Our Way

“About me.”

My heart sinks. I can’t imagine him leaving me to go out to dinner with someone else.

“I’m going to be quick, okay? An hour and a half, tops.” I lean over and kiss his lips. “And you are not acting like a friend with benefits,” I remind him.

“Because we are not fucking friends with benefits.” He growls. “We’re back to-fucking-gether.”

“How many times can you say fuck in one sentence?” I huff.

“Don’t push me, Eliza.” He whispers angrily, his eyes look like they are about to explode.

I open the door. “I won’t be long.” Without looking back, I cross the street and walk into the restaurant.

Henry is sitting at the back. I smile and make my way over to him. He stands and kisses my cheek.

“Hey there, stranger.”

“Hi.” I fall into my seat.

“Would you like some wine?”

“Sure.”

He fills my glass, and I glance over toward the front window. Did Nathan leave?

He’d better have.

“So, here you are, back in God’s country.” Henry smiles.

I chuckle. “I am.”

“How have you settled in?”

“Oh, really good. My new apartment is great and I joined my gym again. I don’t start work until Wednesday. What about you? What’s happening?”

He rolls his eyes. “Where do I begin?”

Over the next hour, I laugh and chat with Henry. There isn’t anything between us and he knows that. We are just friends. Actual ‘just friends’, not like the kind of friends Nathan and I are.

We’re mid way through our main meals when my phone beeps with a text in my handbag. I discreetly slide it out and put it onto my lap so I can read it. It’s from Nathan.

You have ten minutes or I’m coming in there to break his fucking neck.

30

Eliza

Oh God, here we go.

I begin to eat quickly, is he serious?

I need to get out of here before he busts through the doors like The Hulk.

“So…” Henry smiles. “Why haven’t you been answering my calls?” I swallow the food in my mouth and it scratches my throat.

Oh God. I hit my chest to try and dislodge the chicken.

“I… I think we are better off as friends, don’t you?”