this made me question if I was doing the

right thing.

But I knew this was something I had to deal with on my own, I had decided to try, and this would never work if I kept fearing history

would repeat itself.

I waited for Ethan to say his goodbyes to the others before heading

4/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

toward the exit, with him right behind me.

Outside, we stood on the curb to wait for a.taxi.

He suddenly grabbed my hand as we waited.

“Hey, look at me,” he said, gently tilting my chin up. “Are you upset?”

“I’m fine,” I sighed, avoiding his gaze again.

“No, you’re not. I know because you won’t look me in the eye. Now,

talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” I met his brown eyes this time,

holding his gaze.

“I thought we had an agreement.”

“I’m fine. This has nothing to do with you.”

“No. I think it has everything to do with me.”

He looked worried, but there wasn’t much more to say. I just needed to get my thoughts and feelings in order. Maybe I shouldn’t have

accepted the invitation for this trip–maybe it was too soon.

5/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

“I just want to go home, okay?” I said, brushing my hand over his face

to reassure him.

1

He nodded.

*

It started raining as soon as we got out of the taxi. We rushed up to

his apartment in silence. We didn’t talk during the ride home, and

because of that, he was restless.

When we got in, I headed straight for the bedroom and began

undressing. Ethan followed, sitting on the bed.

“Need help?” he asked as I pulled my top off.

I stifled a smile.

“No. I’ve got it.”

“Ellie…”

“What?” I asked, turning to him.

He sighed in frustration before heading to the bathroom. I guess the night was going to end very differently from what we’d planned.

6/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

After finishing undressing and removing my makeup, I slipped under

the sheets. Ethan emerged from the bathroom shortly after, wearing

just his underwear. I avoided staring at his body.

Once the lights were off, leaving only my bedside lamp on, he climbed

into bed beside me.

“Come here,” he said, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me

close.

I relaxed against his broad chest as his fingers began tracing the

curve of my waist.

“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to hear that crap.”

“It’s fine.”

“No. It’s not. If it were, we’d be having sex right now.”

I stifled a laugh.

“Goodnight,” I whispered.

”

“Goodnight, love,” he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

***

7/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

ETHAN

Jason and Neil got out of the car to help with the bags.

“How the hell did you get one of these?” I asked Jason, staring at the

massive SUV, which looked like it could hold a lot more people than

just the six of us.

He laughed, picking up one of the bags on the ground and heading

toward the back of the car.

“Look on the bright side–it’s not a minivan,” Neil said, making me

smile.

“You’re right,” I agreed.

We headed to the back of the car, where Jason was loading the

luggage.

“Hey! Where’s Ellie?” Rosie’s voice called from inside the car.

“She’s on her way!” I shouted back as I helped Jason arrange the last

of the bags in the trunk.

Neil cleared his throat behind me, catching my attention.

8/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

“Seems like you didn’t have much luck last night.”

“Yeah, what were the odds?”

“I thought she wasn’t the jealous type,” Jason said.

“She’s not.”

“Then?” Neil asked, curious.

I was trying to come up with an explanation when Ellie walked out of

the building, heading our way.

She looked gorgeous, but her silence and unreadable mood were

starting to get on my nerves.

She kept insisting there was nothing to talk about, but all I

wanted was for her to tell me what was wrong. I had no idea if she

was mad about what Jess had said, and there wasn’t much I could do

-or say–without knowing what the hell the problem was.

I’d thought maybe things would be different when we woke up this morning, but when she turned down my invitation to shower together, I knew nothing had changed.

“Morning, guys,” she greeted them as she reached the car and went

9/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

straight to talk to the girls.

I took a deep breath. Maybe I could get her. to open up on the way to

the Cotswolds.

After closing the trunk, we hit the road. Jason was driving, with

Phillipa in the front passenger seat.

Neil and Rosie were seated in the middle, while Ellie and I took the

seats in the back.

For the first few minutes of the trip, Rosie told Ellie everything she

knew about the village and the places they could visit. It seemed like

she was already familiar with the area.

When she finally quieted down and turned her attention to Neil, I

decided to try talking to Ellie.

“What do you want to do today?” I asked, resting my hand on her

thigh.

“Looks like Rosie already has a plan in mind,” she replied with a

shrug.

“She doesn’t have to be part of our plans,” I whispered, squeezing her

thigh.

10/16

Chapter 118: Patience Tested

“She’s excited. I think it would be rude,” she said, then opened the

book she was carrying.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

It’s just the first day. Be patient.

*

Jason parked the car in front of the massive hotel in Castle Combe.

According to Rosie, the building was several centuries old and also

featured a restaurant and a golf course.

The place was truly stunning, and being in a rural area,

it was

surrounded by green fields, offering a beautiful view of the horizon.

My attention shifted to Ellie, who was looking around, captivated.

During the two–hour drive, she’d only put down the damn book to

respond to Rosie or Phillipa.