Chapter 9

Present...

"Harold?" Standing in front of me was the last person I thought I'd ever see. Out of all the people on the planet Ryan's friend was none other than Harold James, aka my ex-boyfriend.

"Bella." He seemed just as shocked to see me.

"You two know each other?" Ryan asked, looking between the two of us. I had no clue what to say so I just nodded.

As the two of us stood there frozen my eyes moved on their own, taking him in. The last five years has really done him well. Harold's always been in great shape with football, literally had the body every guy wish they had and girls wanted in a guy. Now he seemed to fill out a bit more.

His shoulders seemed wider and his waist trimmer, a lot less bulky than in college. The dark grey dress shirt he had on hugged his upper body nicely, showing off his biceps. The sleeves were rolled up to this elbows. My eyes widened as I noticed the tattoos running up both his arms. Damn, those were new. Next, I moved up from his body to his face.

What use to be slightly shaggy brown hair was now neatly cut, shaved at the sides and longer at the top. Styled perfectly. Somehow his face seemed thinner and his jawline more prominent, almost like he worked out his jaw muscles. I wasn't even sure that was possible. The young adult face now aged into a man. What surprised me the most was the neatly trimmed beard he had.

Back in college he rarely ever grew out his beard, sometimes having a 5 o'clock shadow but he usually kept it clean shaven. While it was a surprise it looked good on him. Really good in fact. Harold honestly still looked the same just more...manly. He even seemed to stand straighter and taller than before. It suited him.

While I studied him I could tell he was doing the same. His eyes traveling the length of my body, lingering for a second at my chest before going back to my face. I wish I could tell what he was thinking but his face was like a wall.

"Its uh...its been awhile." He finally spoke. The deep tone of his voice sending memories front and center in my mind. After years of wishing to hear that voice again I now was. I swallowed nodding.

"It has been."

Silence instantly dropped down on us, tension slowly building. His sudden appearance threw me off and I could tell I did the same to him.

"Bella." Hannah's voice made me turn my head in her direction. She grabbed my elbow and quickly turned us around and lead us a few feet away. Keeping her voice low she asked. "Is that the Harold who broke your heart?" I didn't trust my voice so I just nodded. She looked over my shoulder for a second before looking back at me.

"Do you want to leave? We can go right now and I'll meet up with Ryan another time." I could tell she meant that. She would walk out right now if I asked her to, leaving behind the guy she's been so anxious to see.

As much as every fiber of my being wanted to turn and run I couldn't. Hannah deserved this and I wasn't going to let anything ruin it, even if it killed me to stay. I knew I could tell her to stay while I went home but I knew Han. She would then constantly fret about me the entire time she was on her date. That also wasn't fair for her.

So for Hannah I was going to suck it up and stay. It's been five years since Harold and I broke up it should be fine. We are both adult and can handle the situation.

"No its okay we can stay."

"Bella."

"Really its fine. We are both adults and I am not going to let anything ruin your night." I stated firmly. I can push aside my feelings for a few hours. I've been doing it for the past five years, gotten pretty good at it.

Hannah stared into my face as if looking to see if I meant it.

"Are you sure? I don't mind leaving."

"Hundred percent. I want to meet this Ryan and make sure he isn't going to break my best friends heart." I gave her a smile letting her know I was okay, even though on the inside I was freaking the fuck out.

My smile seemed to ease her a bit and she gave me one in return.

"Remember the code word." She reminded me once more. I gave her a short nod and turned around. Just as I turned Harold did as well, our eyes meeting. I glanced away and instead looked at Ryan. I could see something on his face as he looked at me but he quickly masked it.

"Sorry about that." I apologized. "It's nice to meet you Ryan." I properly greeted him.

"No worries. It's nice to finally meet the best friend." He smiled kindly at me. "Hannah has told me so much about you." He said as he gestured for us to sit down. While he pulled out a chair for Hannah I quickly took a seat, feeling Harold's eyes on me the entire time.

Both guys took a seat across from us and of course Harold was directly across from me. His long legs bumped into mine making me shift to the side.

"So this looks like a good restaurant." Hannah quickly spoke. I could tell she was trying to ease the tension a bit.

"I heard good things about it and thought it would be perfect for tonight." I watched as he grabbed Hannah's hand over the table while smiling sweetly in her direction.

"I love it." A sudden nudge on my arm made me jump.

"It definitely looks good." I dumbly spoke. Thankfully at the exact moment the waiter walked up.

"Now that everyone is here, what can I get you guys to drink?" Ryan and Hannah quickly listed off what they wanted before it was my turn.

"A glass of red wine please." I had said I wasn't going to drink tonight but with the current situation I really needed something to take the nerves off. The waiter nodded and I didn't miss the way his eyes lingers on my exposed chest. I quickly brought my menu up to my chest as if I was about to look at it.

"I'll have a glass of bourbon." Harold spoke in a steel like tone. My head snapped up in his direction, seeing the daggers he was sending the waiter. As the waiter walked away I raised an eyebrow at his drink choice. That was new. In college he didn't drink that often but when he did it was usually just beer.

"I'm so glad you decided to join us. I know it was kind of a last minute thing." Ryan injected. I forced myself to look away from Harold and look at Ryan.

"Thanks for inviting me. I'm glad to finally meet the guy who has my best friend acting so giddy lately." I softly nudged Hannah's arm as I spoke.

"Well she is amazing." The loving look the two of them shared made me look away as if I was impeding on a moment. Almost like a magnet my eyes met Harold's once more.

This was going to be a long night.