Ineffable ? Joost Klein ?

7.

'He was actually the only one that talked to me before you guys showed up. He was nice.'

It mustn't have been him. If Elke enjoyed this Nathan's company, then Joost could be at ease. He opened the passenger door and stepped out as Elke did the same on her side. They rejoined at the boot of her car and headed for the lift.

'I think it was why Roan was so worked up tonight,' Elke said as they waited. 'He really wanted you to meet this Nathan guy.'

'Or it was the fact that I was there at all.'

'That's also plausible.'

The ride up to their floor was in a comfortable silence. It gave Elke the time to think even though that was usually hard when standing so close to Joost. But the factor was relevant, because Elke was beginning to realise something.

What was the point of dating Roan if her heart didn't flutter when with him? It was wrong to be excited and feel this way in another man's company. It was shameful to talk badly about your boyfriend to your new, handsome neighbour. But Elke had done so like it was something natural. She hated car meets and Roan had left her there, only for Elke to enjoy herself with Joost and his friends. That wasn't what a relationship should be like.

Elke had said she was going to break up with Roan. After tonight, now was the time to finally do it.

'Thank you for driving me home,' Joost said when they stepped onto their floor. Elke waved her hand dismissively.

'Sorry that it's no rally Suburu or Mitsubishi.'

Joost chuckled. 'No, I like it. The Swift is a mean machine.'

Elke laughed and said goodnight. Joost returned it and unlocked his door, waiting for her to go inside 408 before he disappeared into 406.

---

Roan was coming over and Elke was ready. She was going to be firm and she wasn't going to cry.

Her Monday had been long and the novelty of her promotion had worn off. Working as soon as she got to the office and needing to stay late was the last thing she wanted at the start of the week. The text from Roan saying he was coming over that evening just added onto her leaning pile. She told herself that it was time and pushed through her Tuesday with the minor distraction.

When she got home, Elke changed into comfortable clothes and performed what could be considered a ritual. She turned a lamp on in her living room and opened the window. She put a show on the TV but muted it, letting it play to no one on the beige sofa. It was all to set her mind straight and give her the strength to cut Roan from her life.

She texted Arabella but didn't look at her reply. Elke didn't need to read a dramatic message with balloon and celebration emojis before the deed had been done. She would leave it until after and maybe team the read with the rest of her champagne. When she remembered it was in Joost's fridge, Elke considered reading the text tomorrow morning, instead.

A knock at the door sent Elke striding from her kitchen. She muttered to herself some encouragement and grabbed the handle, pulling it open with a preempted greeting. But with the dive of a breaking wave, Elke's heart dropped and her plans were ruined.

'Hope you don't mind, El, but Nathan wanted to have a night in the city and I thought we could all go to dinner!'

Roan's smile was so punchable that Elke had to clench a fist by her side. The long-haired Belgian was almost transparent by her boyfriend's side with his heavy-lided eyes. She would have greeted him with genuinity if she had known he was coming.

'You didn't mention dinner...' Elke let out, her jaw tight. Nathan's presence also wasn't mentioned but she didn't say that.

'Yeah, well I wasn't sure, at first.'