The missing hour
1051 Words
Marcus
This really has to be a joke of some sort.
I'm starting to think the universe is trying to play some sick tricks on me.
At the moment, I'm really not in the mood for that.
It was just supposed to be a one time experience, one I was supposed to get over with and live like it never happened.
I'm not the type of guy who ponders over a one night stand.
But there was just something different about her that has been making thoughts of her slip through my mind even after all those nights ago.
I never expected that we'd meet again.
And even if we did, not with this type of complication.
Fuck!!
This is really bad.
“ Have you guys met before?" Martha asks, looking between the both of us in curiosity.
She immediately jerks out of her trance, like someone had poured her a bucket of water.
" Um… yh..I–”
" Yes we bumped into each other at a restaurant” I quickly swooped in, cause she looked like she was seconds away from spilling the truth about our rendezvous.
" Wow, nice,” Katherine admits with a smile.
" Please have a seat” Katherine adds enthusiastically, already moving across the table to help Brianna settle on her seat
" Thank you,” she says politely. Already replacing the shock she had a few minutes ago with an aura of confidence.
I admire that.
Chris then clears his throat, immediately getting everyone's attention.
“ It's nice seeing you again, Brianna, " he says, staring in her direction.
“ the pleasure is all mine”
“ I'll love you to meet and get to know each of us properly," Chris announces.
He starts by introducing his wife Katherine– Kathy, who was seated close to him. Followed by Matthew and Martha.
She hugs and smiles at them while they share their pleasantries.
" And this is Marcus, our nephew, and technically your uncle of some sort, I guess,” he explains with a small smile.
I school my features before turning to her.
" It's nice to finally meet you again brianna” I say, reaching out my hand from across the table to shake hers.
" It's nice meeting you too… marcus" she responds, before taking my offered hand from across the table with a smirk.
WOW!
I feel like I'm staring at a whole new person from the woman I met weeks ago.
Her fingers slid into mine, warm and familiar.
For a second, neither of us let go.
To everyone else, it probably looked like a normal hand shake.
But the look in her eyes told me she remembered everything.
Just like I did.
“ Welcome to the family Brianna, ” Chris remarks. " Know that you're welcome anytime".
" Thank you all very much" she says with a smile that reaches her eyes.
“ Anytime darling" Katherine says.
“ You're always welcome, dear,” Martha adds sweetly.
“ Please let's raise a toast to Brianna, as the newest member of the family” Matthew says with a grin, always the party hype man.
" To Brianna!” We all chorused.
" And please let's raise a toast too to Marcus, for his incredible efforts in management, that has doubled our revenue over the past month” Matthew says cheerfully, pretending to be oblivious to the death glares I'm sending his way.
“ To Marcus!" Everyone chorused again.
Everyone then settles down and starts digging into their food. I look over at Brianna, she looks to be having a good bonding moment with Matthew.
Matthew says something that makes her laugh.
The sound shouldn't bother me.
Yet somehow it does.
It's irrational and immature to be feeling this way.
He's her family and they're trying to make up for lost times.
But I just can't help that feeling.
I quickly avert my gaze.
I really need to keep my attitude in check.
“ I'm sorry, I need to take this," Brianna announces, excusing herself before making her way to the bathroom.
Martha traces her movement a little too closely to be comfortable.
Weird
Maybe I'm just over analyzing things. Cause I was trailing her movement too.
How hypocritical.
Growing bored, I retrieve my phone from my suit jacket. An unsurprising line of text messages and emails are already waiting for me.
Skimming through my texts, I see my parents messaged me, saying they wanted to know how I've been. I register it in my head to reply to them later together with my emails and other texts.
I decide to reply the ones from Devin;
“ Sorry man, family dinner"
He replied almost instantly.
" Still alive, then?”
" Barely. I'll tell you everything tomorrow”
" Popcorn and drinks on me then”
Typical Devin
I shake my head, then return my phone to my suit jacket.
I raise my eyes and scan the table.
Everyone was conversing.
But Brianna's not back yet.
Chris and Kathy stand up to leave.
“ I'm really sorry we have to leave early. We just received a call from Cole's nanny". Kath says with worry tinged in her voice.
" Please send our apologies to Brianna when she gets back” Chris rushes out, already trying to make his way to the door.
" Okay. Please give us a call when you get home, "Matthew says. We all wave our goodnights to them before they make their way outside.
" I think I'll be on my way too, I have an important meeting with some investors tomorrow” Martha tells, already standing to leave.
“ Well take care of yourself and have a good night little one"
“ Same to you too, old one" she counters with a victorious smirk on her face.
“ I always thought you both would have outgrown this love-hate relationship of yours by now, but it seems; old habits die hard,” Matthew comments, with a bored expression.
Matthew and Martha left shortly after Chris and his wife left.
I check my time.
It's almost an hour.
No one spends an hour in a restroom.
A bad feeling settles in my gut.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I'm already heading to the restroom.
- Writer
