When Perfect Meets Crazy

46 - Shades of relationship wrecker

I chewed on my lower lip, reading and rereading the message I had typed, debating whether or not to send it. I was dressed and ready, waiting for Ian for to pick me up but in the meantime I was debating the wisdom of a more immediate decision. To be fair, while we lasted, he was great. It had been fun. He deserved more than to be so smoothly cut off but again, what if all the message did was bring back things he was trying to forget. He worked with Olly though, which meant he had a constant living reminder of me.

I puffed out a breath noisily and hit send. One last song lyric. It read;

I leaned into love but forgot to fall.

Sorry.

Turning my phone off, I gave myself a final once-over. My pastel gown with blue and pink flowers against a pearly white background seemed appropriate for a tea party. I got it for one of my mom’s work functions. My makeup comprised of the same things I wore every day. A mascara and a nude lip stick which I swapped out lip gloss for.

I looked prissy, tea party worthy.

I was ready.

I all but had a heart attack when Ian showed up. When he said he’d pick me up, I didn’t really think he meant driving me there. I figured he’d show up on his bike and for once, I’d be the one tailing him in my car. So you can imagine my shock when he showed up with a driver in a sleek black Bentley that drew one too many curious gazes on the street. Shit, shit, shit.

I immediately started drawing up lies to tell my parents for when one of our neighbours blabbed but Olly, being her usual fearless self, burst out of the house as if she was the one the car came for.

“Ian.” I heard her gasp in surprise as I rushed up to them.

Ian, for what he was worth, was standing all decked out in a baby blue tuxedo that had to be the cutest thing ever made and was standing next to the open passenger side door like a gentleman from an eighties movies.

It was almost too much for my insides to take.

“You’re rich!” Olly’s excited outburst snapped me out of it and I crossed the remaining distance to them.

“Olly, Ian is Ian Carrington of Carrin--”

“You’re kidding.” Her lips parted in a slight ‘o,’ her gaze found mine. “Woah.”

“We have to go now.” I herded him into the waiting car before she could get past the initial shock and explode with questions.

“You owe me details,” she shouted, waving enthusiastically as we drove away.

“I like your sister.” Ian smiled, angled his body so he was facing me. “She’s a lot more open than you are.”

“You came in a fancy car.” I wasn't amused. “You conveniently forgot to mention that earlier.”

“I said I’d pick you up.” He shrugged unapologetically.

“Yeah, you conveniently left out that it would be in a Bentley!” I hissed.

“Yeah, well Ellie’s a stickler for rules about things like tea parties. Apparently we have to arrive appropriately.”

“And you thought a Bentley in a suburban neighborhood wouldn’t have stood out?” I rolled my eyes, muttering under my breath, “I’m pretty sure my Prius would’ve made the cut it.”

Ian’s house was exactly what I pictured it to be. A sprawling palatial mansion with an unnecessarily long driveway. It even boasted scenic trees arching over the driveway, small sculptures at regular intervals, each slightly different from the last and a huge fountain at the entrance to the main house. The chauffeur drove past all of it, stopping at what I figured must be the tea party venue. It was a small clearing overlooking the garden and an artificial pond. Cutesy white chairs were arranged round a small round table. It boasted three empty seats that informed me we were one of the last ones to arrive.