Ella thought Dave had left completely after his brief "thank you," but she was wrong. Just moments later, she heard the sound of footsteps returning. Her heart sank as Dave walked back in.
"Thank you," he repeated, this time with more weight in his voice.
Ella, not in the mood for more interaction, barely looked at him and headed straight to her room without another word. She had done her part, helping him when he was drunk and vulnerable, and that was where it should have ended. She didn’t owe him anything more. Dave, after being brushed off, left again, finally heading to retrieve his car from the bar.
When he got home, his head still clouded with thoughts of Cassidy, he quickly showered and dressed in fresh clothes. But as he was getting ready, something caught his eye, Ella’s handk
