Ellen knew who Edrick was.
His name was Edrick Pierce, Ellen Winters' high school boyfriend. They had loved each other deeply, but their relationship had ended abruptly when Edrick had to move away after graduation. Their love story had been a significant part of her past, but in the novel, he was just name-dropped and never really showed up. And now, out of nowhere, he had shown up, catching Ellen completely off guard.
Ellen rolled over in bed, staring at the ceiling. Last night's housewarming party had felt more like a high school reunion. She had only learned a bit more about Mason's past and had unexpectedly encountered her ex-boyfriend, someone she'd never even seen before. She could hardly believe it.