note: most of part 9's chapters are short and I'm tempted to post it all together but must! resist! I'm so excited to share the rest of this story with you. There will be some time-lapses through part 9 and 10. Enjoy this update, more to come on Saturday xx
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It had taken London all her energy to remain stoic and not punch Andrew when he had approached her. The instant his car was far enough from sight her knees wobbled and a dry cry escaped from her throat. That garnered attention from passers-by and she quickly ducked her head, blinking terribly fast in attempt to get rid of the tears that threatened to spill.
Sniffing, she wrapped Andrew's jacket tighter around her body and inhaled deeply. Her knees wobbled but for an entirely different reason now. It smelt so much like him.
When she returned back inside the pub it was harder to deal with Tristan. Or was his name Trevor? She could hardly remember. How could she when images and memories of Andrew filtered through her mind?
Despite her protests Gwen set up a date for London, telling her that she should get off her moping arse and get over Andrew. Gwen liked Andrew but she did not shut up about how much of an arsehole he was to be still so invested in his ex, even if it wasn't romantically at all. But even the supportive trash-talk from her sister wasn't enough.
"Andrew is a good man," Gwen had said at last, "But I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
"It certainly felt like it was meant to be," London had replied, lying upside down on her bed, feet propped up against the wall.
"I'm going to set you up on Valentine's Day, okay? You don't need to be thinking of that arsehole on such a great day," Gwen had offered, and London had declined, but of course, it never went London's way and here she was on a date with Tristan, or Trevor, or whatever the hell his name was.
"Hey, sorry about that," she said as she slid back into her seat. It was cold now. How long had she been outside with Andrew?
He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He was cute, no doubt, but not Andrew kind of cute. "An ex? Don't worry, I know all about that," he smiled.
"Oh," she laughed, though there was nothing funny. "You run into any exes recently?"
"No, but I did have one drunk call me," he said. "She was all like 'I miss you, Trevor' and 'why did we break up, Trevor.' This was last night."
So his name was Trevor, not Tristan. He looked to be more of a Tristan than a Trevor in her eyes but she didn't question it as she smiled and took a sip from her drink. She had managed to worm herself out of dinner and into just drinks, which she was thankful for. She could use the alcohol and he was paying, so maybe this date wasn't so bad after all.
They talked for a while, the conversation going back and forth, but nothing quite stuck. It was the normal, how are you, what do you do, what about your family, what are your hobbies. It was a complete turn off when he asked what she did and she told him she was a chef, only to have him cut in and talk about his favourite restaurants without allowing her to talk about her job.
A job which she loved very much.
Being sous chef at Tollerz still felt surreal. Just as one thing in her life started working out for her, another thing crumbled away. She loved Andrew and she knew he loved her back but something was holding him from moving forward — his inability to let go of the past.
She wanted to ask him how Aurora was, if he bothered to vie for sole custody, but she reminded herself that she was no longer a part of his life and associating herself with him would only make her hurt more.
When she got home she invited Trevor inside.
When he kissed her, she let him. She kissed him back.
When he slid his hands down her thighs, she let him, her own hands reaching for the buttons on his shirt.
When they undressed each other, just their undergarments on, she kissed him, fiercely.
When he reached for the clasp at the back of her bra, she stopped him.
"I'm sorry," she rushed out, face hot from all the making out and teasing touches. He was handsome. So very hot and sexy. But all she could think about was Andrew. It wouldn't be fair to Trevor. She was also mildly concerned that if they did have sex, it would be her ex's name that she called out and not Trevor's and, oh boy, would that cause a scene.
"I just can't do this," she said, huffing out and blowing a stray black lock of hair away from her face. She grabbed her t-shirt from the floor and quickly pulled it over her torso. She looked back at him apologetically, offering him a shrug because she didn't know what else to do or say.
Trevor nodded, standing up from the bed and grabbing his jeans which had been discarded on the floor. He put one leg through and said, "It was the ex, wasn't it?" before he put his other leg through his jeans and pulled it up to his hips, buttoning and zipping up.
"Uh," London faltered. Would he be offended if she told him the truth?
"Don't worry," he said smilingly as he grabbed his shirt and began to button it up. London had to admit that the sight of his perfectly rigid body disappearing under the navy blue shirt was disappointing. "I get it. You did seem less into the date after you came back inside."
"Sorry about that," she apologised, giving him a small smile.
He waved his hand dismissively. "Stop saying sorry," he smiled. "I get it. Can I ask what his name is? He seems familiar."
London smiled, the first genuine smile of the night. "Andrew Cai," she answered.
"Does he work at Gravity Cosmetics?"
"Yes, you know him through work?"
He laughed, sitting down at the edge of her bed and reaching for his shoes. She had a pet peeve of sorts about letting shoes into the house but that had been the last thing on her mind when her front door closed and Trevor leaned in for a kiss, which had been quite enjoyable when she stopped to think about it.
"Gravity Cosmetics is our rival," Trevor said pulling his shoes on. "I think I met with Mr Cai at a meeting once but we didn't really talk. We were just making a few negotiations."
"That's interesting," she said, smiling.
He raised an eyebrow. "Is it really?"
She shrugged. "I sort of miss him," she admitted quietly but it was just the two of them in the room without any external noise. He heard clearly.
"Sort of?" he questioned, like he knew better but she supposed she wasn't too great at masking her emotions that very moment.
"It was much easier when I didn't see him," she found herself saying, confiding in this man that she barely even knew. "But seeing him today just unlocked this part of me that I managed to keep buried all this time."
Trevor nodded in understanding. "You loved him?"
"I love him," she corrected.
"He didn't look too happy to see you with me. So what happened there?"
"His ex," London sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Yikes," Trevor said, making a face.
"Oh no," she rushed to Andrew's defence, "It's not what you're thinking. It's a... long story."
He smiled. "Well, I guess I better get going."
"Yeah," London said, grabbing her jeans that she too had discarded on the floor in the middle of their earlier heated frenzy. "Let me see you out."
"It was nice meeting you, London. Inesh did tell me you were amazing," Trevor said when they got to the front of her door.
"Inesh should be my wingman from now on," London joked, laughing lightly. "It was good meeting you too, Trevor. I have to admit, I thought your name was Tristan at first."
"Was it the blonde hair, bright eyes and the player-like features?" he asked, gesturing to himself with a bemused half-smirk on his lips.
She pursed her lips as if in deep concentration. "Perhaps."
They laughed.
"I hope you had a good time on the date," he finally said.
"I did, though I have one pointer. You should have let me talk more and not cut me off when I started to talk about my job."
He nodded, an appreciative smile on his lips. "Noted ma'am."
"Goodnight, Trevor."
"Goodnight, London."
As soon as Trevor had left, London went into the kitchen and pulled out a glass cup, not bothering to look for her wine glass before she poured herself a full glass. A full glass. She deserved it.
Alone again in her apartment with her thoughts and a full cup of wine, her mind wandered to Andrew. How was he actually doing? How was Aurora? What was going on his life?
She missed him.
One tear slipped and then another and before she knew it, her cup of wine was abandoned on the coaster on the coffee table as she hugged her knees to her chest as she tried to swallow down her sobs. Her silent cries ripped through her heart and she clutched it as the tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Why did it still hurt so damn much?
She wanted to hate him but she loved him and no amount of time and distance had changed that. Absence had only made her heart grow fonder.
Damn you, Andrew Cai.