"What do you think?" I found Gloria's eyes in the mirror in front of me. Her eyes were narrowed and her arms crossed across her chest. I could read the hence of disapproval on her face.
"I think you're making a big mistake," she grumbled.
I sighed as I finished putting the earrings in my ears. "I'm serious, Gloria."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm serious too. I don't believe you really like him. I believe you're still trying to please your parents even from the grave."
I turned on my heel to face her before placing my hands on my hips. "I'm not trying to please my parents from the grave."
"Then why haven't you dated since you broke things off with Mike six years ago."
I took a deep breath. "Maybe it's because I was still getting over the fact he was abusive to me."
Gloria exhaled softly letting her hands fall from her annoyed stance. "I'm sorry, Julia. I just don't want you in another unhappy relationship. If you really are interested in Ryan, I'll support you."
A gentle smile crossed my face. I was truly grateful to have such a good friend that had my back. I understood her concerns. Especially since she had been there through it all with my last relationship. "I do," I told her.
"Hey, I'm about to head out." Our attention was drawn to the bedroom doorway. There stood Kayla in a mini skirt and a tank top.
A groan escaped Gloria's lips. "What is she doing here?"
Before I had a chance to answer, a smirk crossed Kayla's face as she raced me to break the news to Gloria. "Oh? She didn't tell you? I live here now."
Gloria looked at me dumbfounded and I went to answer the question that was spread across her face. "I'm letting her stay until she can get back on her feet. She and her boyfriend just broke up and she had nowhere else to go."
Gloria went back to crossing her arms in disapproval as she stared down Kayla. "Oh? Did he finally see what a terrible person you are?" Gloria spat.
I could feel an argument brew up so I decided to stop the fire before it started. "Will you two cut it out? I got to finish getting ready for my date and I'm already nervous as it is," I groaned as I walked over to sit at the vanity.
That's when I heard a snort from Kayla. I decided not to address it as I applied a dark red wine lip gloss to my lips that went perfect with my caramel skin. Kayla, however, didn't let my silence stop her. "I think you should show a little bit more skin if you're wanting to win a man over."
"I think you should keep your trap shut if you want to keep a man," Gloria mumbled back.
"Oh, well I think-"
Guys, please," I groan standing up.
Gloria threw her hands up in defeat. "Fine. I'm going to go. I need to go get Flora anyway." With that, she disappeared out the room.
As Gloria left, I could see the pleased smirk presented on Kayla's face. "Can't you two ever just get along?"
Kayla snorted. "We could if she didn't treat me like the dirt on her shoe."
I sighed. I didn't have the patience for the bickering right now. So, I decided to change the subject. "Is there anything you need before I leave?"
No. I'm just going to go over Alex's to get the rest of my stuff."
It felt my heart almost stopped in my chest at the sound of her words. I swear she was like a match steady trying to catch on fire. "Do you really think it's a good idea to go over Alex's right now?"
Kayla didn't seem to like that answer as her eyebrows drew together and her hands planted on her hips. "What is that supposed to mean?"
My heart raced as I realized I had possibly opened another argument up. I knew I didn't want to argue, but I also knew it wouldn't be fair to try to get her not to go over Alex's place by herself when I knew that was probably another disaster waiting to happen. "I just mean that you do have at least a handful of boxes there. Maybe you should wait until I can go along with you. That way I can help you carry everything." I tried to smile to cover the new anxious feeling overcoming me.
I couldn't tell if Kayla was buying the excuse. Either way, she wasn't having it. "I think I can handle a few boxes. Besides, Alex will be there to help me."
My heart sank and I couldn't think of another excuse to give her. I would just have to text him after we parted ways and give him a heads up so he could at least get a heads up that she was coming. That way he could at least be prepared.
I could have canceled my date, however I didn't think it was doable. For one, I had already canceled on Ryan once. I didn't want to do that to him again. Neither did I want him to think I was just flaking and making excuses for it once more. Two, Kayla would know why I was canceling the date and would probably just go a different day when I couldn't tag along. All I could was warn him and tell her "okay".
As soon as she pulled off in her vehicle, I sent a text to Alex warning him that Kayla was on her way to pick up her things. It didn't take Alex long to reply back.
Alex: Thanks for the heads up.
I let a heavy breath escape as I read the text on my phone. I hoped deep down that the two could remain civil.
xxx
When we arrived to the restaurant, my breath was taken away. It was obvious this place was more fancier than I have ever attended. The lights were deemed except for the lights above the tables. There was red velvet booths on either side of the tables. A fountain was presented near the entrance with fish swimming freely. There was so much, that it was more than I could ever explain to vision.
I was brought out of my daze by a waitress who escorted us to our table. The table was in a corner with a window view. After taking our drink orders and giving us the menus, the waitress disappeared leaving us alone.
I opened the menu and was overwhelmed with much food that didn't ring a bell to me. I swallowed hoping I could find something that sounded at least somewhat good to me. I decided to be the first to engage in conversation as I continued to look over the menu. "You know, I was surprised you asked me out."
Over the menu, I could see Ryan's eyebrow shoot up. "Really?"
I couldn't help but grin keeping my eyes trained on the menu in front of me. "Well yeah. We didn't really end on the best terms in high school."
An unexpected chuckled arose from Ryan. "That was years ago. Besides, it wasn't your fault. Your parents told me you had wanted to go to prom with me without even asking you if you had a date."
My smile died at the mention of my parents and prom. All I could remember was them being disappointed by the guy I chose. That's when the waitress brought me back in reality as she placed the drinks in front of us. "Are you ready to order?"
I met the Ryan's gaze before looking back at the waitress. "I'll have a cheeseburger with a side of fries," I responded before giving her the menu. She looked a bit surprised by my choice, but I wasn't into any of their fancy foods.
"And I'll have your Tuscan butter shrimp," he told her before following suit. With that, the waitress was gone once more. "What ever happened between you two anyway?" Ryan asked picking up the conversation where it left off.
I exhaled softly as I tried to think of a quick response. I didn't want to tell him it had ended due to abuse because it would open a door that I wasn't ready to explore. I figured he would let it go if I asked him to after I told him that, but I just didn't want to put myself in that uncomfortable position. So, I just shrugged and said "It just didn't work out" before taking a sip of the beverage in front of me.
I could see the sadness in Ryan's face as he looked at me. "I wish I could have been there for you," he said in a lower tone as he reached across the table to grab my hand. Without thinking, I withdrew my hand from him. Hurt grew in his eyes at the sudden reaction.
However, I couldn't bring myself to comfort him physically. Maybe I was still hurt because he had, had a chance to be there for me. I took a deep breath deciding not to bring up the past. Especially since this was a new beginning for us and the point of this date was to see if we were compatible. I knew I wanted to make us work and make up for missed times. "It's okay. Let's not live in the past. You're here now and we have the time to make up for all the time we missed together." I smiled gently to try to add to the reassurance.
This seemed to work because Ryan immediately return the gesture. "I'm looking forward to doing that," he told me.
That's when my phone started to ring and I couldn't help but feel guilty for forgetting to turn off the phone. "I'm sorry," I told him withdrawing my phone from my purse. "I'll turn it-" My voice trailed off when I saw Alex's name flash on the screen. "I'm sorry," I apologized once more meeting his green eyes. "This is probably an emergency. You don't mind do you?"
Ryan shook his head and I immediately swiped to answer the phone. "Hello?" I said as I stood up from the table. As I went to walk away, the waitress arrived to put our food on the table.
"Julia," Alex began with a tensed tone over the yelling in the background. "You need to get here now before I call the cops on Kayla."
My heart pounded in my chest. "Is that her I hear yelling in the background?"
"Yes. She's angry because I still refuse to give her another chance. Will you please come and get her? I really don't want to call the cops. Aimee is upstairs hiding in her room and I don't want to traumatize her even more." Guilt washed over me know Aimee was in the mix. Now I had wished that I had shown up to protect that little girl from Kayla's broken heart.
At the same time my heart sank. I was dreading having to break the news to Ryan. We were just getting on a good page and I was afraid he would think I was ditching him again. However, I couldn't leave Alex in that position. Neither could I let Aimee be hurt even more by this break up. "Okay. I will be there in a few. I'm actually not that far from your place."
With that, I hung up and made my way back to the dinner table. Ryan was sitting at the table enjoying his dish that he ordered. He swallowed before smiling at me. "Everything okay?"
"Please don't hate me, but we need to go now. Kayla is in trouble and this time she may get arrested if I don't show up."
I could have sworn I could have spotted a hint of disappointment, but didn't get a chance to ponder. "Alright, let's go," he said getting up from the dinning table, walking past me, and leading the way. I followed him out the restaurant sensing his hurt. I wanted to comfort him, but now wasn't the time with Aimee in need of my help. I would just have to work it out with Ryan afterwards. I just hoped he would understand and give me another chance.