“I’m jealous…” Chris whined, “I want a man and fireworks and stuff.”
“It’ll happen Hun, it will. You just have to be patient. It’ll come when you least expect it.”
Chris scowled and grumbled, “I don’t expect it ever anymore so it better bloody hurry up, I’ve never had such a dry spell.”
It was true, it had been a few months since Chris’s last ‘date’ and I’d never known him to go this long without someone being in the picture to keep him entertained. I’d have to start asking around, seeing if I could help change that for him.
“We could head out to G.A.Y one of the nights, see if we can’t hook you a hunk to have some fun with.”
“I’ll hold you to that Elle, but best leave your own man candy at home that night, the guys there would lose their shit over him.”
“I wouldn’t dare let Joe walk through the door. Plus he’d be struck dumb, he wouldn’t know how to save himself. He’s pretty clueless sometimes when it comes to stuff like that.”
As confident as Joe had seemed with women when I first met him, it soon became clear that he struggled dealing with people in general. He always kept his guard up and didn’t trust easily. I figured a life time of his family’s cruelty had cemented that wariness into him, but he’d really been making an effort lately to get to know Chris and Robyn more. Even though being with new people and in groups didn’t come naturally to him.
Later that evening we hurried straight out of the warmth of the cab into the chill of the November air and rushed straight into the heat of our favourite bar Après. We had dressed for the weather tonight as the fireworks planned for later in the chilly night air would freeze us solid. I had chosen black skinny ripped jeans with my black stilettos and a silky backless black top that hung at the front in waves. My hair tied up in a high pony tail and the thick curls running down my back. The blonde curls served to break up the monotony of my black outfit.
We drank wine and cocktails with the odd shot of tequila in between to get us warmed up and ready. When it came time to go outside to watch the fireworks Robyn and I hooked our arms through Chris’s and made our way to the back of the bar where a large beer garden was decked out in fairy lights with patio heaters dotted around to keep us slightly warmer.
The display started and the three of us watched, swaying slightly in response to the alcohol we had already consumed in record time and giving out the customary ‘ooo’ and ‘ahh’ as the night sky became a sparkling piece of art. I missed Joe and wished he could have been here to hold onto and cuddle instead of Chris. His arms were so much warmer and comfier. I glanced around the gardens longingly in the hope that he had arrived and would be wondering over to us. That’s when my eyes fell on someone I hadn’t expected to see, never in a million years.
Adam was stood leaning against the fence to the side of us, staring straight at me. What the hell was he doing here? This wasn’t a pub he would ever normally use, and he appeared to be alone. We stood still staring at each other for a few minutes before he pushed himself off the fence and walked towards me with real purpose. I felt relieved that Joe wasn’t here right now, if he was he’d go completely mental.
“Ella, I need to talk to you.”
“No Adam, you don’t. What the hell are you doing here anyway?”
“I knew you’d be here. I came to see you.”
“Why? We haven’t got anything to say to each other.”
“Please Ella, five minutes that’s all I’m asking for then you never have to see me again if that’s what you want.”
“Yes it is what I want, just go away Adam.”
“Please Ella.”
I huffed irritated, “Fine, five minutes then you’re gone, and not a minute more.”
I let go of Chris’s arm and walked into the corner of the garden where it was quieter so Adam could say his piece and I could escape to reconvene my night and not let the asshole spoil a thing.
“I know I have no place to say this to you Ella, especially after all I’ve done to you but I miss you.”
Oh God not this again, I threw my head back in exasperation and went to walk away, but he grabbed my arm to pull me back.
“Please don’t go just hear me out okay. I’ve spent the past few months thinking long and hard about what I want out of life, what I want my future to be. I worked so hard to become a doctor but I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for you Ella. You were there for me every step of the way. You took care of me when I was too wrapped up in exams and focusing on the future. You took all of the crap I dished out and never complained about it, not once. I know I wasn’t supportive of your career and I’m so sorry. Everything was always about me back then and I see that now. I was so stupid to do what I did….with the other girls, but Ella honestly, since you left me I haven’t been with anyone else. I don’t want to, I’ve only ever wanted you and I’m just not interested in even dating anyone else.”
He looked down at his feet and shook his head.
“Adam why are you saying all this now? It’s pointless, I don’t love you anymore.”
“But you did love me once didn’t you? You made me your world and I can’t believe I threw that away. Ella, I want to try again, I want to make you love me again.”
“That’ll never happen…”
“How do you know if you don’t try? You loved me once you could love me again. I want it to be different this time, I want to be the one taking care of you now Ella, supporting you and making you the centre of my world.”
“No Adam,” He wouldn’t let me finish.