The coffee date lasts for about fifteen minutes before Natalie storms out of the restaurant in a rush.I leap from the seat and dash to Nate's table. He still has that big smug grin on his face."So what do you think?" He wiggles his eyebrows. "She's hot, right?""She's married!" I blurt out.Okay, that's not how I was planning to share the secret. And that's not the reaction I thought I would get from him. He's still smiling as he leans over the table."I know she's married." Nate says. "She told me that herself. And she also has a two-month old baby. And her husband is the primary caretaker as she goes to work. But she's unhappy in that marriage. And she's getting a divorce.""That's a lie!" I blurt out. "She didn't seem like someone who was getting a divorce at the dinner!""What dinner?"There's a stretch of awkward silence between us, his eyes sharp on me."Natalie is my sister." I admit. "We were recently at a family dinner for my birthday. She was there with her husband and the
A full moon on the sky.The bonfire is big.The trees are swaying. The tents are set up with little lamps lit up from the inside. We are in the middle of nowhere but it strangely feels safe and secure.Everyone is talking and laughing and dancing and having a good time. The music is slow and nostalgic and the drinks are flowing. The boys are busy with the barbecue. The girls are busy drinking beer. I'm sitting on a stone, watching all of them.Damien is busy with the boys. He looks so relaxed and happy in the company of George, Liam and Ethan. He has a bottle of beer in his hand as he tends to the barbecue. It warms my heart to see him laughing with his friends.Vanessa is laughing at something that Sophia whispered in her ear. Those two have been inseparable since Sophia's overdose. But then again, they've always been close.George's wife, Gina, is busy drinking beer and talking to the two gorgeous women. Lucille and Miranda. I met Lucille when I was planning my wedding. A lovely fu
We are seated around the bonfire.We just had the most delicious barbecue and ate the most delicious cake. I'm full from the food. Now we're all just chilling and drinking and speaking in slow tones with hush music in the background.Atleast now they are wearing coats and sweaters and scarves and socks. I don't know how they were surviving in their summer outfits. The night is cold.Everyone looks so happy and warm in the arms of their lover. George with Gina. Liam with Lucille. Ethan with Miranda. Me with Damien. Vanessa with Sophia.This party has pumped life back into Sophia. She looks brighter and happier and vibrant and full of life. A lot of it has to do with Vanessa. I'm just wondering why she didn't drag her husband to the party."Let's play a game!" Gina proposes, flipping back her dark hair as she grins at everyone."Yes!" George chimes in. "Let's play a game! Truth or Dare!""No!" Gina rolls her eyes. "We are not a bunch of high-school kids. Let's play a more mature game."
"SCREW YOU!!!!"Miranda grabs the bottle of beer from Ethan's hand and splashes it on his face. Ethan stands from the stone and grabs her hand."Let's talk about this in private.""No!" Miranda cries. "You just want to fùck me and make me forget. You've done that a million times and I'm not falling for it anymore. I want you to marry me! Make me your fùcking wife!""I'm not ready!" Ethan snaps."But I am!" She screams. "I'm ready to be your fùcking wife! I've waited patiently for the last five years and I'm so fùcking tired! I don't have any patience left in me! All my friends are getting married! All your friends are fùcking married! George is married! Damien is married! Vanessa is married!""Liam and Lucille are not married!" He scoffs."Because marriage sucks." Lucille chuckles. "And we both decided that it's just not for us. Right, babe?"Liam nods reluctantly. I sense some tension there but I turn back to look at Ethan and Miranda."If you don't marry me this month, I'm calling o
A lot has happened since George's party.George filed for divorce. He found out that his two kids are not actually his biological babies. Gina has been cheating on him their entire marriage with her high-school sweetheart. And the two babies belong to him. George has officially moved back to the country. He's currently living with us as he hunts for a place. It was Damien's idea that he comes to live with us because he's going through a rough time. I'm not sure that was a good idea because he rarely gets out of his room. He doesn't eat unless Damien forces him. He's been living with us for the past few weeks but we only talk on rare occasions. Maybe when Damien has forced him to join us for dinner. Or when I bump into him in the kitchen. We've never talked about his wife's infidelity. I've been there before and I know what that kind of betrayal can do to you. Sometimes I really feel like talking to him and consoling him but he clearly needs silence and space. A lot of space.Liam and
PART ONE | DARE | I Dare You To Kiss MeIt's my boyfriend's birthday.And I have a nice little surprise for him.Brandon is my boyfriend of eight years. Most birthdays, we just stay home and eat lots of pizza. Drink lots of liquor. Dance lots of silly dances. Exchange cute little letters. But not this time round.This time, we are at a work party. Brandon is busy having fun with his friends. And I'm busy staring at the ceiling, wondering how I ended up here.Sitting on this washroom floor, a glass of champagne dangling in my hand. A glittery purse on my lap. Black heels lying next to me - the heels that my boyfriend bought for me.I'm actually the one who asked Brandon to buy me the heels. And the expensive purse. And this nice black dress. Yesterday, he took me to the spa. Got a nice massage. Got a nice wax. Got a nice pedicure and manicure. Got a new haircut. He paid for all those se
Damien hesitates, looking confused.I pull him closer and plant a kiss on his lips. His mouth tastes like wine. It takes him a few seconds to kiss me back. Brandon's sharp voice stops the awkward kiss."Dani!"I pull away from Damien, whose face is flushed. He's just as surprised as the small crowd of colleagues that turn around to look at us. The kiss has grabbed everyone's attention. Even the background music has suddenly stopped.I slowly turn to look at Brandon, his face contorted with fury. He's staring at me in disbelief. His eyes are red with rage. The clenched jaw is clear proof that he wants to punch someone. Maybe me. Maybe his boss. Most definitely his boss."What the fùck do you think you're doing, Dani!" Brandon barks."What you and Wendy have been secretly doing.""Are you drunk?" "I'm happy, Brandon." I giggle. "Very very happy after kissing your boss. The same way you've been kissing Wendy. And fùcking her. And planning to dump me for her! The two of you are pathetic
Brandon turns to look at me, anger flashing in his eyes. He clenches his jaw and forces a smile."Dani, is it true?" He asks. "My boss is your boyfriend?""Yes." I smile. "Your boss is my boyfriend."The night has actually turned out better than I thought. Thanks to Damien. I slowly look up at him, a little smirk on his face. His grip on my hand tightens. I never knew revenge could taste this good. The Rage and Resentment in Brandon's eyes fills me up with evil excitement."For how long has this been going on?" He asks through gritted teeth."I think you should mind the business that pays you, Brandon." Damien says. "Which is my business."He swallows hard and nods reluctantly."Noted, sir." Brandon turns around and takes the black heels on the floor. The heels that I threw at him and hurt his lip. He raises them, smiling at me."I'll give them to Wendy." Brandon says. "Have a nice life, Dani.""She sure will." Damien smiles, pecking my hand. Brandon storms away, carrying the heels.