“Hi, David. I’m not sure if you remember me.” I’m thankful Veronica takes this moment to intervene and reintroduce herself. It takes the stress off the situation between David and Trent. Which I’m sure is her reasoning.
“Of course, Veronica. You were Leslie’s best friend back in the day. How could I forget such a pretty face?” He’s certainly learned how to turn on the charm when necessary. And by the looks of it, she’s falling for it as her cheeks pinken and she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear.
I look up at Trent just in time to see him glancing down at me with a lopsided smirk on his face.
I’m thankful he didn’t have to respond to David because I’m not sure it would have been the nicest thing. Though maybe he would have swallowed his pride and just said something pleasant.
Trent nods his head toward the tables and starts to pull me away. David and Veronica don’t even seem to notice that we’re leaving as they’ve started their own conversation.
It could be good for them to connect. I never said a word about it then, but I always felt like she was a little jealous of my relationship with David at the time. Not just because I was in one and she wasn’t but actually because it waswithDavid.
“See? Not everything is going so terribly?” Trent undoes the button on his sports coat and sits at the table, putting his arm along the top of my chair.
“I was definitely worried that would go worse than it did.”
“You didn’t think I’d be able to control myself?” He smirks as he leans forward on the table. “I did want to make some jab about him taking care of you while I couldn’t. Or maybe wouldn’t. Regardless, I decided against it. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to say, so I’m thankful Veronica stepped in.”
“Me too. And they seemed to hit off. At least from the fact that they’re still chatting.”
He glances in their general direction and then his eyes land on the bar. “Want a drink?”
I nod in response.
“Red wine or something else?”
“Surprise me.” Trent knows what I like in a drink. He knows I won’t touch anything with whiskey in it, that I don’t love a martini but will drink one when I need to, and I love all things fruity. I bet he’s even going to ask if they have a blender because Piña Coladas are my favorite. But I plan to have a lot more self-control than I had last night.
While Trent’s at the bar, Veronica and David make their way over to the table, David sitting on the other side of me from where Trent’s jacket lays on the chair.
My heart picks up in speed, but David doesn’t even look at me. I’m making something out of nothing. I’m happily married for eight years, why let this insignificant moment mean anything. I can sit next to an ex who swore to always love me even when my husband is across the room.
And then David turns to me, all the love and adoration that always resided in his eyes when I looked at him still there. “So, you married Trent.” While his gaze may be full or adoration, his tone is completely flat.
“I did. We have three beautiful kids.” This is just a phishing exercise. He’s seen my social media. He knows about my kids and husband.
“Guess everything between us was just to waste some time until you got back with him after all.”
That hits me like a punch to the stomach and knocks the air out along with it.
“That’s not fair, David. I didn’t know that I’d ever see Trent again. I wasn’t waiting for him, and I wasn’t wasting my time with you. I had real feelings for you at the time.”
“But they were stronger for him.”
I glance down at my lap and nod. It’s not exactly that I never told him truthfully, but I dodged the question if need be.
“I can’t say I blame you. He was your first everything. It makes sense. I just wish you had been more upfront with about it. I would have understood.”
My gaze raises to meet his. “Would you have?”
Hesitation skitters across his eyes. “No. I probably wouldn’t have. I was really in love with you then, Leslie. Maybe a part of me still has been. And that’s part of why I’ve followed you on social media. I think I just needed to see that your life turned out well.”
“It did, David. I’m happily married, and we have amazing children. My life is hard and stressful most days, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.” It’s this moment that I realize that’s not entirely true. There are a few things I would change. “Actually, that’s not true. I’d quit putting the pressure on myself to be the class mom and on the PTA because I truly hate it.”
“Glad to hear you’re finally seeing what I’ve been telling you for years.” Trent puts an off-white frothy drink down in front of my plate and I can’t help but smile and swoon over my husband. He tucks his tie against his body as he sits, puts one ankle over the other knee and takes a swig of his beer while twirling one of my curls.
“You’ll really be okay if I don’t do anything? It’s what makes me a productive member of the household.”
“It makes you a miserable member of the household. Not to mention you do all the cleaning and most of the cooking. I’ve never asked you to take on more, you did that to yourself. So yes, I’d be fine if you stopped doing the things that don’t make you happy.”
