AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her hands fly to her hair, fixing it before running her hands down her sides, highlighting her curves. When her eyes finally meet mine, my heart squeezes in my chest.
We stare at one another, mentally cataloguing changes, or at least that’s what I’m doing as I take in the way her brown hair tumbles around her like a chocolate river, and her clear blue eyes that are wide and dilated. She’s… stunning. She always was, but she’s aged like a fine wine and it’s impossible not to appreciate her beauty.
Alex clears her throat next to me, reminding me she’s there, and I step away from Jess and back towards her.
“Oh, this is Alex, Alex, this is Jessica Scott. She's an old friend.”
Jess and Alex smile at one another, awkwardly shaking hands before Jess fumbles around with our tickets, almost dropping them twice. I’ve never seen her nervous, not even the first day I kissed her.
Her eyes finally land on Alex. “You’re sat at table number five, which is near the mirror to the left. The rest of your table is seated already.”
She thrusts our tickets back into my hands, and she hesitates, our fingers brushing just for a second, sending a zap of electricity down my spine.
There are a thousand unsaid words in the air between us, threatening a tornado of emotions, but neither of us can speak. I’m not even sure what I’d say to her. I don’t know where I’d start.
“Thank you, Jessica.” Alex smiles before she takes my hand, and we walk towards our table.
A snapshot of memories erupts, surrounding me like a fog. I hadn’t considered the possibility of crossing paths with Jess again, despite never being able to forget her. I knew she had moved back to London, and I might have stalked Nora’s Instagram account a little too much in the past, but Jess rarely featured. I think there was one picture from over four years ago and that is it.
“Erm, Liam? Are you okay?” Alex asks timidly. I hadn’t even realised we had sat down at our table, let alone remembered that she was next to me.
“I’m sorry, it’s just a blast from the past seeing Jess. We haven’t seen each other for…” I stop to think for a second. “Damn… ten years.” I lean into Alex, pecking her cheek.
“She’s beautiful,” Alex says, glancing back over to where Jess stands. “She’stheJess?”
I nod robotically. “She is.” I’m still confused at how I feel about seeing her, my mind whirling as her sultry voice echoes through the sound system.
“Hi everyone, it is so good to see some familiar and some new faces tonight. Thank you all for purchasing tickets for our very first charity event for ‘Giving back’. We’re thrilled to have you here and raise some much-needed funds for our therapy programs to help children who have suffered through domestic violence, drug abuse.” She pauses for a second, collecting herself before she pushes her shoulders back again.
“We all know how stretched our mental health services are these days so with your help our programs will offer different types of therapy, as well as fun days that will include sports, picnic days, swimming and much more for families and children in need in the UK. So, let’s get down to the night’s events.”
My mind buzzes with the knowledge that this is all her event. She did something that means so much to her and she owns it. I swell with pride for the girl I knew who was so broken by her past, and looking at the Jess up on the stage now, she’s anything but. She’s a successful, confident, beautiful woman now.
“We have a raffle that Nora will come around shortly to offer you. All prizes are listed on your table. We also have our silent auction and some of the top prizes to bid on include a city break to Paris for two lucky people, an overnight stay in this very hotel in our Penthouse suite, which I must say is exceptional plus dinner and breakfast included, a weekday day trip to our on-site spa and many more. I also can’t let the evening pass me by without thanking my boss, Jean-Pierre, for letting us use this beautiful ballroom tonight and my whole events team for putting up with my incessant demands the last two weeks. I've worked here for years now and you have all confirmed why I love it here so much by coming together for us tonight.” She swallows thickly before smiling at the table in front of her where I’m guessing her work family is. She clears her throat, searching for others too. “Zoey, Nora, I also know that tonight would not be possible without either of you. I’m more grateful than you know.” Her eyes fill again as she inhales and exhales quickly.
“Thank you, everyone for coming tonight. Let’s get me a drink before I start crying again, shall we? Enjoy dinner, the band will be on after dessert.” She moves to walk off stage but quickly returns to the microphone, laughing. “Oh, and the first one to get Nora to dance wins a drink from me!”
The whole room erupts in applause and laughter. I’m mesmerised as Jess saunters over to her table where Nora is waiting with open arms for her. Cam and Harriet are there too, all bursting with pride for her.
I sit, messing with some loose lint I picked out of my tux, feeling downtrodden, watching them all talk animatedly, when I feel a tightness in my throat. My breathing begins to feel forced, and an unwelcome warmth rushes through me.
“Hey,” I say to Alex, swallowing my guilt, jealousy, or whatever the fuck else this is I’m feeling. “I’m just going to step outside for a minute.”
“Is everything okay?” she replies, genuine concern forcing a frown.
“Yeah, yeah. Just really warm all of a sudden.”
“Oh, okay. Take your time,” she says, and squeezes my forearm lightly.
My pulse quickens with every step, jabbing at my tight tux collar as my mind swarms with questions.
Is she married?
Does she live with anyone?
Would we even know each other anymore?
I step outside and suck in a deep breath of cold air, willing my thoughts to chill the fuck out. I have no idea why my brain is running so wild, and I feel like I’ve unlocked a teenage angst I haven’t felt in years; a debilitating mix of anxiety and stimulation that makes my head spin.
