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What would I do if she didn’t show up at all?
It would be humiliating, but I didn’t care about that so much, because I knew it would affect me if she, in the end, decided she would rather run away from me. It was the least I deserved, but if she was really so far out of reach, there were no chances.
There aren’t any, anyway, I reminded myself harshly. Whether or not she shows up, she is still getting married.
I’d had to deal with this truth for the past few days, and thinking about it still put a bad taste in my mouth. I knew I should have been happy for her if she really had moved on, but I didn’t think I could do it. in my head and in my heart, I still felt that Brooklyn was mine, and thinking of the man she was going to marry made me think of crashing the party, punching the guy out and dragging her off with me.
You can't actually do that, though. She’d just hate you.
I glanced at the time again, wondering why she hadn't arrived yet. My anxiety was growing, and I was starting to feel disappointed. I was just about to text her, or better yet, try to call, when I looked up and saw cab stop against the curb right in front of the pub. I was looking at it in distraction, but when the woman in the back stepped out, my jaw dropped.
Damn.
Brooklyn…looked hot. She was in a red dress and black trench coat and high heels. Her blonde hair was swept out of her face, and the make-up on her face looked subtle and elegant. The bar I was taking her to was on the high end, but I suddenly felt regretful for not bringing her to someplace classier. I was still in the suit I’d worn to work myself, so it would have to do.
“Hey, there,” I said softly once she came to a stop in front of me. “You look beautiful, Brooklyn.”
She grinned. “Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself. So, are we going in, or are you waiting for someone else to join this party?”
“No, it’s just us.”
I almost held my arm out for her to take, but I hesitated. She might not appreciate it, for one,
and I no longer had the right to be so close to her. It belonged to someone else. As bitter as it made me, keeping my space might be the best for her in the current situation.
“Aren’t you going to lead me in?” Brooklyn asked, surprising me. “Don’t tell me you’re no longer a gentleman now?”
She was smiling coyly at me with a hand held out to me. My eyebrow arched, and I wondered what she was thinking, but I obediently offered my arm.
“It’s this way,” I said, leading us toward the entrance.
Brooklyn walked so close by my side that I could feel her body’s warmth. We walked into the bar. The atmosphere was mellow relatively quiet, with quite a few tables filled up, but the place didn’t look too crowded. I led Brooklyn over to an open space at the bar, then raised a hand to get the bartender. He appeared in front of us in a minute.
“I’ll have a beer, please,” I ordered, then turned to look at Brooklyn.
“I’d like a mimosa, please,” Brooklyn ordered.
As we waited, we chatted a bit. I asked Brooklyn how she’d been since I last saw her and she asked the same. We both gave simple answers, and before we could ask more questions, the bartender set out drinks down. I unscrewed my beer bottle and took a long swig.
“So,” I started, setting the bottle down once more. “You’re actually in New York. I never thought I would see the day.”
She chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I didn’t expect New York of all places, either. But at least I have Nora here, even though it is a little cold. I do have to say, though, that running into you was a surprising coincidence. It’s supposed to be so big a city, and yet we managed to meet by total accident.”
“It’s a happy coincidence, at least, I hope?” I said tentatively.
Brooklyn smiled coyly, taking a sip of her drink. “You can see it that way, if you feel like,” she said teasingly. “It’s just surprising to me.”
I watched Brooklyn in surprise as she leaned closer to me, bracing her elbow on the bar counter, and resting her chin in her hand, looking right at me with a little mysterious smile on her face. My mouth felt a bit dry and I wondered if she was trying to flirt with me. I picked up my beer for a gulp, then licked my lips.
“I know I asked you out and said it was for old time’s sake, but actually, I did have a reason for asking you out.”
“Oh?” she murmured, eyebrows rising. “Please, Abe, do tell. I’m all ears.”
There were many things I could have said in that moment. I could have told Brooklyn of my regret from before. About how I had been hasty to tell her that we couldn’t be together, and then walking away and leaving the both of us heartbroken. I hesitated before those words could come out, though, and smiled.
“Maybe I made a mistake in the past,” I said vaguely. “I’ve thought it over several times since you left. Fuck, I was so arrogant back then….anyway seeing you in that dress. Damn, it really hit home.”
Brooklyn hummed. “Maybe. But neither of us can do a thing about the past.” She raised her glass and held it up to me. “Why don’t we look forward to the future instead? Hmm? A happy…and prosperous future for the two of us. Me with John and you at your company.”
