I Think I've Had Enough

Chapter 83: I'm Not Waiting AroundTill the Sun Comes Out of the Clouds

For a Wednesday afternoon Trader Joe's was more crowded than usual. Ellen glance to her watch. She was hoping that she was going to make it back to set in time. She looked up to examine her lunch options, salads, wraps, sushi. She sighed lightly allowed.

"Tough decision," a warm voice agreed with her sigh. She glanced to the man next to her. He stood about six feet tall. His dark brown eyes a perfect contrast to his caramel colored skin. He looked to be about 45.

"I'm just indecisive," she shrugged.

"In general? Or just with your lunch?" he asked revealing a sparkling smile.

Ellen pulled a salad off the shelf trying not to engage in the conversation. She wasn't naïve. He was interested in more than what she was eating for lunch. "Both," she replied coldly. She turned to walk away from him.

"Sorry," he started to follow her, "I realize this may be a little forward but do you have a boyfriend?

"No," Ellen realized she hadn't been asked that question in a long. 

"So you're single," the man concluded.

"No," she uttered quickly. The question was far more complicated than this man realized. Ellen was suddenly lost in thought. Was she really going to turn down the hot guy in the grocery store for a very married Patrick. She could sense that it was different for him this time but what did different mean? Different could mean he was a year away from leaving Jillian. He had told her not to wait around. 

"So your married," He was starting to get a little confused.

"No," she replied hesitantly. Her thoughts were starting to piss her off. Her heart was with Patrick. It had always been with Patrick but she wasn't WITH Patrick.

"Then you're single." 

Clearly disheveled by the truth to his statement, "I just don't date men I meet in grocery stores.. anymore."

"Meaning you did at one time?" He wasn't ready to quit.

Ellen sighed again, her demeanor changing slightly. Her shoulders dropped giving in to him, "Once," She shrugged, "my ex husband. Not going there again."

"If you give me the chance I'd like to change your thoughts on grocery store dating," His charm lit his eyes. He watched the hesitation in her eyes, "It's not a marriage proposal..."

"Fine," she quickly punched her number into his phone mostly wanting to escape this moment. She walked away quickly.

"Tomorrow," he called after her, "7 PM. Dinner."

She heard but didn't turn back to acknowledge him. Her stomach in knots as she drove back to set. It wasn't that she was interested in this guy, it was that he could be interested in her. He was available. He was persistent and he was actually going to take her on a date. For the first time in years she was going on a legitimate date. She suddenly felt sick. 

Ellen paced quickly into the trailer to find Patrick. Her nerves burned as she pondered what his response would be. "Can you watch the girls tomorrow night?" Ellen ripped the bandaid off.

"Sure," Patrick agreed easily as he pulled Emilee's coat out of the closet, "You have a hot date," he joked.

She felt releaved, "yes actually," she paused, "well a date."

Patrick froze, "Oh," he was taken aback. He turned to look at her. 

Ellen had expected this response but it irritated her more than she thought it would, "It's just a date." She felt the need to defend herself.