It was good to see you. I've missed you. G xx
I didn't know how Grey had managed to get hold of my number. I decided to just send a very short message in response.
It was good to see you too Grey.
I put my phone on the coffee table. I wasn't sure I wanted a conversation with Grey right now. Unfortunately, I got an instant reply.
You looked great, as always. I feel like fate drew us both to the coffee shop yesterday.
Fate? Huh! You think some weird things Grey-it was pure coincidence
I had no intention of getting caught up in his game, whatever game he was playing. He shouldn't be texting me.
Carls, don't be stroppy. I've missed you, it's been a long time. I know it was my doing but I'm back now and I am so glad I saw you.
I decided not to reply and went about my morning routine-in the back of my mind though, there was one thought, Grey. Where had what we'd shared gone? I remembered the first time we'd met. We were fifteen and we were at a baseball game-I'd been captivated from that first moment. From then on we had been inseparable. Many days were spent at games, he stole my breath with his kisses underneath the stadium steps. He was warm and kind-my love for him blossomed more every day. I held on like crazy until that moment we were torn apart-that was the day he chose his career as a photographer over being with me. We were just eighteen when he left, we'd had just three short years together. I'd always thought I meant more to him than I obviously did. I came second, and not even a close second. The moment he'd been offered the job, he accepted, and just like that he was on the other side of the world taking pictures of who knows what.
I showered and got dressed for work. I had to get to my shift at my second job. I was a waitress at a local restaurant-my job as a freelance journalist was good but I still had to pick up the odd shift now and then to help with the bills.
"Hey, Carly, you're ten minutes late," my boss Jim greeted as I walked through the door to his office where the staff lockers were kept.
"Sorry, Jim, traffic was a nightmare," I replied as I grabbed my apron and tied it around my waist.
"No problem, as long as you can still stay until closing time tonight," he said. He had a funny accent I could never place and had never asked him about.
"Yeah, sure thing," I said with a smile as we walked out of the office. I began bussing tables. It was busy in the morning with business men and women that liked the breakfasts our chef Tito cooked up.
I worked hard all morning and nearly didn't get to stop for lunch. When I did get a break, I went to my locker and retrieved my phone to text my best friend, Jodie. I looked at the screen and it said I had one new message. I opened it.
I know you were surprised to see me but it felt like old times, sitting and talking with you while you drank your pumpkin spice latte.
I didn't know what to reply. I didn't want to talk while I was at work, so I quickly texted Jodie and told her I was working until closing time. I didn't respond to Grey's text, although my heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise. How could he be so casual after so many years apart? I wasn't sure what to make of his texts-he was obviously engaged to Maggie now, so why was he so interested in talking to me that he went to the lengths of asking someone for my number? I knew I wasn't going to figure it out, so I went back to my lunch break and ate in the broom closet-sized staff room.
I went back to work. My back was aching by closing time. Jodie came in about an hour before we closed, but I had been too busy bussing tables to get time to talk to her. We got in my car and went back to mine for a pizza and a movie. I could always count on Jodie to pick a really cheesy chick flick. I liked action films myself.
It turned out Jodie wanted to watch The Phantom of the Opera. I should have guessed, she was obsessed with the soundtrack. So after watching it for the umpteenth time, Jodie crashed in my spare room on the futon.
"So are we going to talk about you bumping into Grey or are you going to keep pretending it never happened?" Jodie questioned over coffee the next morning.
"Umm … let me see … forget about it!" I replied in a fake, breezy tone of voice.
"That wasn't a question, let me rephrase it. Let's talk about you bumping into Grey, tell me everything!"
"Well, there's nothing really to tell. He stopped into the old coffee shop and had his fiancée with him. We made small talk and then I made my excuses and left."
"Does the fiancée have a name? Did he introduce you? Let me guess, she's tall, blonde, and supermodel looking."
"Her name is Maggie and yes, he introduced us. As for supermodel? Maybe. She has sleek dark hair, finely manicured nails, and couldn't wait to pry him away from me."
"Wow. So I should look out for a girl round town with nice hair and nails? Good description, Carls," she said as she bumped my hip with hers.
"Don't call me that," I said sternly as I went to sit at the small island in my kitchen.
"What?" She looked at me innocently.
"Don't play the innocent. Do not call me Carls. You know only Grey got to call me that. I hate my name being shortened."
"You didn't seem to mind when Grey did it!" she claimed in mock indignation.
"Shut up and drink your coffee. You'll be late for your shift," I said as I put my cup in the dishwasher. "Besides, I have errands to run, so you're cutting into my day." I playfully pulled on her pony tail as I walked by her to get dressed.
"Okay, well, I'll be off then," Jodie said as she stood and straightened out her too short skirt. Goodness knew how she got away with not wearing a regulation skirt like the rest of us at the restaurant. Well, I did know-she was sleeping with the boss's son, Xander. He was "alternative" about his clothing choices, too. He's got piercings, including one I'd rather not think about. He also has lots of tattoos and works as the town mechanic. He's his own boss, so there's no one to moan about the way he looks.
Jodie breezed out the door in her too high heels and too short skirt. She was so gorgeous and I was envious of her silken hair, great tan, long legs-everything about her, really. I'm rather plain to look at in my opinion-long brown hair and hazel eyes, average height, average build-though Grey always said I was the most beautiful girl in the world. Not that he'd met all the women in the world back then, but he's probably met a fair few since, being a photographer and all. God, I was even envious of Grey. He'd managed to land his dream job and now had a gorgeous fiancée to parade around town. Funny how life works out. You think that you'll be with the one forever, but in reality, forever is but a daydream. Call me a cynic, say what you like-I just don't believe in the things I used to when I was a teenager. I've grown up and seen the world for what it really is.
I had some work to do, so I turned my laptop on and put the coffee back on-I need caffeine when I write. Funny really, I'd always drunk tea before becoming a journalist, but ever since, I was exhausted all the time and needed to drink more coffee.
While I waited for the laptop to start and the coffee to be ready, I reminisced about Grey. Seeing him recently had stirred up undesired feelings in me. I didn't want to be the girl that has her heartstrings pulled by a man. If anything, it was very empowering to be an independent woman. I relied on no one and wasn't dominated by the fact that I had a guy in my life. Sure, I missed the nights in with a DVD and some takeaway. I missed the snuggling with someone, and of course, I missed the sex, too. But a strong, single woman doesn't let her heart rule her mind. Seeing him made me re-evaluate where I stood on the whole ‘single woman' issue, though. Grey had been my first and only real love. Could I ever get over him fully? Not with him being back in town, that's for sure.
My phone rang, and without looking at the caller ID, I answered, assuming it was Jodie on her break. How wrong I was.
"Hey, Carls," came the unmistakable voice of the very ex I had been thinking about.
"Hi, Grey. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you had some free time and maybe wanted to meet up for lunch."
"Umm … " Floored by his question, I wasn't sure I'd be able to form a response.
"Oh … if you'd rather not … " he trailed off.
"No, it's not that, Grey. I was just wondering how Maggie would feel about it, that's all." There, I'd managed to come up with a reasonable argument for getting out of it.
"Maggie? Why would she mind?" If my mind wasn't deceiving me, he sounded shocked that I had asked.
"Well, I would if I was her."
"Trust me, Maggie won't mind. So how about it? My treat, of course."
I couldn't get the thought of time alone with him out of my head and before my brain had a chance to wade in any further, I agreed.