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That becomes even clearer when we reach the bar and a man sitting to our left catches my eye. I don’t even have time to process what I’m seeing when big brown eyes land on my face and widen in surprise.
“Blue?” He swivels his stool in my direction, giving me one quick sweep with his eyes before they make their way back to my face.
I feel like I’ve entered the twilight zone. Everything slows down around me, the music pulsing from the speakers fades out, all replaced by the thumping of my heart inside my chest.
I pull in a breath but it’s not enough. My lungs burn as I stare at the man who I would be married to right now if not for his infidelity.
He looks just as I remember and yet different at the same time. His light brown hair is still styled the same, short and combed stylishly to one side. And he’s dressed in his usual button down, open to reveal the white t-shirt he’s wearing underneath, and dark jeans.
“James,” I croak out after what feels like a lifetime has passed.
Three years. I’ve managed to avoid running into him for three years. And tonight of all nights, here he is, standing to give me a hug like we’re old friends who haven’t seen each other in a while.
I stiffen when the contact is made, his familiar scent invading my senses. Making no attempt to hug him back, I’m acutely aware of my hand. The hand that Harris is still holding.
Harris...
My gaze slides to the man next to me as James releases me. His expression is hard, his jaw tense, his firm gaze locked on James.
As if just noticing Harris by my side, James gives him a quick once over as if sizing him up, before he turns back to me.
“It’s so crazy running into you here. It’s been a long time.”
I should have known coming here would be a bad idea. This was always James’ favorite place to come and let off steam when we were together. I quickly found out that steam wasn’t all he was letting off when he was coming here. The thought causes my stomach to twist.
All the wasted time with him. It makes me sick to think that I had once planned a future with this man who’s now nothing more than a stranger. Years of my life gone! And for what?
“Sweetie.” My gaze darts to the lengthy blonde sliding up next to James. She places her hand on his chest and snuggles into him. It takes me less than a second to hone in on the large diamond that she seems to be purposely showing off.
“Sorry.” He smiles, tucking the woman into his side. “Blue, this is Vivian. Vivian, this is Blue.”
“We’ve actually already met.” She smiles the fakest smile I’ve ever seen before extending a hand to me. I look down at her hand and then back up to her face, realizing that she’s right. We have met. Because this is the very woman James cheated on me with.
I make no attempt to shake her hand. She may have taken my fiancé, but I still have my pride. And even though my feelings for James ended a long time ago, it still doesn’t lessen the sting of knowing they are together. That they are engaged.
Harris squeezes my hand, pulling my gaze back to him. I don’t know what I expected to find when I meet his eyes, but it certainly wasn’t what I found.
Understanding.
I have no idea how he knows who this is. Our conversations about my past relationships have been vague at best, but somehow he seems to know. I’m guessing me saying James’ name probably had something to do with it, too.
“This is Harris,” I say, turning back to James and his fiancée stealing tramp. “Harris, this is James and Vivian.” Disdain drips from every syllable of her name.
“I would say it’s nice to meet you, but I’m not a liar.” Harris’ face turns up in a wicked smirk. “Then again, I have been wanting to thank you.” His smirk turns into a full-blown smile.
“Thank me?” James seems more than a little confused and honestly, he’s not alone.
“For being a complete and total douche bag. I hope your happy with your downgrade.” His eyes slice to Vivian before locking back on James. “If you hadn’t been stupid enough to let Blue go, then I wouldn’t be the luckiest man in the world right now to call her mine.”
My jaw drops.
I’m not sure if I want to laugh or kiss his face off right now.
“Come on, babe. Let’s dance.” With that, Harris turns, pulling me behind him as we make our way toward the crowded dance floor, leaving Hannah and Everett at the bar.
Harris finds a small opening at the corner of the dance floor and pulls me into his arms. I’m not much of a dancer, but Harris seems to know exactly what he’s doing. He moves against me with skilled precision and before long I feel the tension start to fade.
How strange. Had this happened a few weeks ago I doubt I would have felt so calm. In fact, I probably would have stood there like a statue while they flaunted their relationship in my face, before going home and having a good cry.
