An awkward laugh escaped her, the kind that bubbles up when you're unsure whether to be amused or embarrassed. "Edrick," she said, trying to keep her voice light. "I didn't realize it was you."
Edrick's smile widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "What a small world," he remarked, his tone warm and teasing.
"Indeed," Ellen replied, still trying to wrap her mind around the coincidence. She shook her head in disbelief. "We really should stop meeting like this."
"Well, I couldn't agree more," Edrick said, leaning back in his chair slightly, his gaze never leaving her face.
Ellen raised a finger, pointing toward the restaurant door where the woman had just exited. "Was that your... girlfriend?" she asked, her tone curious but cautious. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer, but the question slipped out before she could stop it.
