Page 9 of Love Delayed

“Thank you, Marc. I really appreciate it. Can you give me a second to email my client so I can inform her of this news?” she asked.

“Sure,” I replied. “I’ll run to the bathroom while you’re doing that. Can I leave my things here with you?” I asked.

“Of course you can. I’ll watch it,” she answered, with her eyes glued to her mobile device.

I walked off to the men’s room, and by the time I returned, she looked ready to go. After retrieving our checked luggage from the baggage claim area, we proceeded to the pick-up spot outside of the airport. The car pulled up within ten minutes, and I opened the door for her to get in. Not much was said during the ride, but we exchanged many glances. Once at the hotel, I got a key to a new suite, and as soon as we entered the door, she headed straight to the bathroom. I called my cousins to let them know I made it back to the hotel and declined their dinner invite, promising to fill them in later regarding why I would be absent.

“Again, I really appreciate this, Marcus,” she said while exiting the bathroom. “You can certainly take the bed in there. I’ll sleep out here on the sofa,” she foolishly insisted, and that was not going to ride with me.

“Nonsense. You know I’m a gentleman. The bed is all yours.”

“Marc, no, you are nice enough to put me up in this beautiful suite. The couch is fine.”

“Zee, we aren’t going to argue or debate about this. Now go and freshen up for dinner, and I’ll do the same. Then we can go to one of these fancy restaurants around here and talk. I mean, it’s been over ten years. I’m sure there is a lot we can catch up on.”

She nodded, and I smiled. I wanted to know every detail about her life during our time apart, and I would stay up all night listening if that’s what it took. Before we left the room, I made a mental note, not to mention Eliana.

We made small talk over dinner––nothing big. Feeling she was a bit reserved about her current situation, I held back on the current events in my life with my future bride. We talked about family and friends but only a little about ourselves. After the meal, I ordered a drink, but she declined to join me with a cocktail or glass or wine. That was strange because I knew her to be a cocktail or wine queen.

“You don’t drink anymore?” I asked.

“I do. Just not tonight.”

“So, you’re going to make me drink alone?”

She stared, looked down, and then let out a breath. “Okay, one glass of Merlot. Then we should head back. We have an early morning flight and I have to prepare for my new client after I land. I can’t be nursing a hangover tomorrow.”

“A hangover, not you, Ms. Wine Princess, but one drink is perfect,” I said and waved over to our server.

I ordered her a glass and ordered myself another before closing out our tab.

We rode back with little to no conversation, and if I hadn’t been engaged, the night would have gone entirely differently. I would have expressed that seeing her again was like a dream. I would have probed her personal life and asked if she was single or seeing someone, but I did not want to open myself up to the same line of questioning. My prayers were answered when she didn’t ask about my romantic situation. If she had, I would have lied through my damn teeth. It’s not that I was ashamed of Eliana. I just didn’t want her to know I was giving what belonged to her to another woman.

After we both showered, we agreed to call it a night. I wondered why we didn’t talk about the breakup. I guess neither of us wanted to revisit that story. I wanted to tell her that I was sorry but didn’t think it would make much of a difference to her now—ten years later.

Once our flight landed, we met at baggage claim. I grabbed my luggage first, then waited for her bag. When she leaned in for it, I stepped in and snatched it off the conveyor belt before she had a chance.

“Thank you,” she said, looking up at me with a smile. I remembered that smile and instantly knew how much I missed it. Her smile had an effect on me, and I easily smiled back at her.

“No problem,” I said with a nod, and then we headed for the doors.

Once outside, I noticed my car had arrived.

“I can get you where you need to go,” I offered, hoping she’d say yes and I’d have a few more moments with her, but to my disappointment, she declined.

“Thanks, but my sister will be here shortly.”

“Okay,” I said, then stood there gazing at her.

“Well, it was nice seeing you, Marc. Take care of yourself,” she finally said and turned to leave. I did not want this to be it, so I called her name.

“Zee, wait!” I called out and was happy she paused.

She stopped and turned back to face me.

“Listen, the way I ended things was fucked up, and I’m so sorry baby,” I blurted out.

I couldn’t let her walk away, not knowing how I felt. I was a fool to let her get away.