AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I pull out of his embrace and turn to face my friends. They are all looking at me as if I were in a horrible accident. It must show on my face. “Wait here,” I tell John as I move him to the stairs leading up to my apartment.
Facing them, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting this.” I feelthe tears welling up in my eyes. “I’m going to stay back. Have a good holiday.” I turn back to John and begin my return to my apartment.
Finn comes up on our side. “Nonsense, you’ve got to come.”
I give him a pleading look, hoping he will let this go and allow me to deal with the disaster that just literally landed on my doorstep. “I can’t,” I say quietly.
Oliver joins us, “John, it’s great to meet you. We are heading to my family’s house for the holidays. Would you be interested in joining us?”
No, no. No! I don’t want John coming to Henry’s home. “No, thank you, Oliver. We couldn’t do that,” I answer. What is he thinking? Inviting us to his father’s?
John ignores my answer and insists, “If that’s what you were planning, Lucy, I can accompany you.”
Of course, he would.
“No, I think it’s better we sort through things here.” I turn to John and lower my voice, “In private.”
“There’s nothing to sort though, I’m here to spend the holidays with you and I’d love to meet some of your new friends,” John says to Oliver and Finn.
Oliver agrees for some reason, “That sounds great. John, why don’t you ride with us and Lucy, you can go with Mia and Hannah.”
Finn continues, “Yeah, give us a chance to get to know you.” He has a little edge to his voice that it seems only Mia and I pick up on.
Well, I have a choice, I can break down on this London street and explain to them the embarrassing story that is my history with John, or I can try to save some faceand go with them, corner John the moment we get there and insist he leave as soon as possible and hope that Henry can forgive me for this intrusion on his families holiday.
Hannah approaches, “Let me help you get your bags in the car.” Mia is frozen like a statue with her arms folded, staring John down as he moves into Finn’s car. I nod but can no longer find the words to say to them. Getting into the backseat, I feel my phone buzz, but I already feel sick enough. I don’t need to be looking at my phone during the hour-long drive.
How could I have been so naive to think my past wouldn’t catch up to me? I thought I could run away, but even an ocean wasn’t enough distance to get away from John. What is he doing here?He’s going to say it’s because he loves me.Yes, I’m sure he will say that, but I’m sure he has a text log full of other women he’s told the same thing to. Why couldn’t he go spend the holidays with one of them?Because he is going to say I’m the only one he actually wants to be with. This type of grand gesture may have been successful if it came years ago, but that girl is gone.
A tear falls from my eye, and I wipe it away. So much for the new me, the idea of becoming the person I’ve always wanted to become. Just like at home, I’ll be looked upon with pity by my new friends. The girl who everyone thinks can’t get over her ex.
I was finally forgetting my embarrassing romantic relationship past. John barely crossed my mind since I saw him at Thanksgiving. Spending time with Henry gave me hope that there is a possibility for me to have another chance at a normal relationship. Who am I kidding? All ofthat was fake too. Another tear falls. What will Henry think when I show up with another man? We discussed posting photos of us together for his accounts to show us as a couple spending the holidays together for the first time.
I know deep down, there was never a chance of Henry and I becoming anything more than friends, which even that was questionable some days. But I began to really enjoy that friendship, and look forward to his calls, and just this morning, I was so excited to spend time with him again.
“Are you okay back there, Lucy?” Mia sticks her hands behind her to hold my hand.
“Just surprised,” I answer, not able to say much more. “I had no idea,” I plead, hoping they know this isn’t something I planned.
“Oh, we know. Anyone who saw your face would know,” Hannah says. “But surprised good or surprised bad?”
“Just surprised. Still trying to process him being here. With how things were left and even when we saw each other at Thanksgiving, I didn’t ever expect him to show up,” I say, trying to save face. I need a plan.
Okay, when we get to Henry’s, I’ll give him my apologies and find a place to speak with John in private, tell him how greatly inappropriate this is, and demand he leave at once, claiming a sick relative or something.
Lost in thoughts, the drive to Henry’s home passes quickly, and before I know it we are pulling into the driveway of what is much more than he described to me. He called it a cottage, but it looks like something out of astorybook. Larger than I expected but more beautiful than I could have imagined it would be. Hannah’s car pulls up first and Henry is waiting at the side door for us. He looks so handsome…and cheerful.
“Welcome, ladies,” he yells to us, but I’m frozen in the car. Hannah and Mia exit and must give him a look of concern, and he moves to open my door. Time to face the music.
“Lucy, welcome. How was the drive?” he asks with caution.
Finn’s car pulls up next, and Henry notices the third person in the car pulling his attention away from me. “Who’s with them?” he asks.
I lower my head and hold back tears as I say the only thing I can think of, “I’m so sorry.” I should have texted him during the drive. I should have warned him, but I was too concerned with myself.
He cocks his head to the side in confusion. Finn breaks the silence as the men exit the car. “Pop, we have an extra guest. Come meet, John.” Henry doesn’t catch on yet, but Finn clarifies, “You know, Lucy’s old boyfriend from the States.” Henry looks back at me but I’m too afraid to meet his eyes. I know I’ll cry if I look at him, and I can’t do that if I’m going to try and blow this all over.
“Hi Henry, nice to meet you, I’m John.” Henry takes a couple of steps away from me.
