Page 69 of Run
After hearing the horrific details of Dee’s date with a banker and a blow up doll that left imagery in my mind I will never be able to erase, Lizzie picks up the bill and we head outside. As we walk back toward the ROC Record, all three ladies slowing their pace to keep up with me, I tell Lizzie I’ll be in touch about taking her up on her offer to drive me to PT, and even my regular therapist.
After saying our goodbyes, Sophie and I are waiting to cross when I hear my name being called and turn to see Ethan running up the sidewalk toward us.
“Hey! What are you ladies doing here?”
“Ethan,” I say, surprised. “We just had lunch with someone. What are you doing here?”
“I’m headed into work.” He points up the sidewalk, toward the direction we just came from.
“You work around here?” Sophie asks.
“Yeah. You got a minute? I’ll show you.”
I look at Sophie and she nods. The three of us make our way back to exactly where we just came from. Sophie stops and pulls her eyebrows together. “You work here?”
Ethan nods. “Yeah. Come on in.” He opens the door to let me, then Sophie pass through.
“Here?” I ask again, pointing at the floor to accentuate my point. “You workhere?”
“Uh, yes?”
“Ariel?” I hear Lizzie’s voice and turn to see her once again hunched over Dee’s desk.
“You know EJ?” asks Dee, her head tilted to the side.
Ethan looks at Lizzie. “Who’s Ariel?”
“Who’s EJ?” I ask Dee.
“That’s EJ.” She points at Ethan.
“And that’s Ariel.” Lizzie points at me.
“No, this is Ethan.” I stick my thumb toward him, and Lizzie’s eyes bulge.
“That’sEthan?!” She throws a hand over her mouth. “Wait.” It comes out muffled. “Is this Ari?”
“Yes.” Ethan nods. “Well, Arlene, but she goes by Ari.” Lizzie darts her eyes to me, but doesn’t say anything.
I bring my hand up to my forehead.Holy shit. “Ariel is what I go by now, Ethan. After the accident I changed it. And I took the Millers’ last name. I go by Ariel Miller now. Well, but still Ari.”
Ethan stands with his mouth open.
“Is your real name Ethan?” Dee asks.
He nods. “Ethan James, but Cherise kept calling me Edward or Edgar, so I just shortened it to EJ.”
Dee throws her head back and laughs. “Well, what an unexpected twist of fate this is!”
“Seriously,” Sophie adds.
“Wait.” Ethan shakes his head, then looks at me. “How do you know Lizzie?”
She and I share a glance, and Lizzie scrunches up her face and lets out a little, “Oooo.”
“I’ll take this one.” Sophie raises a hand as if in class. “Lizzie’s husband is the one who ran over Ari.”
Ethan pulls his head back dramatically. “Knox?!” he shouts, and I see Zack and an older guy in the bullpen stand up and look our way. “Knox was the one who hit you?” I shrug and nod sheepishly.
