Surprise Guests
CLYVE
IT CAUGHT ME off guard that I got their attention. I knew this dinner would not be easy now that they knew I slept with a married woman and a cam girl. It was not that they cared about Westley being a cam girl or whatever she did for a living, but they’d seen her on the news, and they knew I cared about her a lot.
“Shut that looks on your faces.” I glared at them, especially at my brother. “Where’s my baby girl?” I asked when I couldn’t find Rynna.
“She’ll be here next week,” Arella answered. “The dinner will be ready shortly.”
“Okay, let’s not make my baby uncomfortable.” Mum stood up and marched towards me.”
“Thank you.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t you get tired of white and plain colors in your living room? I only see two colors in here.”
“Stop it, CC. It represents tidiness, purity, and simplicity. And it’s refreshing.” She did a little exaggeration with her hands, causing Skip to chuckle.
“Or it’s boring/ Don’t you wanna add paintings at least.”
Mum rolled her eyes. “I have a few in the other room, honey. Don’t worry, I’m the first person to be there at the opening of your gallery.” Then her expression turned serious. “By the way, how is it going?”
“It’s doing great, Mum.” I was interrupted by the doorbell. “Do you have guests?”
“Yes, honey.” Then her staff rushed towards the door. “I invited your friends.”
My brows furrowed. “Friends?”
“Dr. Hynson, thanks for having us here.”
Fuck! It was Austen, and I didn’t have to turn around who was the other since mum said ‘friends’. I could feel the instant racing of my heart, the tingling of my skin, and the adrenaline pumping through my blood. It was all due to the anticipation of seeing her in the flesh again.
“Hey, man.” Austen patted me on my back, or more likely he was saying, turn around you, idiot.
“Hey, man? I saw you yesterday, and don’t tell me you missed mentioning that I’m gonna see your ugly face today.” I eyed him, and he just grinned at me.
“Good to see you again then.” He shook my hand with a knowing smile. “Ugly? I doubt that. The last time I checked, I shared half of her DNA.”
Jesus! “Shut that smile off your face.” I knew he was enjoying seeing my reaction. Now I got it why he didn’t give me a choice, in return, he would tell me the good news.
Then I shifted my gaze till it landed on Westley. I had to swallow hard because it was like she was the only person I saw right now.
She was wearing a knee-length white dress. Her hair was shorter, just above her shoulder, and she even changed the color to auburn blonde. And she was smiling-like an ear-to-ear smile as she interacted with my brother and Arella.
“I agree with her,” Mum said to Arella. I didn’t know what was it all about.
“This scent means a lot to me, and knowing that you are wearing it, I’m so touched.”
“Well, I love it. And I’m honored to meet the woman behind this perfume.”
“The honor is mine, Harry. And thank you for accepting Eve’s invitation tonight.”
“Oh, boy. Shouldn’t you be joining them? What happened if I am not here? What would you do? Just stand at the corner like a total loser?”
“I am not a loser.” I groaned.
“Well, you will be if you will just stand here beside me.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “So, you intentionally-”
“Hi, Linton. Don’t I get a hi or hello from you?” I stilled to hear her voice. My pulse kept pumping fast as I could feel she was stepping closer. I instantly felt the heat radiating between us as she stopped in front of me.
“Got to chat with your brother. He has a lot to say than you.” Austen literally slapped my back harder.
“Good to see you again, Westley.” And you look stunning like jaw-dropping-stunning-I’m-drooling-right-now.
Shit! Come on, Clyve. You could say better than that. Just compliment her look tonight.
There was something in her smile that I had not seen before. She looked radiant, and I was sure it had nothing to do with her new look or the makeup on her face. Her eyes were shining bright.
“When was that? The last time I saw you.”
Her face fell as she looked down.
“You ignored us for weeks. No message, no email, no return calls. Why would I even expect that from you, huh? Oh, yeah. I know now because I told you I couldn’t be your friend, right? Your brother was worried sick. And hell I was, too. But yes, you have a father, and you don’t want other people to worry about you anymore because look at you right now?” I motioned to her. “Unrecognizable. It looks good on you, though.”
Wow, Clyve! That was not the speech I should be rehearsing, but it just came out, and I couldn’t take it back anymore.
“I know you’re mad at me-”
“Bloody hell I am. The last person you’d ever think would ever judge you is me, Westley because that was not news to me anymore, then you just dropped off the grid. You were untraceable. Then I realized it was my fault why shit happened.” I wasn’t aware I was racing my voice until the room went eerily silent but no one dared to interrupt us.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was barely audible.
I could say the same thing, though. Her disappearance seemed to make her whole, unlike me, I was still wallowing in self-loathe-I was still carrying the burden and hurt of losing her and my friend. And after that shit, I didn’t think our relationship would ever be the same again.
“I only came here because you’re not the one who invited me. You can’t throw me out, but I am happy to see you.”
“That’s absurd, but I can just walk out right now.”
My family chuckled.
“Are you gonna walk out?”
I shrugged. “I’m still thinking.” I just missed her terribly, Westley. Just say it, Clyve.
“Let’s not make this dinner awkward. For the sake of your family.”
“You don’t have to whisper. They’re nosy as they are. They’ve been listening since you started talking. And it sucks that I still love them with all my bleeding heart.”
“Let’s have dinner,” Finally, Skip spoke.
I should be sitting beside Westley, and that would be awesome, but I chose not to. Even though their divorce was filed, she was not completely free, and what sucked the most? Nothing was going on between us.
Although I still felt the same towards her, that was it. The last thing I wanted to recheck was my feelings because I knew I would break my heart again.
I cared about her a lot. Hell, I was in love with her. I realized that now. The reason why I couldn’t or wouldn’t want to move on was because there was no other woman who could replace Westley in my heart. She hurt me, yes, but that was why I was hurting because I cared deeply about her.
I tried to understand her reason because we fell in deep with our needs and our raw emotions. She thought what we did was not a mistake. We followed our desires, but it would never change the fact that she committed infidelity, and she did that for me.
“Clyve?”
“Yeah?” I blinked at Skip. He was narrowing his eyes at me. “My apology. You were saying?”
“Mum is asking if you like the food,” he said.
I smiled at Mum. “Yeah, Mum. Thank you.” Whenever I came for dinner, she made sure she prepared the choice of food I liked.
“Austen said you got recruits. How are they doing?” It was Westley who asked.
“I am sure Austen didn’t miss anything.” I placed my cutlery down. “They’re not recruits. They’re there in the studio to express their feelings, their emotions without pressure, to reduce their stress, and to increase their self-esteem. A few of them are good in art, hell they’re great, and it’s a way of giving them hope to their dreams instead of turning their lives sideways that they thought they don’t have value in this world anymore. Austen and I are giving them chances. Hopefully, their paintings would be hanging in the grand opening.”
Westley blinked repeatedly, and I thought I saw a glint of awe and pride in her eyes.
“I’m so proud of you, CC.” Mum was teary-eyed.
“That’s my brother.”
“It’s your dream, Linton. I’m happy for you.” Westley seemed sincere. Is she now?
She didn’t have any idea that she was one of my inspirations. She didn’t have to know. It doesn’t matter anymore.
Mum proposed a toast. “For CC and Austen.”
* * *
“SO, I HEARD you visited Keene.” I was still a little bit shocked about the divorce. I didn’t know if I had to feel happy. or I should be feeling guilty, but what would be the worse feeling or living in a trap of marriage? I just wanted her to be happy with whomever the luckiest man that deserved her. Now it was a load of bollocks!
“Yes. I’m sure you are aware of the divorce.”
I nodded, unable to meet her gaze because I didn’t want her to see that somehow I was anticipating it, or I was thrilled to hear it coming from her.
“One of the reasons that I agreed with Keene was you.”