Chapter 123

123 123- Long–Lost Buddies.

“Ex… excuse me!” Gerard tried to smile and there were tiny beads of sweat on his forehead. gliding down to his temples.

“Don’t remember me, baby? It’s not even a month since we had such a good time at your place, Marissa didn’t want to be judgmental, but the way Gerard was acting, it was clear that he wanted

to hide it.

He knew this girl.

“I … I think…” he chuckled awkwardly, “you are mixing me with someone.”

“No, I’m not,” she brought her face near his and grinned like she was enjoying his discomfort, “You told me, your name is Simon, but I saw your ID. It was Gerard,” she then turned to look at Marissa and winked, “Am I right, baby girl?”

She asked for confirmation and Marissa could only nod and then started sipping her soup. Poor Gerard might be looking for ways to get rid of the girl and Marissa was sure that she wouldn’t go away unless Gerard paid her handsomely.

“So, Gerard. Tell me did you like it that night? her fingers had started traveling on his face

ours and Marissa was seated there feeling odd.

“I’ll appreciate it…” Gerard picked up a napkin and wiped the sweat off his forehead, “If you leave us alone.

“But that day you didn’t want to leave me alone. All night, all day you kept screaming…”

* “Enough!” Marissa dropped her spoon in the soup bowl, “You need to talk to him, lady? I respect

that. But not when he is having personal time with his friends.”

The girl frowned and looked at Marissa, “Friends?” and then it dawned on Marissa. This girl was trying to blackmail Gerard quite subtly, thinking that he was here with his girlfriend.

“Yes. I’m his friend and I’m happy that he had a good time with you THAT night…” Marissa rested her back on the scat, “Now if you leave then I’ll be highly obliged.”

Marissa kept drumming her fingers on the table surface eying the girl with a smile. The girl sighed and slapped Gerard’s shoulder.

“You are a lucky dog, man.” She said and then started taking back steps, “but we’ll meet again, Gerard.

She turned on her heels to join someone else at another table.

When Gerard looked at Marissa she had resumed drinking the soup.

“God! That was embarrassing!” he chuckled and wagged his head with wide eyes.

For some reason, she had started missing Rafael even more. She couldn’t wait to tell him what just happened.

Wait! Was she really this insensitive to share such details with Rafael who was there just for the

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123 123- Long–Lost Buddies

His easy–going smile, the way he kissed her, the way his hand used to crawl…

“Are you alright?” Gerard’s voice broke through her thoughts.

She blinked and nodded at him, “Oh yes, I’m fine. Just a bit tired, I guess.”

“Long day?” she could see sympathy in his cycs.

She slowly finished her soup, feeling a pang of guilt for not being present for him, mentally, “Sort

of”

“But it’s the weekend, Mar: he waited when the waiter started placing their order.

“Yes. But remember? I’m a mom.”

“Ah, yes. Thanks for reminding me. It’s been a while since I met the kids. How are they? Are they still meeting their father?” he asked her between the bites.

“Of course, they are,” Actually, he was home when I came down to meet you.

They kept talking about the office, life, and everything. Gerard didn’t ask her anything personal, thankfully.

“I’m so glad that you gave it a thought and came here tonight, Marissa. He said when they were done with the dessert, “though you were the one who made the call.

“Oh, come on, G. I’m equally glad. Thank you for a lovely, evening,” She held his hand that was placed on the table.

Yes. Because I found it extremely unethical to send you back. Oh, Lord! Wasn’t it equally bad to think of someone else in his presence?

“You have been a very good friend ever since I stepped in the Kanderton, she squeezed his hand. and left it.

“Just friend? Now don’t hurt my feelings, Mar,” he teased her, but Marissa knew better. She had been crystal clear about it from the start.

She didn’t want to cause him any pain and was never ready for a new relationship. Gerard was not a one–night stand material guy.

“I’m not hurting your feelings. I’m saving you from the hurt, silly,” He nodded but still, he didn’t look convinced.

Her heart was now fluttering in her chest. What Rafael must be doing now? He must be sad without me.

Is he giving a tough time to Sophia?

Sophie will kill me once I go back home.

Oh, God. She couldn’t wait to go home and tend to Rafael’s broken heart.

After dinner, they drove back in silence.

As they pulled up to her place, he turned to her, a look of curiosity on his face, “Why do I feel like…” he curved down his line “like so ma

123 123–Long–Lost Buddies

Uh, oh. Not now! I’m not ready for this.

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“Why? No! I was present and I enjoyed the dinner. Why would I invite you in the first place, G?” she placed her hand on his arm, “Would you like to come over for coffee?” she asked him to make it up to him.

Now please don’t say yes. When you meet him, you might think he is the reason and that is true too but please no need to come. Don’t accept the invitation… this is called mental talking or maybe Reiki. Please… coffee is bad for health.

“No thanks,” he said with a smile, and she released the breath, she was holding, “No coffee. It’s bad for health.

Marissa’s eyes went wide but then she controlled her grin, “Yeah. Right.” She opened the car lock with a click.

“Bye, G.”

“Bye, Mar.”

As Marissa got out of the car, she couldn’t help it when the thought occurred in her mind. Rafael always opened the car door for her.

Oh, she wanted to be with him. He must be waiting, and she needed to go to him and cure his sadness. I’m coming, Rafael.

In her haste, she didn’t even bother to knock the door and used her keys to unlock the door. She stood frozen, unable to comprehend the scene before her.

The man who was supposed to be heartbroken after sending her on the date was sitting there holding the console beside Sophie, too engrossed in the game.

Momentarily distracted from the game, he glanced up, “Oh. Hey. Wasn’t expecting you so soon!” Sophie also barely acknowledged her friend as the two of them were playing like two long–lost buddies.

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