I don't know when I fell asleep but when I wake up I don't find Nathan's arms around me this morning. He slept on the couch all through the night. It did feel empty but it's right, I keep telling myself. He is already ready and not in the room. I take a shower and go downstairs where Nathan and Robin are already having breakfast. Anna and Robin returned yesterday night.
"How was trip?" I ask Robin joining them at the table.
"Delightful!" he smiles, "Anna is a treat." he winks at her.
"I'm sitting right here." Nathan says to him, shooting a disgusting look. I may hate Robin for blackmailing me into this marriage but he treats Anna like a queen, his queen. I stare at them and wonder if I would ever have that, not with Nathan of course, but with someone else after I get divorced. I finish my breakfast as soon as it comes.
"Alright, I'll take a leave." I say and everyone looks up at me, "Uh, I have to go the orphanage. I didn't yesterday also."
"Oh yeah, honey how was your lunch?" Anna asks me.
"It was really nice." I say.
"Very nice. Nathan, why don't you drop April?"
"Oh no, it's fine I'll walk."
"Yeah, mom walking is good for health. Might as well loose some weight." he remarks.
"Hey, I'm not fat. I just eat a lot!" I defend.
"Nathan, I wasn't asking!" Anne scolds him.
"Fine." he rolls his eyes, "Gimme five minutes." he says to me and runs upstairs. He comes down in exactly five minutes, dressed into a formal suit he wears to work. I flip through the newspapers till he arrived. I sit in the passenger seat as he drives me to the orphanage. He stops at the orphanage gate and gets out of the car along with me.
"It's okay, you can go. Bye!" I say.
"I want to see the place my wife is a volunteer at." he says, "Hold the keys, I have to tie my shoe lace." he hands me the car keys. I walk into the gate ahead of him as I see a very very familiar face. I recognise it immediately and my eyes go wide. What the hell is he doing here? I quickly turn around and sprint back, bumping into Nathan.
"What happened?" he asks me, holding me by the shoulders.
"I...Uh...uh." Words refuse to come out of my dry mouth. I can not do this. Not here, not today. Adrenaline pumps inside me and my thinking ability goes in the wind. What should I do?
"Let's go." he says. No! I have to stop him. How do I stop him. I can't go in there. "Walk, Grey." he instructs. I look down and think. I can't escape this can I? I calm myself and walk, still ahead of him. This time he notices me, his brown eyes meet mine and I freeze there. This is so awkward.
"April?" his voice sinks in me, "Is that really you?" he approaches me with a big smile on his face.
"Uh-" I'm unable to find any words, "Yes Dylan, it's me." I say after moments of silence.
"Oh my God! Who knew I would meet you here!" he hugs me tightly. I almost melt in his arms. The familiar smell of his cologne, his warmth, his perfect embrace. Minutes pass but we don't pull away. I've missed him. Yeah, I bet Nathan will be finding this amusing my subconscious barks and I remember that he is standing just a few feet away. I pull away from the hug.
"How are you? I wanted to contact you as soon as I got here but I had some work. I have missed you." he cups my face then hugs me again. I keep my hands to his side pushing him away a little. I don't think he felt it so I push him away more firmly. When he pulls away I turn around to look at Nathan who was observing us closely, like a hawk, watching every move I was making.
"Uh- Dylan..." I begin to introduce him..
"Oh you have a new driver. Good, I have been telling you that forever. Why are you holding the keys?" he takes the keys from me, "Park the car." he hands them to Nathan. God, kill me please I beg you to kill me. I look up him, his eyes fuming with anger, his palms curled into a fist. He is trying hard to control himself.
"Oh no! Dylan!" I stop him, "He's my..." I begin and I think he got the vibe 'cause I can see a disappointment in his eyes.
"My husband," I say confidently wrapping my arm around Nathan's arm and press my body against his, he relaxes a little under my touch. Dylan has 'shocked' written all over his face.
"Nathan, this is my old friend, Dylan." I lie.
"Nathan Walsh," he shakes Dylan's hand. I can see that his grip is too tight and it is getting tighter by the second.
"Dylan Scott," he give him a small and awkward smile. Dylan pulls his palm free and jerk it to get rid of the pain. Nathan turns around to take a leave without even looking at me.
"I'm very sorry," I walk with him to the car.
"Ex-boyfriend?" he asks me and I nod.
"Stay away from him, I don't want any media trouble okay?" I nod again, "Say it damn it am I clear?" he says gritting his teeth.
"Yes!" I say. He leans down to give me a quick kiss on forehead, looking at the distance behind me. What part of don't touch me he doesn't understand?! What is he doing? Marking his territory? That's so childish.
"Bye, see you tonight." I say and walk back to the main office gate. Dylan is no longer standing there, I sigh and walk in. Where did he go? I shouldn't be looking for him, he will be too much trouble. I don't want the media lurking in my personal life.
Ethan is nowhere in sight. It's a monday he must have office. I spend the day with the kids teaching them some alphabets, helping them with their homework, reading them stories. Noah giving absolutely no attention to any of my tries to start a conversation to get to know him. What is going on with the kid? I feel for him but he has to ultimately move on at some point. Maybe a psychologist can help him.
By the time everyone is summoned for dinner it's seven. I walk out hurriedly and bump into Ethan. Dylan standing with him.
"Hey!" he chirps, "You are here. Why didn't you come yesterday?"
"Uh, I had lunch with Nathan." I state. I feel Dylan's eyes on me.
"That's nice! Hey, here's your Ferdinand!" he gestures towards Dylan. I couldn't speak a word in shock. Noway I'm doing a play with my ex boyfriend.
"Yeah, about that I really don't think I want to do it." I say.
"What? Why? You said you always wanted to. What happened now? You were the perfect snow white."
"It's because I'm in it." Dylan says roughly, "April and I used to date. Now, her 'husband' will not give her 'permission' to work with an ex boyfriend, of course." he says bitterly. He has all the right to be angry. It hadn't been that long of time since we broke up that I would just go and marry someone. The situation wouldn't be so awkward if Nathan and I were dating but this is so complicated. How will I ever explain everything to him?
I give them a small smile and leave the premises. Dylan and I were good friends once who knew that even our friendship would be ruined. I don't think we both have feelings for each other anymore. As I walk out I hear my name being called out.
"April!" I turn to see Dylan coming after me. Oh no, this can't be happening.
"Dylan, I don't think we should..." I trail off.
"Just here to talk," he raises his hands in defeat, "I am sorry for being rude earlier. Your news came as a shock to me."
"Dylan, he would not like this. I don't want to hurt him." I say honestly.
"Okay, but at least we can be friends? Please!"
"Nathan would...."
"Screw Nathan! What you want is what matters! I know you married him and you must love him too..."
"I do love him very much," I lie, "That's why I don't want to hurt him." Which is true I don't want to hurt him.
"You still didn't answer my question. Do you want to be friends with me?" his eyes piercing into mine. It's hypnotizing.
"Yes," I say the truth. Of course I do, there is so much history here. I can't just forget everything can I?
"Then it shouldn't matter what he thinks. I promise this won't be anything but friendship." he assures me.
"Okay," I say so low that it's barely audible. Dylan and I walk to Nathan's house, talking about how we met. I told him how I kissed him but spiced the story up by adding he kissed me too. He couldn't stop thinking about me and then we met our parents' business party, knew it was just the right thing to do and got married. I'm so great at making cliché stories I should be a writer.
"I think you should go." I say a few meters away from his house, "If he sees me with you he'll flip out. Please." I request him to leave.
"Of course." he leans in for a hug but stop him by holding my hand out for a handshake. I could see hurt in his eyes but it's the right thing to do. I walk to the house and go straight to my room. I hear glass shattering through the doors. Frightfully I open the door to meet dark green eyes. Oh no, did he see me with him? Am I in trouble? Has he been drinking all evening? What will I do now?