Forgetting You

CHAPTER FOUR

ADAM

One hour before

I can hear the blood pounding in my ears, drowning out the sound of clattering dishes, people talking. In the corner of the restaurant, the pianist eyes me, he's no longer concentrating on his piece. I can no longer hear his fingers tap at the keys or the smooth, uninterrupted notes.

A face appears in front of me, her blue eyes concerned. Her lips are moving but I can't hear a single word. She shakes me a few times, the blood draining from my ears and the first thing I hear is her soft voice.

'Adam, are you sure you're okay?' Cathy reaches out for my hand, she grips onto it and gasps a little.

'You're sweating, Adam! I'm taking you home, you can call them back on another day.' She lifts my arm but I pull away from her.

'Cathy, I'm fine.' I loosen the tie digging into my throat. I am not weak, I can do this.

'Adam, we've been waiting here an hour now, I don't know why you insist on coming before they've even arrived.' Her arms are crossed over the chest, she's upset. I gesture her to sit on the stool opposite me and she does so, sighing a little.

'Thank you Cathy, for everything,' I take a deep breathe. 'For doing this huge favour for me.' I'm grateful to her, if it wasn't for her I'd still be in that hotel room, vodka bottles strewn all over the floor, lying in my own piss.

'Adam, I'm here for you. What are friends for?'  She smiles at me and I don't feel as forlorn as I did before.

She's about to say something, but her eyes are distracted. She's watching something - or someone - move at a distance and her eyes widen with surprise. A playful smirk creeps onto her face. My limbs stiffen.

They're here.

She's here.

As much as I want to look, I don't. I'm rooted to my seat and I can't find the strength to get up. My palms induce heaps of sweat, a wave of adrenaline passes through my body. There's an invisible bug on my neck, biting me.

'God, she's beautiful,' Cathy is taken aback. She's still staring at her and I know why.

She is beautiful.

I haven't seen her for three years yet I can picture her already. Her brown eyes holding a playfulness to them, her pixie like nose wrinkling when she's thinking too hard. Her bottom lip, a permanent colour of red from the chewing she does when she's nervous.

'They are honestly the sexiest couple I've ever seen.'

A wave of reality washes through my head, I'm not thinking straight.

I can sense the anger and hatred surge my veins, she's the same woman who left me. The woman I intended to marry, to cherish and love.

I feel the urge to grab her, pin her against the wall, cry out to her. Tell her how I felt that day in summer when I saw her, walking across the beach  with a man behind her. Putting his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him.

She wouldn't care though, she was happy to have played around with me, toy with my emotions. I was that stupid, sensitive guy she could easily wrap around her finger.

I can see the rim of the wine glass fissure in my hands, I can control the intense grasp; I could release it whenever I wanted to and seize it whenever I wanted to.

I am in control.

Before it disintegrates in my hand, I set it down.

'Replace the glass will you?' I click my fingers at the bartender; he's at my disposal.

I straighten my back, I no longer feel nervous; I possess confidence and surety.

'Shall we go?' I take Cathy's hand and place it on my arm. I lower my head as we walk to the table I booked. I reassure myself; I've planned it out already.

I can feel eyes on me, they're penetrating my soul.

'There he is!' I thunder, waking Ali up from his daze. He smiles and stands up, shaking my outstretched hand. I feel the urge to crush his hands in my own and punch him across the face.

I keep my composure; I don a fake smile and a warm welcome. I don't move my eyes from him once.

'You're married?'  He laughs, shaking Cathy's hand. She's about to speak but I interject.

'We're engaged.' I say bluntly. Cathy's in shock, she squeezes my arm gently. I can imagine her reprimanding me when we get out here,'That wasn't part of the plan, Adam.'

Then again, I was full of surprises.

Sarah's hand hits against the table and I glance quickly in her direction.

I'm staring right at her now. My insides flip when I consume her with my eyes. She's already making me feel weak at the knees. I can't read her eyes, there's no emotion in them apart from surprise.

I feel a strange pang in my chest, a yearning for her.

She's wearing a low cut black dress, it contrasts against her pale skin and matches her hair. Her luscious curves are defined; she's leaning seductively against the table and I feel a rush of stimulation.

I can't allow her to do this to me. She's controlling me and I want to give in. I want to throw my cards on the table and accept defeat.

She reaches her hand out and intertwines her fingers with Ali's. I feel a deep blow, as if someone's punched me in the stomach; she's done it again and I allowed her.

'Meet my wife, Sarah.' He looks at her lovingly as he says her name. She's someone else's now, she tugs at his hand and avoids my gaze.

She's intimidated by me, she holds onto that man as if I'll hurt her.

'I'm familiar with your wife,' Ali eyes me, he's as dumb as he is confused. I can let it out right now, tell him of how familiar I've been with her; how intimately we've been.

Her eyes widen, she chews at her bottom lip, harshly. A sensual rush pulsates my body, I've tasted those lips; I can feel the softness of them on my own.

I maintain my posture and smile.

'We've met before.'