Our Way

He grabs my arm and pulls me back to face him. “Jesus Christ, woman, will you listen to me for one fucking minute? I’m not with Robert. I was never with Robert.”

“I saw the pictures of Ibiza, Nathan.”

He frowns, as if confused.

“At your mother’s. I saw the photos.” I splutter, “How can you still lie to me after all this time? Did our friendship mean nothing to you at all?”

“We were on a Contiki reunion trip with twenty other people, Eliza. Separate rooms and very limited speaking. There is nothing with fucking Robert, like I told you.” His eyes search mine. “You left me for Henry Morgan?”

“No.” I sigh. God, how this must look? “That’s the first time I have seen Henry since I left… not that it’s any of your business.”

“You kissed him?”

“Yes.” I throw my hands up. “I kissed him, all right.”

“What else have you been doing?”

I stare at him, and a pull toward him overwhelms me. He’s so familiar.

So loved.

“Lying on the couch crying over you, Nathan.” My eyes fill with tears at how pathetic I must sound. “So stay the fuck away from me, okay?”

His face falls and he pulls me close. “Baby.”

“Don’t.” I struggle to break out of his arms, and he holds me tight against my will. “Let me go.” I struggle, and finally break free. I push him hard in the chest and he stumbles back. He shakes his head, knowing that I’ve completely lost my shit.

“I just want to talk.” He splutters.

“You’re too late.”

“I can’t move on until we do.”

He wants to move on.

My strength returns. “Fine.” I drop my shoulders as I prepare for war. “Let’s talk. You have exactly ten minutes.” I march into the closest bar and take a seat at a high table. He tentatively sits down beside me. The waitress approaches.

“We will have two margaritas with Agave top-shelf tequila, please,” he says.

I clench my jaw. I hate that he knows my drinks. “I don’t want to drink with you.” I bark.

“Fine. I’ll drink both.” He snaps.

The waitress raises her eyebrows as if surprised by my bitch antics, and I clench my jaw. I give her my best, You don’t know the whole story look.

He’s a jerk, okay?

I twist my fingers on my lap. I don’t want to blurt out nasty things so I’ll just stay as quiet as I can.

His eyes come to mine, and he smiles softly. “It’s good to see you, Lize.”

I clench my teeth shut and give a curt nod.

It’s so good to see you.

His brow furrows as if he’s searching for the right thing to say. “You’ve lost a lot of weight.”

“Couple of kilos. I’ve been going to the gym.”