Valentines Day

Chapter Two

Time seems to stop and my voice gets caught in my throat as I ask, "I am looking for James Archery."

She giggles, "He's busy in the shower, he will get back to you after our session."

I am completely choked up, and the line goes dead as I hang up. Sadi and Harry walk out of Starbucks, laughing with coffee in their hand, and I notice Sadi has two.

"Gabby, are you ready to...." Harry trails off awkwardly.

Tears have already begun trailing down my cheeks and shock has consumed me. They both came rushing towards me and Sadi grabs hold of me forgetting that she has coffee in her hands.

Hot coffee splashes all over my face and down my T-shirt, the burning sensation doesn't make me cry out but I feel the pain and at that point I just stare at her.

"What's happened? omg I am so sorry about the coffee splashing all over you." Asks Sadi, a crease in between her brow following cleaning me up with a tissue.

I forget about the coffee and remember whats just happened with him, Still in shock and a whimper escapes. I try to speak but tears keep falling. How could he? Was this all a joke? Harry kneels and looks up to me.

"Shall we get you home and cleaned up before you tell us?" He rubs my knee comfortingly.

I nod looking down at my coffee stained clothes and Harry hales a cab. Sadi gives me comfort by hugging me as I bury my head in her shoulder.

It seems to take forever to get home. I give them my key, my hands shaking too much for me to unlock the door myself. When the door is opened I am led towards the bathroom and I cringe at my reflection - puffy, red eyes and my face drenched with tears with redness to my cheeks from the coffee.

"Gabby, has James done something wrong?" Sadi inquires with concern.

All I can manage is, "I think he has cheated."

She inhales sharply and I look at her with teary eyes. Everything is blurred and I hate it. I hate crying, it makes me feel gross and pathetic.

"Gabby, don't let him do this to you. You've always been a strong person and I can't bare to see you like this."

I take a deep breath and tell her about my phone call and that it wasn't even him who spoke. She sounded like she was dumb 'he will gt back to me after their session'? Who says that? Surely, you would think that if James was clever, he would, at least, have kept the phone from the whore who answered.

"Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" Sadi asks.

"If you would not mind. I would like you to stay with me. But, wait, don't you have plans with your wife, Harry?"

"Well, we can always go on a date together?" Sadi winks, making me giggle a little.

Harry laughs, his eyes twinkling with humour, "Maybe. Come on, get cleaned up. Sadi and I will wait for you in the living room." He rubs his stubbled jaw and looks at me with a dark look, "And then, maybe, you can tell us what dick did to you."

I discard my dirty clothes and settle for a zip-up tank top and ripped jeans. After applying some light makeup to tidy up my dishevelled appearance, I walk into the living room to find Harry looking at me with a grimace.

"Is everything OK you two?" I ask with a frown.

"Well, I need help already at The Red Bar tonight but I don't think that..."

I cut Harry off, "I can work. I don't mind. And, anyway, it gives me an excuse to not think about it, also, gives me a chance to look around and get an idea of the place."

"That settles it. I need to head there but if you both can be there at around... 7 p.m. tonight then that'll be great."

We both smile and thank him with a hug goodbye. As I open the door, my smile fades as I stare at him with surprise.

"Have a good afternoon, girls, and I will see you this evening." Harry mumbles whilst looking at James in the doorway. Harry shuffles awkwardly past him. I don't say anything but I just stare at James not wanting to let him in but, against my better judgement, allow him to enter. He strides in, his eyes never leaving my face.

I close the door behind James and he takes a seat on the couch, crossing one leg over another, and leans back, a smirk plastered on his face.

I breathe in through my nose and clench my fists, my eyes stinging with tears again.

Just stay civil, I think to myself.

Why is he even here? For satisfaction? To see my reaction? To break my heart further? Maybe he just used me for his own needs and only thought about himself in the relationship. I can't believe I trusted him and told half my secrets to and, out of everything, I cannot believe I confided in him.

As I stared at James, I started noting his many flaws. Tragically, he wasn't the typical looker. I admit he hasn't got the muscled body but I didn't care about it. I fell in love with him for who he was around me; it was a lie. I met James when I had just started University. Typically, I was at a party with my new dorm roommate. I didn't know her or anyone else but I went. I think it was just to have fun, which I was isolated of in secondary school and college.

I got drunk, which was the first time that I did, and James had offered me a drink, which in five seconds of holding I had spilled it all over him. He accused me of flirting, and I laughed. It was the most realist laugh I had laughed since I started University. Then, he walked me to my dorm. James didn't take advantage of me, and I was grateful, and he asked me out for coffee. It all gradually proceeded to where I am now.

Looking at the sleazeball, I think I fell more for his eyes. They were a light green that was flecked with brown-hazel, they reminded me of grass on a rainy day.

Sadi nudged me and I cleared my throat. "Would you like a drink?" I choked out through clenched teeth.

"Please." He winked, his eyes glistening with smugness.

I drag my body to the counter and from the cupboard, took out a clear glass and went to fill it with water but stopped when he called out, "Bourbon! Not water. You should know this, baby."

I cringe as the word comes out of his mouth and reach for the Bourbon. My hands shake as I pour his drink and I hold my breath.

I hate this. I hate him. But I love him. I hate him but I love him. How does that work?

I turn towards Sadi and James, managing a weak smiles as she looks at me with wide eyes, her lips parted with shock. I walk slowly, trying to reduce the amount that my hands shake but I can't.

As I reach James, the thick stench of female perfume radiates off him and I wrinkle my nose. "Your drink." I spit at him, holding back my anger.

He grabs the glass, making sure his fingers touch mine. I hold back a shiver that creeps up my spine. We all stare at each other and an awkward silence surrounds us.

Looking at his face makes me want to hit him, or cry - I haven't figured out which yet.

James takes a deep breath and reveals his teeth with a wide grin. "So, how are you, Gabrielle?"

I feel my eye twitch, and what comes out of my mouth next is something that I would not think of myself to say.