I didn't know what to think as I saw Siara and Alana engulf each other in a hug when we walked into Starbucks a few minutes later.
It would seem that I had missed a few chapters.
Were these two friends or something?
"You saw me this morning!", Alana squealed as Siara tightened her arms around my best friend.
Okay so clearly I was missing something.
"We should do breakfast again tomorrow", Siara pulled away, "same place same time?".
Alana nodded with a wide smile on her face before she even noticed I had been standing there the entire time.
"Hey", she offered me a small smile.
"Hey", I answered back.
The atmosphere got awkward real quick.
"Wow guys could you be anymore awkward?", Siara spoke up.
Both Alana and I quickly glanced at each other then glanced away just as quick.
"Okay now that's just pathetic", Siara spoke up again.
"I don't remember asking you for your opinion", I quipped. "Don't you have like, work to do or something?".
She rolled her eyes and pointed to a table at the other end of the diner, "I'll be over there call me when you're done and I'll drop you off at your place".
I quickly began to shake my hands in refusal, "I'm good, I think I can go home on my own thanks".
I don't wait for her to reply instead I start walking towards an empty table and Alana follows behind me.
We both sit down and the awkwardness begins to settle until I suck it up and take a good look at her face long enough to notice her tired eyes and pale skin. If anything was clear it's that something was bothering her.
"Your mother called me yesterday", she initiated the conversation. But all I could focus on was the words she had just said.
I thought I told Heather to stay out of this. I told her I wouldn't date Alana. What more does she want?
I groaned at the whole thought of it, "What did she want?".
Alana shook her head before offering me a small genuine small. For some reason that small action alone had me feeling like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders.
"It doesn't matter", she dismissed, "but she was right. You and I were never going to work out. We are better off as friends".
As I opened my mouth to talk she placed up a finger signaling me to shut the hell up and let her speak. Which I did.
She continued, "A lot of things have happened with us Blake but I don't want to lose you as a friend. You're getting married soon and I have problems of my own to deal with so why don't we agree to only be best friends and keep it at that?".
She smiled brightly at me and held out her hand for me to shake. But all I could do was sit there shell shocked. I found her words unsettling. But what did I expect. Some part of me didn't want to agree to being just friends with Alana. I was so damn confused. But I was also engaged to another woman and I shouldn't be feeling like this. I already had Zadia so why was I still conflicted.
"Blake!", Alana raised an eyebrow at me when I'd ignored her outstretched hand.
I tried to shake off these feelings and griped her hand in mine in a firm handshake. But if this handshake was to agree to end any romantic feelings between us for good the why did I feel tingles shoot up my arm the moment my hand made contact with hers?
********************
"So will you tell me what's bothering you now?", I asked once the coffees and muffins we ordered had arrived.
Her eyes glanced outside the window for a second before flickering down to the cup in her hand, "It's my dad. His condition is getting worse. My mother has been adamant about me dropping out to come home".
My heart constricted on her behalf, "You can't just drop out of school though! There must be something else we can do. There must be some way I can help. Please just let me pay for your dad's-".
"No", she cut me off quickly, "I'm not taking your money Blake that's not what friends do".
"But friends help each other out when they need it don't they?".
She laughs a little but I can tell that it is forced, "You want to help?".
I nodded, "More than anything else".
"Did Conner tell you about the new case? Let's get that started and as soon as I have my share of the money then I can help my family".
"It's a deal", I agreed and she laughed. It was a carefree laugh that made it seem like we haven't been through so much crap in the past few days. It's awesome how we could just smoothly transition back into the best friend mode.
And yet, something about that didn't sit well with me.
"So!", She looked at me with mirth in her eyes, "how's your wedding preparations getting along?".
Dear lord.
**************
"You've been gone a while", Zadia asks when I get back to her or rather our apartment.
The scent of chicken lasagna fills the air and I inhale deeply as I walk into the kitchen where she is.
"Did you make all this?", I asked once I noticed all the food layered out on the dining table fit for a family of eight.
She smirks at me, "Most of it".
I laugh as I pecked her on the cheek before leaning on the wall and taking her in, she was wearing a blue dress that was on the short side but I couldn't get a good enough view since she had that huge pink apron over it.
"Is there an occasion?", I asked as the oven dings and she opened it to take out the lasagna.
"Can't a girl cook a romantic dinner for her man?", She asks with her back turned to me and I can tell either way that she was smirking.
"Oh really", I loved how she called me her man, her words did things to me.
I grabbed her hips from behind and spun her around to face me before my lips descend on her full ones. Her hands as if on instinct wrapped around my neck and her fingers roamed through my hair. The feeling of bliss elicited a small moan from me as my left hand settled on her waist and the other traced the length of her spine.
We were both beginning to breathe raggedly by now. The concept of dinner long forgotten as we both began to hunger for something else. When my right hand slipped down to cupped her behind and give it a tight squeeze she moaned into my mouth and I took the opportunity to dip my tongue into her mouth and explore every corner and crevice as our tongues clashed in a battle of need and lust.
When we pulled away both our breaths were ragged and I leaned my forehead against hers as our breaths mingled.
My hand slipped into my pocket to retrieve the small box I've been carrying around with me all day. Her eyes watched me curiously as I took out the ring. She gasped when she saw it and broke into a huge grin I sighed feeling a sense of relief from her reaction. I'm glad she seemed to like it.
Taking her left hand into mine I gently slipped the ring with the huge diamond unto her finger. The silver band sparkled in the lights and the second it was on her finger she jumped on me wrapping her arms around my neck. I hugged her back and I could only imagine the huge grin on my face.
"I love you so much Blake Bennett", I felt something warm on my shoulder and I realized that she was crying.
My arms tightened around her, "I love you babe, and don't you forget it".
If I hadn't been caught up in the best moment of my life I would've notice the email that came in on my phone that moment and I would've known sooner that my life was about to take another downward spiral.