Love by Chance

Chapter 4 - Meeting His Friends

Holding the Starbucks Frappuccino in between my hands as they rest on the table, I welcome the cold intermingling with my warmth. Again, needing a breath, I inhale the flavors and aromas within the food court and try exhaling my worries. As I become aware of Sarah's heels clicking towards me, I look up towards her small individual walking towards me wearing a nude flowing dress, with floral wedge heels, and her hair put into a messy up do and wearing natural makeup. Her white tote purse is hanging in the crook of her arm. Wow. "Should I be flattered that you got so dressed up for this meet up?" I say to her, as she arrives at the table and sits down.

"I just felt good today, so I decided to go a little bit out of the norm and dress up."

"I'm glad Jin put you in a good mood," I say with a genuine smile and excited to see how this pans out.

"Well, maybe we can get you your own 'Jin' and see if we can turn your mood around," she retorts with a smile. "What happened anyway? When you left my place you were relatively happier and more chirper. And what is this about you finding your own 'Jin?'"

Shaking my head, I wave off my last text to her, "Disregard that last message."

"Why? Because it's impossible?"

"Honestly, yes. I'm just overacting and the only reason I said that was because he looked hot," I finish, hoping she would drop it. But...

"Isn't that usually as good a reason as any? Besides, what's his name?" she inquires while taking a sip of her own Frappuccino.

"I don't know. I met him first in the elevator last night and then this morning after I caught his puppy for him," I answer, and realizing how funny that sounded and I almost snort at myself. "Oh, and there's a good chance he's also a detective like Jin, and even the last detective I met because he was wearing a badge last night."

"Whoa, coincidence much?"

Shrugging my shoulders, because it was almost too much of coincidence, and I go back to nursing my drink. However, needing to get this off my chest, I ask, "Is the reason my relationship never worked with Greg because of me?" Sarah tilts her head to one side and before she can speak, I keep going, "I'm asking because I've known for a while that our relationship was ending and not in a good place, yet I kept allowing him back in whenever he took some time off and wanted to come back. What if it's because I was using him as a buffer between my life and not wanting to go through everything alone?"

"How long has this been on your mind?"

"I just started thinking it through when I was getting ready this morning, but what do you think?"

"Well, you do have your plate full and I can't say I don't understand or agree with your reasoning, but there are multiple reasons why it just didn't work out. Some of which I'm sure you're not ready to discuss," she acknowledges and treads lightly. Securing her notion with a nod, I take another sip of my drink and force a small smile. The memories are still crisp in my mind, and at times I have to strong hold myself so I don't go back to those times. Nevertheless, at times I'll ignore my own promptings, and pick apart everything in the relationship. I've tried to have conversations with him when we were together, but there were always fanciful promises I never expected him to keep and yet, allowed his behavior to continue at any rate. Partly due my subconscious demand of not wishing to be alone.

"Hey, you ready for some shopping?" I assert with more glee in my voice, contrary to how I feel.

"Ready? I was born for shopping, let's go," and motions for me to start standing as well. As I loop my arm around hers, she gestures to the impressive space of the mall that stands 3 floors tall, that's already decked out with Christmas decorations, "Where first?"