The lunch crowd at The Green Fig was loud. Maya stabbed a piece of salad and leaned across the table.
"Okay, details. Now. How was the morning after?"
I laughed. "It was good. Really good."
"Good." She pointed her fork at me. "Now, the important stuff. Has he mentioned his five-year plan? Does he want kids? Because a man who builds things with his hands is either supremely stable or a secret anarchist."
I shook my head, smiling. "We haven't gotten to five-year plans. We're still at the 'I like you a lot' stage."
crazy gurl!
"We bust into laughter"!
"That's a good stage," she conceded. Then her expression turned serious. "Look, I have to tell you something. I ran into Sarah from our old office. She said Ben's been at The Oak Bar lately, buying rounds and telling his 'side of the story.' Painting you as the crazy ex."
The familiar knot tightened in my stomach. "What's his side? That I expected him not to cheat?"
"Basically. He's playing the victim. It's a preemptive strike, Ella. If he finds out about Jax, he'll use this 'unstable' narrative to explain it away. Just… keep your head up."
Back in my home office, I tried to focus. I was between projects, so I sketched concepts for my portfolio. A playful mark for a dog groomer. A sleek wordmark for a tech startup. It was busywork, but it kept my hands moving.
My phone buzzed, pulling me from a spiral about Ben.
Jax: On the job site. This place is all glass and ego. Thinking of you.
I smiled, the knot loosening.
Me: Don't let the ego bite. Thinking of you too.
The job site was a minimalist mansion in the hills. Jax guided the final oak bookshelf into place in the study. The air smelled of fresh wood and money.
"Perfect fit, Jax," said Frank, his foreman. "Client's gonna be thrilled."
As if summoned, the client, Mr. Jefferson, walked in with another man in a suit. "And this is where the real thinking gets done," Jefferson said.
"Ben here is our new VP of Development," Mr. Jefferson announced, gesturing to the man beside him. "Ben, this is Jax, the mastermind behind your new library."
Jax looked up from his work.
It was Ben. Ella's Ben. He was in a sharp suit, his hair perfect.
Ben's eyebrows went up in genuine surprise. "Jax? Hey, man. I didn't know you were working on this."
"Hey, Ben," Jax said, nodding. "Yeah, just finishing up."
Ben smiled, a casual, friendly smile. "Small world. The work looks great."
"Thanks," Jax said.
"Alright, let's let the man finish," Mr. Jefferson said, guiding Ben out of the room.
Frank whistled low. "You know that guy?"
"He's my roommate," Jax said.
Frank grunted. "Small world."
---
My phone rang just as I was refining the tech startup logo.
"Hey," I answered.
"Job's done," Jax said. "Guess who the client works for? Jefferson & Co."
My breath hitched. "Ben's company."
"Yep. He walked in with the boss. He was surprised. I was surprised. He said 'small world' and that was it."
"That's it?" I asked, the tension leaving my shoulders.
"That's it. Just a weird coincidence." He paused. "You okay?"
"I am now," I said. "Dinner tonight?"
"Definitely. I'll pick you up at eight."
We hung up. I looked at the sleek logo on my screen. It was just a coincidence.