"You can stop at the next gate on the left." She said as they drove into the quiet neighborhood. The first words she uttered since their awkward moment. Most of the lights in the houses were off indicating that it was way past bed time. They stopped before a luxurious duplex with the lights still on.
"I suppose he is well off from the neighborhood and the house." He said looking at the house.
"Yeah, he's a lawyer at The Law Offices of Richard Wright. " she said proudly.
"Oh wow! That's amazing." He replied impressed.
"Yeah, and he wanted us to move in where there'll be enough space for the growing family and for his mom."she explained. "... He was thinking we have about 6 kids at least..."she chuckled.
At least 6 kids?? Who thinks about having so many these days? Besides, she always told me she wanted 4 at most... What happened to that? Doesn't she have a say in the number of kids she can birth?
"Oh sorry, here i go rambling about my household issues and fiancee... Was that insensitive? I know it's kinda tacky given our history together..." she asked wary.
Looking away, he replied with a crooked smile. "No. Not at all, seems he treats you right and can provide for any of your needs. Besides, you seem happy being with him. It's nice to see you smile like this again despite how we ended."
She gave a nervous smile and looked down at her fingers as she fiddled with them. "Thanks." She said then bit her lip anticipating the next moment. "...i should go. Thanks for bringing me home." She thanked him and her left hand fell on his. It was a subconscious action, which was done without any implication to it but as soon as their hands made contact, she felt a warmth from them. Immediately she pulled away shocked.
"Sorry." She apologized awkwardly.
"It's fine. And you're welcome." He replied. How he wished she had kept her hand there a little longer.
"I should go."she said once again, unfastening her seatbelt hastily and opened the door. "Bye and goodnight." She said before hopping out and scurrying to the gate. She got in the pin and the gate unlocked. Walking in fast stride to the door, she stopped at the porch and turned back to the car. He waved her good bye but still didn't move. Why wasn't he leaving? She waved back with an awkward smile and finished her way in. He watched as a tall lean black man opened the door and welcomed her with a warm embrace then a lingering kiss. He turned away because he couldn't watch the scene: watching her openly display affection for another man was what he could never stomach, no matter how much he said he was fine with her been happy. He doubt if he could even accept the reality of it. For a moment, the night felt like everything had returned to how it was. And it was just another evening on which they had dinner out, only till he drove into the neighborhood did he realize she wasn't going home to his nor to her old apartment. He glanced again at the door where they stood talking. Him probably asking why she took so long and her probably giving a credible excuse because I'm sure as hell she couldn't blurt out "... ehmm sorry, had a kinda lover squabble with my ex." Yeah not happening. Although deep down he wished she had say that. But whatever she said had him looking in the direction of the car and he raised his hand in appreciation. Michael just nodded in acknowledgment and they turned away and got in the house.
His shoulders sagged as her figure disappeared behind the door. He sighed disappointedly and laid his head against the head rest with his eyes closed and his hands clenching the steering wheel.
"God forgive me but I'm still crazy about her and I fear i may do something stupid and loose her again." He said in prayer before lifting up his head in an upright position and got the ignition on and kicked off.
He just hoped it all got better because tonight felt like light at the end of the tunnel. Before they could barely seat in the same room except it was forced and she never tried looking at him or talking to him less it was for professionalism. But tonight they did talk, and even brought up memories about when they were together, laughed about it. And she relaxed up to the point of forgetting about all boundaries she had drawn and the previous tension between them and touched his hand. It had to mean they're going somewhere right?... Even if it wasn't that big a deal to her... It was progress for him. And so he drove off, happily clinging unto that thought and the hope that someday, things will definitely come around.
Meanwhile on her side, it wasn't such a happy bubble.
"Who was that? It doesn't seem like that guy... Sartorius ain't it?" He asked.
"Yeah, it wasn't Javier. He's kinda like my boss from another company..." She replied.
"Barely around and you're parading around town with all the rich white men you can get." His mother grumbled from the parlour.
"Hey mom." She greeted with a forced smile. "He's our business partner,a major shareholder in the business deal we're currently working on and he's an old acquaintance from college." She explained
"You were supposed to be home tending to the needs of your future husband but instead, you're out having luxurious dinners with your bosses and returning at the wee hours of the night accompanied by some man who's supposedly your other boss..." She snared.
"It's fine mom." Christian spoke calmly.
"I thought you said you had one job or are you working odd jobs now? It's not like you lack the money." She said with a cynical laugh. "My son already works hard enough to provide for you and give you an expensive life but it seems there's not enough money in this world to satisfy you."
"Mom!" he scolded.
"You know what? I know I'll never be good enough for your son in your eyes. But you don't have to insult me because yes I do work very hard to get things myself. And my job, entails me being my boss's right hand so sorry but I'll be absent sometimes." She replied honestly. His mother huffed and walked away.
"I'm sorry she went off on you like that."
"It's ok. I'm used to it by now."she replied
"Still it was wrong of her to act that way." He insisted
"So you can actually see when she's wrong." She said sarcastically.
"Oh c'mon. Not tonight. I've missed you enough as is. Let's just go to bed ok?" He pleaded as his arms circled her.
She bit the inside of her cheek, and kissed her teeth as she rolled her eyes. "Fine." She sighed.
"Great." He said giving her a peck on her lips then smacking her ass which made her squeal.
"What was that for?" She asked with a grown.
"Sorry, you know how much I can't resist your ass." He said with a cheeky smile as he grabbed a hand full of her ass.
She hissed annoyed and pushed his hand away. "Let's just go to bed I'm so tired." She replied, walking past him. She had no idea why she felt so irritable... Usually she never mind when he did that because it wasn't the first time. But something ticked her off. Be it the annoying mother in-law she was to have or the entire night was just exhausting and long. Or the fact that she was with him that made everything feel different... either way, she was grateful the night was over.