Recap:
Just as we were about to begin eating, Jude said, “I have something important to say” I looked at Wade nervously and licked my lips, my heart was thudding so loudly I was sure they could hear it. Was he going to call off our engagement now? Was he going to call off the wedding? I felt close to tears and felt like a fool for even thinking that Jude had been jealous. It seemed like whenever I took a step forward at the end of the day I ended up two steps back.
Wade’s P. O. V
I looked at Jude and rolled my eyes. I stopped myself from banging my head on the table. When was this idiot going to understand that Stephanie was bad news? When was he going to get around his stupid head that she had come back to him not because she loved him. Most importantly it was high time he kept his stupid male ego aside and he realized that he was and had always been Stephanie’s back up plan. I made a mental note to call Sean and update him on this latest development. He had named this whole agenda of getting Natasha and Jude together ‘covert ops bringing douche Jude to his senses’ yeah it was too big to even make an acronym out of it so I had just given up and refused to call it that when Sean asked me to. I stared at Stephanie and gave her the evil eye; I wanted her to know that I could see through her act. I smirked in satisfaction as she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Then I turned to look at Jude who looked away immediately. He had definitely been jealous when he had seen Natasha and I goofing around. Of course he didn’t know that I was goofing around. I turned to look at Natasha who was licking her lips nervously. I felt really bad for her, the moment she became happy Jude burst her bubble. Well more specifically Stephanie burst her bubble. I had become incredibly fond of Natasha in the short time that I knew her; she was just the kind of person you instantly became friends with. She was perfect for Jude. She complemented him perfectly; all of us could see that except for Jude.
“So” I looked up to see Jude was finally speaking, “Natasha I have something to tell you. I didn’t realize you’d be here too Wade but anyway, Natasha I still have feelings for Stephanie.”
“Oh k” Natasha looked so confused it was hilarious! Its like she was torn, she didn’t know whether she was supposed to pretend to be mad or not react at all because we didn’t know yet whether Stephanie knew the truth or not.
“Its ok Nats. She knows”
“Oh alright”
Stephanie smiled and said, “We were just discussing how do we take things forward from here”
“What do you mean?” I asked her coldly.
She smiled that sickeningly sweet and fake smile of hers again and said, “Well obviously I wouldn’t be comfortable with Natasha staying here with Jude, all alone”
“Seriously?” I asked, now I was furious “you’re the one to talk? Its Jude’s decision and not yours!”
Jude looked like a deer that had been caught in headlights. “What? Yeah, Stephanie and I spoke about it-”
“And?” Natasha cut him off before I could. I had to agree with Sean Jude was being a douche. “Well I realized that she is right, I mean I was uncomfortable with her staying with Nick”
“So” spoke up Stephanie whom I shall name THE BITCH from now on, I was getting really pissed. “We decided you could stay at your place and Jude stays here and you can come over when his family is here and pretend all is good”
If I was the kind of guy who hit girls, Stephanie would be knocked out cold by now. I hated her guts. Who the hell was she to come waltzing in and disrupt everyone else’s lives, as long as she was happy. “Ok” I began really annoyed right now, “Who died and made you the queen of all humans? Who the hell said that you can just come in here and tell everybody what to do?”
Natasha placed a hand on my knee and whispered, “Wade its ok”
“No! Its not ok Tasha. She cannot order people around. She walks in right here pretending that everything is alright, that she didn’t break my brother’s heart three years ago, what’s the guarantee that she won’t do it ever again? Huh Stephanie? What’s the proof?” I got up and my chair fell over.
“Wade calm down man!” said Jude.
“Do not ask me to calm down. Jude I was there when she broke your heart and left you alone to mend it by yourself. I know what she did to you then and I know what she will do now.”
“Oh really?” asked Stephanie, good lord she even had fake tears in her eyes; I will kill this woman, so help me Lord! “I know what I did was a mistake Wade. I am truly sorry for what I did. It was rash, impulsive and the biggest mistake of my life. But I have changed I swear, I would never do that ever again, yo-you have to believe me! Jude I-”
“Shh its ok babe” Jude got up and hugged her. I looked away in disgust, he was actually consoling her. While Natasha just stared at the scene numbly.
“Ok er Natasha and I spent the better part of the day cooking this food. I am hungry and I want to eat. So just complete what you started so we can all eat”
“Ok well I guess we will do what Stephanie just said”
“Ok” said Natasha.
“Cool” I said, “but when your parents come here to give you a surprise and find Stephanie here with you, don’t tell me” “Oh but Stephanie won’t be staying with me”
Both Natasha and I raised our eyebrows and he rolled his eyes and said, “Really! We have decided to take this nice and slow”
“Ok then when your mom calls you and asks to pass the phone to Natasha and you run out of excuses, I ain’t helping you”
Both Jude and Natasha looked at each other, I saw Jude’s face soften and I was sure he almost changed his mind when the bitch spoke up again and said, “So we’ll call them before they call us.” Ok did I say I hate Stephanie? I hate her!
“Whatever” I said ignoring Stephanie, “your call” I said looking at Jude.
I started eating, the food was delicious. If I ever got married I would want my wife to be like Natasha. That girl was perfect! Natasha ate in silence; she had barely uttered a word tonight. Just moments ago she had been so happy and all chirpy while cooking. I had to call Sean tonight; we needed to step up on our game.
“This is delicious!” said Jude Silence.
“The mushrooms are cooked perfectly and the garlic bread is delicious”
Silence, I was really enjoying watching Jude squirm, he was trying to get Natasha to talk. He looked at me pleadingly but I ignored him.
“Natasha” I said, “the chicken curry is absolutely delicious” “Thanks” she said smiling at me. I smirked at Jude who was sulking now. He had completely given up. Natasha finished eating quickly and got up and left the kitchen. I sat and took a second helping. So did Jude, Stephanie finished but stayed there. I ignored both of them and ate leisurely. Natasha came back with a backpack.
“Wade will you drop me home?”
I glared at Jude and said, “Sure”
“Ok cool when you’re done we’ll leave”
“Oh I almost forgot the dessert” she said with false cheerfulness. Jude and I got up and started clearing the table while Natasha served the dessert and Stephanie, well lets say she was sitting and surveying everything like she was the queen. When Jude was near me I coughed ‘Douche!’
“I heard that” whispered Jude.
“Good you were meant to hear it”
Jude glared at me and was about to say something when Natasha cut in, “Wade here’s your dessert and Jude I have kept yours on the table.”
Neither Jude nor I moved. We continued our glaring match, when finally Natasha stepped in between us and smiled at me, “Wade come on! I wanna go home” she pouted. I smiled and gave in. I quickly ate the delicious chocolate mousse and asked, “Ready?”
“Yep” she got up and picked her bag.
“Is that all you had?” asked Stephanie, in what she thought was a kind tone when really it was condescending.
“No but the rest of the stuff Jude has bought for me so I will keep it here”
“Oh alright”
Then Natasha wore the jacket that I had bought her and Jude spoke up, “When did you get that”
“Oh this? Wade bought it for me”
“Oh, I thought we had decided I would buy you one?”
“No actually we had decided no such thing”
“Besides” I said, “I insisted on buying her one”
“Well let’s leave Wade”
“Yep” I said picking my jacket.
“Call me when you reach?” Jude said.
“Yeah” said Natasha and walked out without looking back even once. I got my car out and she got in without saying a word.
“Are you alright?”
“Is it weird that I feel discarded? Unwanted?”
I sighed and pulled over. “Natasha you are beautiful, smart, intelligent, you have a sense of humor and you are an excellent cook. Who would not want you?”
“Jude”
“Oh he’s just being a douche, he’ll come around eventually”
“What if he doesn’t? What if it’s too late?”
“It won’t be” I said with more confidence than I actually felt. She smiled and said, “Can you drop me off to Joey’s, I really don’t want to be alone right now”
“Sure, but don’t you want to call her and check first?”
“Yeah sure” I started the car as she dialed her friend’s number.
“Hello?”
I listened to the monologue with amusement.
“Oh God! I am sorry how I was supposed to know that you were busy! Well why did you answer? Argh no nothing urgent I will call you later”
I looked at her and said, “Well?”
“er she was busy”
“Doing what?”
“I’d rather not say”
I started laughing and said, “Why did she answer, I pity the poor guy!”
“Oh shut up” said Natasha burying her face in her hands in embarrassment.
“Ok so I was thinking you could bunk at my place”