“She must still bother you. I never said I’m sorry for what you had to go through on that day. I can’t even imagine.”
“You have no reason to be sorry. None of that really bothers me. Part of me feels like I should be more upset, but I’m glad I’m not. I keep thinking I’m so glad we ended before I married him, or everything would have been much worse.”
“Good for you,” she said, drinking some of her coffee. “I, for one, am glad I do not have to worry about her and Eli again.”
“What do you mean?” I stopped eating.
“Once Eli cuts you out of his life, he cuts you out completely and never goes back. When I visited him three days after the wedding, I noticed he had already gotten rid of everything that once belonged to her. It’s just the type of person he is.”
I knew that wasn’t a hundred percent true. He might have thrown out everything physical, but he had still held on to her phone number for a while before finally allowing me to delete it.
“Who is what, Mother?”
Speak of the devil.
Turning, he came alongside us with a man with silver-pink hair pulled into a short ponytail, both of them holding trays of their own.
Meryl winked at me, standing up. “Nothing, we were talking about her work. How are you, dear?”
“Why do I have a hard time believing that?” He gave her a look, taking the untouched coffee from in front of me and giving it to his friend.
“Eli—”
“She’s allergic to coffee.” He kissed her cheek, taking a seat in front of me.
She gave me a look, and all I could do was nod.
“And if it was nothing, why don’t you stay?”
“Eli Philip Davenport, you don’t believe your own mother?”
“No, I know you were talking about me. You only throw out my middle name when I’ve said too much, or you have.” His eyebrow raised and a smirk crossed his lips.
She looked to the pink-haired man. “How you are his friend is beyond me, Dr. Seo.”
“I only endure his torture because you are his mother, Madam Chairwoman.”
She patted him on the shoulder, nodding to me before taking her leave.
At her exit, Dr. Seo tried to take a seat with us, but Eli gave him a look…a look he ignored, pulling a chair close. “Dr. Ian Seo. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms.—”
“Guinevere Poe, but you can call me Gwen. I like your hair.” I shook his hand.
“That cruel man made me dye it after cheating in a bet. Thank you, though.” He frowned at Eli, who spread jam on his bagel, not paying any attention to him.
“What was the bet on?”
Eli stopped mid-bite and glared at him.
“He was just trying to warn me not to touch something that was his. Lesson learned. Do you have any friends who like Asian men with pink hair?”
“All my friends are taken.” I laughed, shaking my head.
He sighed.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” I added.
He looked to Eli. “Must God bless only you?”
“That sounds like a conversation between you and whatever god you believe in. Can you take the coffee and go? It’s giving her a headache.”
It wasn’t, but I knew he was just saying that to get him to leave. I noticed he had started drinking tea instead whenever he was around me.
Dr. Seo winked at me before getting up. “I hope to see you around more, Ms. Poe.”
“I’m working here, so I’m sure we will meet again.”
He nodded, patting Eli on the shoulder, much to Eli’s annoyance, before leaving.
“So, what were you and my mother talking about?”
“What was your bet against Dr. Seo?”
He licked his lips, swallowing before nodding. “Fine, it’s a draw.”
“How’s your day?” I asked, continuing to eat.
He shrugged. “Saved a few lives here, saved a few lives there—”
“Wow, I am surely in the presence of greatness. Should I bow?”
“If it pleases you.” He winked. “Your mural?”
“It’s good. Only planned to be gone for a few minutes, but people just keep popping up.”
“I know what you mean,” he said seriously.
I could feel something was off. He didn’t look happy, nor did he look like he wanted to tell me what was bothering him. “Eli, what is it?”
“This morning when I came back with Taigi, Sebastian was waiting in front of the building…with flowers.”
“White and red poppies?”
He nodded.
“I’m guessing you didn’t just walk past him?”
“Words were spoken.”
“Just words?”
Again, he nodded. “Though Taigi did piss on his shoes.”
“Oh, I love my dog.” I laughed, brushing my hair back. “He didn’t say anything to upset you, did he?”
“Not in the least.”
“Good, then if you aren’t worried about it, I’m not.” I stood, grabbing my tray. “I really should get back if I want to get to where I was hoping today. Dinner?”
“I’ll actually cook this time,” he replied, but before I could leave, he called out once more. “Guinevere?”
“Yes?”
“Three questions: do you like poppies?”
“Yes, they are my favorite flowers. Your second question?” I knew he was asking because of Sebastian.