One Night (On Hold)

Chapter Twelve

Sorry for the late post. I've been seriously stressed out. Well, first I got cut after tryouts. Then I finally got my summer reading books. And now I have to finish all my summer work and school starts in like 10 days. I'm freaking out, but you guys deserved an upload, so here it is. It's kind of short. Sorry. I have plans for this story though and I will have some drama coming up soon. 

Anyway, bye and enjoy!

Also, my cover was made by _allegiant and it's brilliant! Thank you sooo much!

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It felt so strange to be here, sitting with Dalton and Maxwell like everything was okay when I knew it wasn't. There were so many things left unsaid, so many issues still unsolved. He didn't even know about the baby he'd fathered and we didn't know why he had suddenly disappeared. But still, he was here, sitting across from me, talking and laughing, discussing basketball with Maxwell like the past three years hadn't happened.

I glanced up and signaled the waiter over, so I could get a refill of my wine and I knew that Max and Dalton were quite aware of me. I wasn't sure if I was purposely trying to get drunk or if this was just my stress talking, but this was my seventh refill. My mouth felt dry and I was beginning to feel sick. I had told Dalton that we were fine that day at the club, two weeks ago, but I regretted it completely now.

I couldn't do it. 

There was too much pain in our past. So much time had passed, but the wound felt fresh, like it'd been inflicted yesterday. I could remember the lonliness and heartbreak that had crashed over me when I realized that Dalton had left me that morning after we'd made love. I could feel the movement of my precious baby moving under the soft, yet firm skin of my belly. The memories of me waking up with tears blurring my vision was prominent in my head.

Feeling a little green, I stood, pushing back my chair sharply. Max and Dalton both jerked their heads up to look at him with concerned, weary eyes. 

"Darling, are you okay?" Max asked me, getting up and reaching out a hand for me. 

Nodding quickly, I backed away. "I just need some air. The salmon didn't agree with me," I said, grabbing at the first excuse I could and beginning to make my way towards the bathroom. 

Coming to lunch with Dalton had been a mistake. A huge mistake. I shut myself up in a stall and slid down the door to the spotless, tiled floor as the tears burst from behind my eyelids. How could I ever get used to his presence again? Our families were friends and Dalton usually came to every dinner party Max and I were invited to. I would never be able to escape him. And that terrified me. He was mostly the same as before, the same laugh, same eyes, same smile, the same humor. What would keep me from falling in love with him again?

Nothing. That was what. It wasn't guaranteed that I could keep myself from beginning to fall for him again. Even if he'd hurt me, crushed my heart into smithereens, even if he'd been the father of my deceased child, I could still love him again. And that was enough to make me cold to my bones.

I couldn't let that happen, again, but Dalton and Max were beginning to spend so much time together. They had been best friends since college and three years apart was nothing. It had ceased to hurt their friendship and I knew that eventually, the secrets would come out. What then?

Fumbling around in my purse, I finally found my phone and looked at the time. A few minutes had passed since I'd come to the bathroom and Max and Dalton would no doubt be wondering what I was doing. I left the stall and cleaned up my smudged make-up, making sure that any traces of my crying were gone. By the time I was done, I looked impeccable, my pencil skirt and cream blouse unrumpled and flawless.

Appearances were deceptive. I knew that better than anyone.

I exited the bathroom and wasn't surprised to find that Dalton was outside, waiting for me. His eyes were solemn as he scanned me from head to toe, as if making sure that I wasn't hurt. Then his eyes scrutinized my face and I raised my eyebrow at him expectantly. I knew what he was doing - he was trying to pick up on my emotions. I'd never been an open book, but Dalton was a master at reading my thoughts. But I kept it carefully blank and he finally gave up.

"Are you okay?" he asked and I sighed in exasperation in my mind before painting a reassuring smile on my lips.

"I'm completely fine," I said with a playful roll of my eyes. "When are you guys going to stop being so worried about me?" 

Dalton stuck his hands in the pockets of his trousers. "Never," he said, voice sober. "We'll always worry." He looked off to the side, where there was a red 'EXIT' sign hanging over a door. "Are you pregnant?"

I choked on my spit. "Pregnant?" I echoed, incredulous. "Why on earth would you think I was pregnant?" I demanded, my hand dropping unconsciously to my flat stomach. It couldn't be because I had gained any weight, could it? 

He flushed under his tan. "You said the salmon didn't agree with you...."

"That doesn't mean I'm pregnant! Besides, I had too much to drink. That's why I felt a little nauseous," I said, dismissively. Plus, I had been celibate for the last three years. The last person I'd ever been with intimately was Dalton.

"Sorry," he said, sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. 

Shaking my head, I turned and began to walk back towards our table. Maxwell gave me a half smile. "I already paid," he explained. "I'm hoping you didn't want any dessert," he said, dryly.

I bent and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "No, I didn't. I'm going to split now," I said, standing and looking at both Dalton and Max. 

"Where are you going?" Max asked while Dalton just looked kind of...deflated. 

"Adriana wants to take me shopping," I said with an exaggerated sigh. "I'll see you later."

Dalton hesitated and I could see the question in his eyes as he looked at me. I stared back, feeling my heart begin to beat as he stepped closer. The world temporarily fell away and I held my breath as he wrapped his arms around me and tugged me against his chest. He was hugging me. I didn't even know how to feel by his embrace.

"Bye, Eira," he murmured against my hair and I jerked my head quickly in a nod before quickly backing away, almost stumbling into a chair. Maxwell caught me just in time and spun me around, dropping a kiss on my mouth. It was spontaneous and unexpected, but he was just putting on a show for Dalton. He was so perceptive, he would realize it if Max and I didn't act like normal married couples and would eventually begin to question it. 

"Have fun, darling," he said against my lips and then released me slowly as if he was reluctant to let go.

I smiled up at him and pretended not to mind as he slid his fingers through my blonde hair that I had curled into loose spirals. "I will," I draped my arms around his shoulder and gave him a quick hug before quickly leaving the two men to themselves. But when I reached the door, I paused and looked back over my shoulder to seek out Dalton. He was looking back at me and there was undeniable pain in his eyes.

I couldn't take it and I rushed out.