"We have," He started
"One time" She said with a nod, "About one month prior to our wedding. I recall that day quite clearly because I felt like the protagonist of my own unique fairytale at the time. The ecstatic and foolish maiden was having dinner with her dark and oh-so-handsome prince, who couldn't be bothered to speak the entire time and checked his watch every five minutes as if he had somewhere much more important to be. The fact that you were just the way you were and I 'loved' you" she sneered
"Regardless, we never went out again"
"Of course we did" he insisted, he appeared remarkably uneasy. He shifted his shoulders agitatedly and stuffed his hands deep into his jean pockets.
"Those other occasions were formal business dinners that you had to bring your wife to" Elizabeth the said.
He scowled even more, but he decided not to reply to her.
"Well, then I'd say it's about time we went out together don't you?". He asked in a fake happy voice.
Elizabeth slanted her head to try to read his expression, He was keeping his usual silence. Her smile was cynical and unfunny, with her lips slightly tipped.
She shrugged, "I don't think so, Anthony, I think I'll go to my cousin's house as I had originally planned"He swayed restlessly on his heels, nodding thoughtfully.
He shrugged and said, "Suit yourself.".
"At what hour were you planning to leave"
"Soon"
"Right," he shrugged once more, appearing strangely uneasy. "Then I'll see you later" He turned away and walked away without saying anything else.
When Elizabeth arrived, Justin and Danielle were passively watching Rom-Coms. Given her advanced pregnancy, Danielle was limited in what she could accomplish. Both of them were relaxing in the den, Danielle looked snug in Justin's large blue and white striped football jersey along with a pair of stretchy blue leggings. She was comparable to a young whale in size. Elizabeth simply melted at the sight of her irritable younger cousin. As she moved behind the sofa where they were sitting, she gave Lisa a kiss on the cheek and Justin a pat on the top of his head.Justin smiled at her.
Elizabeth sat down on the other sofa, and cheerfully asked , "Nothing exciting planned for today?"
"I'm afraid we're feeling a little out of sorts today, a little grumpy, if you will. Therefore, in an effort to calm ourselves down, we are staying home- Ouch!" Justin said as Danielle struck him on the head with her hand.
"I'm not a two-year-old throwing a fit; I'm the hormonal woman you knocked up, so please don't push me.Stop talking that way.You know it drives me crazy."
Elizabeth smiled before kicking off her shoes and dragged her feet up under her as Justin slanted a rueful gaze at his amused friend and mouthed a wisely silent "see."
"What are we watching?" Elizabeth asked, reaching for some of the popcorn that was in a glass bowl on the coffee table
Justin shook his head dismissively, oblivious to the way his wife was glaring at him through her tiny round glasses.
"Some romantic thing that has Danielle breaking down into tears every two minutes or so," Rick said. He sighed, "God, the sacrifices I make to keep this woman happy,
"Well, if you had your way, we'd be watching some macho jerk swear and punch his way through two hours of nonstop explosions, car chases, and gunfire," She responded, and he grinned down at her.
"Your point being?".
"Aaargh!" She actually exclaimed
Elizabeth felt a giggle start to form in her throat for the first time in a very long time. Justin grinned, then drew his wife nearer by draping one arm around her small shoulders. Danielle put up a small fight when he put his other hand over her stomach as protection before sighing contentedly and lowering her head onto his broad shoulder. Before attempting to concentrate on the film, Elizabeth briefly observed them with envy. Danielle cried on average every two minutes during the overly sentimental movie, contrary to what Justin had claimed. When the doorbell rang, Elizabeth had just begun to become somewhat engrossed in the story. Justin rose to answer it.
A small smile appeared on Danielle's face as she watched him leave. She remained silent for some time before shaking her head in frustration.
"You know, if I didn't love him so darned much, I would probably have killed him by now."Elizabeth surprised herself by laughing aloud in response to her cousin's bitter admission,
After the events of the previous 48 hours, she found it hard to believe that she still had a sense of humor. Elizabeth's smile and all the joy left her face when she saw who was standing behind Justin as he entered the room again wearing an uncharacteristically grim expression.
After a moment of stunned silence, she finally choked out, "What are you doing here?".