Unapologetically Me

Chapter Sixty Six

Standing in front of the mirror, I made sure I had my armor on for what was to come.

Back in the bedroom, I could hear his phone tinkle and I held my breath and listened.

"Hey, yeah, I'm bringing my date for lunch so you can meet her."

I stilled. I stared at my minimal makeup and nodded. All I put on was a coat of lipgloss and some mascara. Anything else felt like I was trying too hard. I redid my French braid and walked out of the bathroom.

He smiled at me as I walked out and I gave him a tight smile back. My stomach was all twisted and I was getting nervous by the second.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'm going to get."

"Are you nervous?"

I looked at him and he smirked.

"Don't be. I've got you. If things start to get hairy, we'll leave."

"Define hairy."

"Awkward. Angry. Sad. Any negative type feelings."

I sigh and nod. "Okay. Safe word?"

He grinned then, showing off his pearly whites. We got out to his car and he turned to me.

"Movie. We can say we're going to a movie."

I nod once and take a breath as he begins driving. "Don't be pissed if I chicken out."

"I won't. I told you, we don't have to do this. I'm not forcing this on you. We can call them right now and just say you're not feeling well."

"They don't know it's me, right?"

"F*ck no. I like the element of surprise. I want to see his face as soon as he sees you."

I roll my eyes at how happy he seems. Meanwhile my stomach is bubbling with anxiety and my hands are sweating and I just don't feel good at all. I actually feel like I'm going to be sick.

I belch and he turns to look at me with wide eyes. "You good?"

"Yeah."

He grins again and I kind of want to hit him. He's too happy. But then again, he's been hanging out with his ex for then entire time. And my ex has been avoiding the sh*t out of me. So...there's that.

When we got to the Italian restaurant, I sat in the car for a bit longer, staring at the building. He waited with me, seeming okay with my lack of action, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of a song droning quietly from the radio.

When the song ended, I opened my door and he switched off the vehicle.

He placed his hand on the small of my back as we walked in. The smell of the place was amazing, and despite the fact that I was hungry not too long ago, I wasn't anymore. They were sitting in a booth near the back of the restaurant, facing the door.

My heart squeezed at the sight of him and I paused, mid aisle. He had shorter hair now, buzzed on the sides and longer on top. He still wore his glasses, but just a different style than he had before. Metal frames instead of the black plastic.

And my heart still raced at the sight of him.

Sitting next to him, smiling and looking like the last time I saw her, like he hung the damn moon, was Sarah. She had a curtain of thin brown hair and a cute little face. A complete girl next door vibe.

I walked forward, feeling like my feet were full of lead and then paused when we got to the table. Liam stepped in front of me and smiled.

"Guys, this is my date." Both Sarah and James looked up at me and I saw the exact moment of recognition hit James' eyes. They widened and his eyebrows rose. Next to him, Sarah smiled sweetly at me and then back at Liam.

"Oh my goodness! Hi! I'm Sarah!"

She stood up and held out her hand. I clenched my jaw and took her hand in mine gently, feeling James' eyes on me.

"Kelly." I smiled at her, one of my smiles I reserved for my clients.

"This is my fiance, James. Liam, goodness, you did not say your date was so beautiful. And...you look familiar. Do you two work together?"

She furrowed her eyebrows and stared at me and out of the corner of my eye I could see Liam smiling like a wolf. James' nose was flaring and his cheeks were pink.

"She should be." Liam answered, sliding into the booth, letting me sit on the outside. Probably so it would be easier for me to escape if I wanted to. I sat down with him and kept my eyes on Sarah. I couldn't let myself look at James. "She's Kelly Whitmore."

At the mention of my name, Sarah's eyes widened and her mouth popped open. She turned to James quickly and he pressed his lips together in an awkward smile.

"Oh! Oh...wow. You're...you're even better looking in person. Wow. James..."

James looked at Sarah then, his face still pink and he seemed to be having trouble formulating any words. Good. "Thank you." I murmured.

He brushed a hand over his face and sighed. "Hi, Kelly." Hearing his voice snapped something inside of me and I looked at Liam. He was watching me, his smile long gone. I gave him a small smile.

"Hi." I mustered.

We all sat there quietly until Sarah took it up on herself to start a conversation. "So...how did you two meet? I mean, no offense, I just never thought I would meet you."

I snorted out a laugh. "Yeah. Same. No offense to you as wel. But I didn't think so either."

She tilted her head and her eyes studied me. I studied her right back. And not to be a b*tch and tear down another girl, but...I didn't get it. Maybe she had a sparkling personality. It must be something because she was able to land Liam, who was a certified hottie. And James. Who, while he wasn't everyone's cup of tea, had something about him that drew people in.

"I actually had the idea of inviting her. James always talked so fondly of her, and I figured what would the harm be in her coming. Especially since they did part amicably."

I turned to Liam, saw him watching James and I turned back to James. His cobalt eyes were hard on Liam and I could see from his eyes that he knew that Liam knew about him not breaking up with me.

"That was sweet of you. James always did talk out ears off about you."

I nod, pressing my lips together. "I bet."

James looked at me then and having his eyes on me made all of my pent up emotions rise. A waitress came then to take our drink orders. We have them to her quick and she left.

"So you'll be Liam's plus one to the wedding?"

"Yes."

"No." James said quietly. He was looking at the table but he shook his head. He looked up at Liam and shook his head again. "No. I don't know what games you're trying to play here, but that's not happening."

"James." Sarah chided. "Why are you being rude?"

I lifted my chin and continued to stare at him. I knew it would be a hard lunch, but hearing him deny me at his wedding kind of hurt. Like I was the one who was the bad guy here."

"Sarah said I could bring anyone. I didn't think this would be a problem." Liam retorted, seeming relaxed. He laid his arm across the back of the booth and I felt the heat of it behind my neck.

"It's not." Sarah said quickly, giving me a reassuring smile. "Really, you're welcome to come. Actually, it makes me so happy that you're supportive, just like Liam."

I smiled at her then. Yeah. Supportive. I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate it, but if he doesn't want me to come, then I won't. I don't want to be a bother."

James looked up at me surprised and I ignored his stare, keeping my eyes on Sarah. It was easier this way. Sarah furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head.

"He's fine with it,right baby?" She turned to James, shooting him major puppy eyes.

He ignored her, keeping his eyes on me. "Why are you here?"

Sarah began opening her mouth but I saw Liam hold up his hand to shush her.

I took a deep breath and met his eyes. "I guess...I guess I just needed closure." I told him quietly. "Sincd I never got it before."

James' jaw worked and he crossed his arms over his chest. Our drinks came and when the waitress asked us if we were ready to order, Liam asked for more time.

"What do you want me to say?" James asked me softly.

And I didn't know what to say to that. I felt my throat thicken and I leaned back. I felt Liam's arm there and in a way, it was a comfort.

"I-Why?"

I could feel Sarah's eyes on the both of us and James took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, saying nothing.

I cleared my throat. "After everything we went through, you left without a single word. You denied me the closure I needed. Not even a damn call. And when I called you about my mom..." I felt my eyes tear up and thank God I had worn waterproof mascara.

"Kelly...I'm sorry. What else do you want me to say? You're coming at me days before my wedding. That's... that's f*cked."

I felt my nostrils flare and I turned to Liam. He was watching us both like we were a TV drama. I glanced at Sarah and she looked at James and then me with a wounded expression.

"What's f*cked is that you never broke up with me. What's f*cked is that I called you every day for a f*cking month to receive no answer. Not texts. What's f*cked, is that I came up her for spring break, just to find that you were with someone else. That's what's f*cked." I turned to Sarah.

"James never broke up with me. Never. He ghosted me."

I stood up and swallowed hard. The tears were threatening to fall and I really didn't want to cry in front of them. I walked out of the restaurant and took a big, gulping breath. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I swat it away before I see that it's just Liam.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I nod and take my phone out. "Yeah. I-Uh... you can go back in. I'm just going to get a ride back to the hotel."

"No. I'm good. Sarah and James are having a very heated discussion, so I came out here for that movie."

I snort at the safe word and nod. "Okay."

He places his hand on the small of my back again and leads me back to his SUV. We get in and he sighs. "I really am sorry. I...I know there was bad blood, I just...I'm a piece of sh*t foretting you go through with this."

"No." I shook my head. "I didn't get any answers I needed, but at least she knows. And...I honestly doubt I'll be allowed to their wedding now, but I do thank you for inviting me."

"You're still my date if you want to go."

I snort and I shake my head. "Yeah, I don't see that happening, but thank you anyways."

"You hungry?"

"F*cking starving."

"Burgers?"

"Please."

He grinned and drove us to a drive thru. We picked up some burgers and he drove us to a parking garage for the mall.

"Maybe after we eat we can just walk around. You. an look at stuff or whatever."

"Okay." I smile at him and he smiles back.

When his phone rings, while we're eating he answers it on his stereo and I hold my breath, seeing the name.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Are you with Kelly?"

"Are you asking because you want her back or...?" I smile and smack his arm.

"Dude, I'm asking is you took off with her."

"Yeah. She's here with me, why?"

He took a deep breath. "Sarah and I wanted to get everything out there. With her. She wants to meet up at some point to talk things over."

"Why would Sarah want to talk things over?"

"Well, she figures she and you would play mediator for Kelly and I. I feel...I owe it to her."

"Damn right you do."

"Yeah. So...can you ask her if she'll meet with us?"

"Not in public." Liam said. I raise my eyebrows at him and he winks at me.

"Yeah, no. Maybe your apartment or her hotel."

"No hotel. She's staying at my place."

I furrow my eyebrows at him and he gives me a playful smile. The line is silent. "Okay...so your apartment."

"Fine. Tonight. And you're buying dinner."

"Yeah. You want us there at a certain time?"

He perks an eyebrow at me and I shrug. "Seven."

"Alright. And...f*ck you for starting sh*t."

"I love you too, James. Bye."