There was something about the way he looked at her,
Regret or passion, or maybe a mix of both.
Every time I saw Alex, I felt a pang of longing. The need to be with him was strong but the need for a normal safe relationship was stronger.
I didn’t want to listen to my heart only then to regret ignoring my brain.
I couldn’t be with him, not after all the decisions I made and the things I did. I couldn’t face him.
So as I sat opposite Evan on our 5th date, I smiled as I saw him struggling to get the fries out of coke. Not surprisingly this happened every time with him. He claimed he liked fries in coke and then he would dip it in too long and it would get all soggy.
“Dammit.” Evan cursed as the fries disappeared somewhere in the huge glass of coke.
I chuckled softly. “Let it go will you.”
“But now the coke will taste all salty.” He complained, taking a sip of the coke and wrinkling his nose at the taste. “Told ya.”
I rolled my eyes. “And I told you that the fries would get soggy. Did you listen, Nah. Think you are too smart.”
“Hey I am going to be a lawyer okay? I am smart.”
I pointed my drippy straw at him. “You are not a lawyer yet. So don’t argue now. How are studies going?”
Evan groaned, dropping his head in his hands. “So much to study. So much.”
I smiled, lightly tapping his soft hair. “You’ll do it.”
He shrugged. “So your brother is coming next week?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, swatting Evan’s hand as he tried to grab my fries. “Eat your own stuff.”
“Such a mean girlfriend. Can’t share food.” Evan teased.
“Haha. We have been over this, don’t call me your girlfriend and don’t take my food.”
Evan sighed, me not yet agreeing to be his girlfriend was a touchy subject. “Fine. My bad.”
I closed my eyes, breathing out in wearily. “Evan please.”
“No Myra.” Evan smiled, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I understand, I do. But is this ever going anywhere?”
I bit my bottom lip, truthfully even I didn’t know the answer to that. “I hope so. I like you Evan, I really go. But I don’t do relationships.”
Evan took my hand, rubbing my palm soothingly. “I am ready whenever you are.”
I smiled at him, really glad that I had the guts to ask him out a month back. One of the best and most absurd actions in my life.
“So your brother, Lucas is he?” Evan changed the subject.
I nodded. “Yes Lucas, you should talk to him. He is also in law. No idea what he is doing but he was in law school.” I snorted. “I don’t even know if he passed.”
Evan raised his eyebrows. “So you two aren’t close?”
“Not really.” I shrugged. “He is 6 years elder to me and we haven’t talked in almost 6 months. He’s coming here for some work and the only reason he’s staying here is because my parents warned us both that he will only stay at my place.”
“Zivah?”
“I’ll sleep in her room. He’s only here for four days so it’s not a big deal.”
“You are close with your parents?”
I shrugged noncommittally. “Not that. I mean I talk to them once in two days but it’s just how are you, how are studies, how is the job. We aren’t exactly a close knit family.”
Evan nodded but I doubt he understood. He was really close with his family. He had lost his father when he was young so it was only him, his mother and his little sister. Being the only man in the family, he was protective over the ladies and loved them. “Do you miss them?”
I didn’t know the answer to that. Or maybe I didn’t want to answer truthfully. “I do sometimes but it’s just when I miss my favorite food.” I joked. “I mostly just miss Mom’s cooking.”
Evan could see I was avoiding the subject so didn’t say anything more in that regard.
By now our trays were empty and our stomachs full. “So we’ll meet at the weekend? Your brother comes on Sunday right?”
“Yes, Sunday.” I nodded, walking out along with Evan. “I’ll ask him if he’s free. We’ll go for dinner maybe, Zivah can join us too.”
“Sounds good.” Evan got on his bike. “Should I drop you?”
I shook my head. “It’s a ten minute walk and you go in the opposite direction. Plus I need this walk, this is probably the only exercise I’ll be getting today.”
Evan smirked, his lips tilting to the right. “I tell you should come to my apartment. We can do a workout together.”
I blushed, rolling my eyes. “You wish.”
Evan’s smirk widened. “Oh that I do. You know just yesterday I dreamt of you, we were on the beach and both of us in the water, and then-”
My eyes widened, my blush deepening. I slapped his arm. “Shut up.” I ordered in mortification.
“You didn’t let me complete. And then you drowned.” Evan chuckled, winking at me.
“Haha very funny.” I let out a fake laugh. “Go away now. Don’t you have to study for your tests?”
Evan groaned, “There are so many. It doesn’t even make any sense.”
“So go and study. Good luck.” I smiled, showing him a thumbs-up.
Evan nodded. “Thanks! So let’s go shopping together.”
I looked at him in surprise at the sudden suggestion. “Shopping? Why?”
“So that I’ll know what you like and what you don’t. That makes it easier for me to buy things for you.”
I let out a breathed laugh. “Cute. And why would you buy me anything?”
Evan grinned, showing his perfectly aligned teeth. “For our anniversaries. One month, 100 days, three months and so on.”
I couldn’t help the smile from growing over my face. “Just.” I sighed, shaking my head at him. “Just go.”
“Don’t blush. See you soon, girlfriend.” Evan teased and before I could protest, he started his bike and drove off. His contagious laughter was left in the air.
I let out a low chuckle, the slight blush still dancing on my cheeks. As I turned and started walking in the opposite direction, the smile didn’t drop. It felt good being with him. He was a breath of fresh air. There was no drama, he had his goals set and he didn’t have any jealous ex-girlfriends – not that I knew of.
He was exactly the guy a girl would be lucky to have.
As I neared my apartment, I passed a small alley. An alley I was unfortunately quite familiar with. I took a few deep breaths trying to blur out the memories and control the emotions. That was not the memory lane I wanted to dwell into now.
Just as I was about to walk away, I heard a voice. A voice so familiar.
Ray Parker.
I immediately sneaked behind the large dustbin at the side. Scrunched up my nose at the strong rotten smell but didn’t move. What was in the dustbin? Dead cats?
I strained my ears as I slowly peeked out. Ray was there smiling at a girl I had never seen before. She had short blond hair and was wearing denim shorts and a green crop top. I gulped as I wondered what happened between him and Athena.
Is this his girlfriend? Or is he cheating on Athena?
I saw helplessly as Ray took the girl’s head in his hands and kissed her mercilessly. She didn’t seem to be complaining but for this angel I couldn’t be so sure. After a few seconds, the girl was against the wall as Ray started kissing down her neck.
I patiently waited there, speculating if that girl was going to scream in protest or if she was actually enjoying this. And when her fingers disappeared into Ray’s hair bringing his head closer to hers, I knew it was time to go.
Maybe they were in this familiar small alley because they were just suddenly horny. It didn’t mean anything was wrong with that. It didn’t mean she was forced into coming into this alley. It didn’t mean he was cheating on Athena. And it definitely didn’t mean Ray was going to rape her.
So with a semi made up mind, I silently got up, bowing my head low as I tried to escape the alley without making a sound. But as fate would have it, just as I turned my feet kicked an empty metal bottle, making a sound that was sure to have echoed through the valley.
I closed my eyes, wincing. “Fuck.” I swore under my breath.
I pressed my lips trying to not breathe and hoping maybe they were so busy kissing that didn’t hear the sound.
“Myra, is that you?” Ray’s suspicious voice proved my hope fruitless.
I sighed slowly, turning around with a small forced smile. “Oh Ray, is that you?” I smiled more, faking surprise. “Didn’t see you there.”
The girl was behind Ray, standing with arms crossed, glaring at me and I immediately averted my eyes, focusing on the alley walls stained with dry vomit.
Ray raised his eyebrow, anger and shock clear in tone. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh me-” I snorted as if it wasn’t a big deal. “I was just um-” I fumbled for a credible lie. “-passing by when I um… saw.” I gulped trying to think of a valid excuse. “-this dustbin.” I ended. Realizing this was good enough I continued. “Yes the dustbin. I had to throw a few wrappers. So that is what I was doing. Throwing garbage in the dustbin because that is what we should do. Keep the country clean you know. Don’t throw waste on the roads.”
I could see Ray didn’t believe me, not one bit. “What wrapper?”
“Chips.” I instantly answered.
Before Ray could argue over that, the girl tapped his shoulder. “Who is she?”
Ray smirked at me. “Oh she is Myra, my ex-girlfriend.”
I let out a shocked laugh, shaking my head. “No no. we are just colleagues.” I corrected.
Ray winked at me through his glasses. “She stalks me, she is still a little possessive about me.”
“Okay. That’s enough.” I commanded, rolling my eyes at the pure lie. I wanted to ask about Athena but I also didn’t want to tell him how I knew about him and Athena so instead, I smiled at the girl. “He is not my ex. He is a liar, so I would be careful if I were you.”
The girl didn’t care about my warning at all. She looked at me with disdain. “Leave.”
“Gladly.” I muttered under my breath before walking away from the alley and the awful stink of garbage or maybe it was Ray who was stinking with his horrid lies.
I couldn’t think of a single reason why he would be lying especially about our never existing relationship. To make that girl jealous? But what about Athena? Where did she fit in all this?
I entered my apartment, my mind filled with thoughts that made up for excuses of Ray’s behavior and possible infidelity.
“You okay?” Zivah questioned, her mouth full with pizza. “I thought you weren’t coming until late tonight.”
“I have office tonight.” I said, ignoring her question. “You have off?”
Zivah nodded. “Yes. Ask me my plans.” Before I could ask she was continued. “I plan to watch Stardust and then The Princess Bride, why? Because I can.”
I raised my eyebrows at her. “All good between you and Seb?”
“Eh.” Zivah shrugged. That one word reply was enough to give the whole ‘Everything is not fine’ story. I would have questioned her, probed her more if it wasn’t for the sudden notification tone from my mobile.
I had still not disabled the notification for important news updates on Alex Bianchi.
And there, staring at me was the most important update of his life. And also the most terrifying and heartbreaking update of mine.
‘Alex Bianchi and Diana Reynolds announce their engagement.’