AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How about what today?”
“Our drink.” He explains with a cheerful laugh.
“Okay…” I force a smile into my voice. “Where?”
The lounge he has chosen isn’t too far away. It’s a casual place with an extensive menu, which includes light food and drinks.
“So how long have you been in Bellevue?” Eddie asks when we sit. He looks curious and interested.
“A few months,” I reply, trying to listen as he keeps on talking, and wondering why I can’t get into the conversation, why half the words he’s saying seem to blur into each other. He is charming and nice, recommending drinks he thinks I might like, dishes I should try, asking me if I like my food…
But he’s not David.
Tell me, is it Eddie Newton who’s going to be picking up the pieces of your broken heart, or will it be somebody else?
Another one of the cruel things David said to me. How he could imagine that I could ever contemplate leaving him for Eddie, I still don’t know. I can’t even get through an evening with the same Eddie without thoughts of David making it impossible for me to enjoy myself.
“So what happened?” Eddie has been talking, but I only hear the last three words. He’s looking at me expectantly, like I’m supposed to say something
“Sorry.” I say apologetically. “I wandered off.”
He chuckles wryly, “Yes,” he says, “You’ve been doing that.”
I sigh. “Eddie…”
“No, it’s fine.” He shrugs. “I was saying... I heard that you’d married David Preston,” he gives me a curious look. “So what happened?”
I frown and look down at the shrimp skewers on my plate. I haven’t eaten much. I think about Edd
ie’s question. What happened with my marriage? My husband didn’t, doesn’t love me, and I couldn’t bear it?
“I’d rather not talk about that?” I reply quietly.
He nods sympathetically, “I understand.” He says.
Afterwards, he insists on walking me home. I don’t object, he must be a glutton for punishment, I think silently, if he wants more of my company.
“When was the last time you went to Ashford?” He asks conversationally, as we walk along the sidewalk.
“Not since I got ... Not since I left.”
He looks thoughtful. “You must miss Mrs. Carver.”
“I do.” I smile, thinking if Stacy and her anxious, concerned phone calls, “but we talk on the phone.”
We walk in silence the rest of the way. Eddie seems to have given up on drawing me into a real conversation. I wish I could put aside my thoughts and my memories and actually have a good evening with a guy who seems genuinely interested in me. But it’s just not possible, especially not when, as I turn from the sidewalk unto the brick walkway in front of my building, I see the silver BMW parked down the street, glinting in the streetlamps.
My heart skips a beat as I study the familiar car. It’s too far away so I can’t know for sure. Still, it can’t be him, can it?
I’m trying to stay calm, while Eddie, oblivious to the sudden change in me, walks beside me until we get to the door.
“Thanks for tonight.” He says politely.
“Thanks for putting up with me.” I say with a small smile, thinking of the car parked only a few feet away.
He shrugs. “I’m sorry about your marriage,” He continues, “though I’m glad we could have this drink tonight.”
I steal another glance at the silver BMW, but its dark inside and I can’t see anything. “It was nice to hang out Eddie.” I say distractedly.
