I leaned back on the cool leather seat close to the glass wall, watching Mr. Sturm as he ordered cappuccinos at the metal counter. The blonde bartender taking his order was flushed, fluttering her lashes at him balefully as she jotted his words down. I placed a hand on my chest, directly where it was tight, and jealousy made smoke puff out my ears.
Back off my man.
This restaurant was located in a bay area I’d never been to before, and judging by the way Mr. Sturm and I were ignored and treated like completely normal people, I realized that he wasn’t popular here. No one knew about the chronic womanizer who always made the headlines with his sexcapades. No one cared about his money or reputation. He was just another one of the regulars who trooped by for coffee, along with a friend me.
I looked up now as he made his way over, setting a paper cup filled with steaming coffee in front of me. I thanked him as he settled back down on his seat, lifting the cup to my lips.
“How do you like it here?” he asked, blue eyes falling unconsciously to my lips as I swiped my tongue out a little. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and shot him a sincere smile.
“It’s nice. I can see myself coming around here a lot more often,” I took a glance around again. “So neat. And quiet.”
“I know right?” he sipped from his cup, then folded his arms in front of him. “It sure does suit your personality.”
I blushed, too stoked to answer. We fell into a thickening silence, strengthened by palpable sexual tension. His blatant stare was unnerving, making me feel hot all over. I tried my best to look anywhere else but at him.
“You know it’s rude to stare, right?” I asked in a squeaky voice, peeking up at him through my lashes. He inhaled, humming in agreement. His next words threw me off-balance.
“But it’s not wrong to appreciate one’s beauty, is it?”
“It isn’t,” I leaned onto my folded elbows. “But you’re making me very uncomfortable.”
He blinked, shaking his head and leaning back with a sigh. “I can’t help it…you look, so much like her.”
“Like who?” I asked, pretending to be puzzled when I knew what exactly he was talking about. He held my gaze as I whispered tentatively. “Cherry?”
“Max?” a voice called from the door and we both turned to see a tall, dark-haired lady making her way over. Her eyes whipped away from him to settle on me, and I felt the knot in my chest tighten the more. Mr. Sturm had gone completely pale as a ghost, tongue-tied.
Who the hell is she?
“Alsina?” he breathed at last, standing to meet her halfway. I stood up as well, confused. “What the hell are you doing here?”
The girl wasn’t having it. She tried pushing past him. “Who the fuck is she? Are you cheating on me?”
My jaw went slack in disbelief. His hands went up to hold her sides. “Control your fucking self, Alsina. We’re in public.”
“I demand an explanation,” she hissed, looking over his shoulder at me. “Is she the reason you’ve been denying my calls and calling off our dates? What places her above me, Max?”
Around us, people were watching now curiously and I sighted a few news reporters outside taking snapshots. Feeling my cheeks burn in embarrassment, I moved out of my seat and made to brush past them to the bathroom.
“Where do you think you’re going, you heifer!” she exploded, her fist curling around my hair. I cried as she yanked me back and whipped my cheeks out, sending me crashing to the floor.
“Alsina!” Max barked, catching her hand. She yelled, stomping about. I squinted through the pain burning in my scalp, lifting my fingers to my cheeks where they stung. I could make out the outline of her fingers. Oh, God.
“Get the hell out of here.” Max pushed her towards the door. The coast was clear now and the flashes of camera lights were blinding as I ran into the bathroom, tears blurring my vision. I didn’t know what hurt the most; the fact that he had a girlfriend or that he’d probably left with her already.
Sliding my back down the metal door, I buried my face in my palms, my shoulders shaking uncontrollably as I cried. For all I knew, the girl could be his wife. He had married already and I didn’t know.
And there I was, thinking we had something pure going on. I can’t believe I’d let myself fall for him all over again.
I got off the floor, stepping in front of the mirror. My left cheek was bruised, with dark, bold finger imprints on them. I clenched my fists on the pedestal sink, a sudden rage filling me up, clogging in my throat choking me. I wasn’t the violent type. I had no cause to be, despite every shit life threw at me. I was used to having Cora fight my battles for me. She was stronger, protective.
It’s time for that to change.
Strong arms snaked their way around my waist. Startled, I whirled around breathlessly to see Max standing there his blue eyes ablaze with guilt. His hands were still outstretched and I moved further away from them. “Elaine, I can explain ”
“I don’t want to hear anything. Just leave me alone.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Alright, fine. I’ve heard you. Please leave.”
“No, Elaine,” he growled, stepping forward to wrap his arms around me, against my will. I struggled, hitting his chest with my fist while he kept whispering that he was sorry against my hair, his voice breaking as well. At last, I gave up, tired and limp, squatting on the floor. We stayed like that for what felt like hours, the strawberry smell of his cologne almost lulling me into a dreamless slumber. A headache was setting in as well.
“Cherry?” he called uncertainly, stroking my hair. I looked up at him, trying not to show my surprise. Had I given myself away?
“I’m not ”
“Shh,” he pressed a finger against my lips. “Stop lying. I remember how you felt against my arm that night. It is you.”
Fuck.
There was no way out now. He’d caught me.
“W-Why?” he asked, his voice cracking a fraction. I instinctively stood up, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, refusing to look down at his helpless expression. “Why did you lie?”
“Why didn’t you come back?”
He blinked in shock. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s been five years, Max,” I folded my arms across my chest, suppressing my rage. “Five solid years since we last met. You said I’m nothing but a one-night stand. And to prove that, you went ahead and got married.”
“Where the hell are you getting these theories from? Who told you I’m married?”
Was he being serious? The audacity!
“Then explain who the hell is that girl? When she grabbed my scalp and slapped me, you did nothing to help me out. Instead, you wanted to leave with her.”
“No, no, no,” he straightened, towering over me. “You’re getting it all wrong. Alsina and I…we have history. But she’s not my wife.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Do you honestly want me to believe that?”
“You have to. It’s the truth.”
“That was exactly what you told me that night. Remember?”
His brows drew together in a frown. “Elaine, please. Let’s stop bringing up the sour memories of that night. I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”
“You could’ve come for me if you truly cared. Even though I was annoyed, I waited for you. Like a child awaiting Christmas.”
“I did search for you. All over Manhattan, but no luck. I even went to the publishing firm you worked for but the lady there said you’ve resigned. She didn’t know your house.”
Suddenly, I was aware of the sexual tension in the air. So strong, you could cut it with a knife. He was standing so close, his face was just mere centimeters away from mine. I battled the will to believe and forgive him within me.
Is he worth it? Should I tell him about Finn?
“Elaine…”
Without a second thought, I leaned in and pressed my lips softly against his. He exhaled, and when I pulled back he stared at me with new eyes. I flushed scarlet, feeling foolish.
“Elaine that was…”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking…”
I gasped when he pushed me back against the tiled wall, attacking my neck with kisses. Naturally, my legs went up, around his waist and I moaned as he ground against me. My fingers sank in his hair, pulling softly as his lips dragged over my skin, down the nape of my neck, stopping between my tits.
“Somebody might see us,” I reminded him, getting scared as I heard footsteps getting closer from outside. He groaned, then pulled back to search my face. “I have an idea.”
“What?”
“Why don’t we meet up somewhere on Saturday? I trust you’d be back from Manhattan by then.”
He looked thoughtful for a minute. “Hmm. True. Not a bad idea at all.”
His phone trilled loudly from his pockets. I set my legs down on the ground so he could fetch it out. His lips curled up into a frown. “Shit. The conference has started already. We’re almost fifty minutes late.”
I bit my bottom lip, guilt coursing through me. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, sweetheart.” He kissed my forehead. “Come on, now. Let’s go.” He took my hands and we both half-ran out of the bathroom.