I love you
1244 Words
"Can you explain to me why you've been watching me all night?" He says as he joins me in watching Alex run and play with his friends.
"I have not." I squeak out. I was indeed unintentionally watching him. I tried not to think anything of his attendance, but it just seemed like a recipe for disaster, him, and Eli sharing the same space. The last, and only time they met almost resulted in a literal c**k fight.
"Really? Strange, because I have been watching you watch me." He smirks.
I gag internally. Last thing I need him to think is that I am interested.
"What's with that guy?" He asks obviously referring to Eli. His flirty smirk replaced with disapproval.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why is he here, are you guys a thing?"
He is trying to stay cool but by the way he's shifting uneasily I know he is hoping I'll say no.
"Yeah, sort of." I shrug.
"Sort of? You have Alex around a 'sort of?' " His jaw clenchs.
"I mean it's 'sort of' none of your business sir." I give him a fake smile.
"I mean it 'sort of' is when my child's involved."
"Cut it." I am getting aggravated now. "He's great with Alex."
He scoffs. I look at him with a raised brow.
"Is he great with you?"
I click my tongue and think for a moment about how wonderful Eli is.
"Ew," he crings. "Thats not what I was asking about?!"
"That's not what I was thinking about either." I laugh. Eli and I haven't even gotten to that level yet. Not that he needs to know that.
"He's no good for you." He continues.
"Not your call." I counter as I walk away towards the cake table. What audacity? Him, the one who never cared about anything. Where was "good" for me when we were together. Now he's trying to dictate what's in my best interest. So shameless.
"Everyone, time to sing happy birthday-" I begin before Jared grabs my elbow and pullz me toward him.
"Keep away from him!" He says with ergencey. His eyes are wide as he searches mines for confirmation that I understood.
"Let her go, we will talk after the party." Eli's voice is inapropriately calm as he approaches us at our side. Very unlike him to not even growl. Then again he is in the audience of humans.
Jared lets go of my elbow and without acknowleding Eli makes his way to Alex and lifts him high in the air.
'
"Lets sing happy birthday to this lil guy everyone!" He shouts.
His smile spreads across his face as he takes his position behind the cake, facing everyone, holding Alex up on his left hip. He holds his right hand out to me, for me to join them. What the hell is he doing?! I stand frozen in place until Eli nudges me from behind to go. I look back at him in complete shock but all he does is nod. He is going to play Jared's stupid game, me the mere pawn in their schemes. I walk around the crowd of my friends, family, and their kids to stand by Jared's side. He shifts Alex to the middle.
"Ready everyone?!" Jared takes the lead again. "3..2...1...Happy Birthday to you!" He sungs. Everyone joins in, including myself.
Alex giggles and claps his hands and I watch him with pure joy, so does Jared. Mid song Jared glances at me and my eyes slowly drift to his. He is genuinely happy to be apart of his son's life; which I appreciate. I wish I could still be in love with him, for Alex's sake, but I am not. To fake it would be worse. Alex will be happier if we are happier, and unfortunately I am happier apart.
I find myself not singing anymore. I look over to my right at Eli. I can't tell what he is thinking. He stands in the back of the other's, also not singing. He doesn't look angry or upset. He is just a blank canvas, which makes me feel uneasy. Suddenly his lips twitch into a frown and his hand came up over his face. As he does I feel an arm around my waist pulling me towards the middle of the table.
Jared slides his arm around me pulling me into him and Alex. My eyes pop out with confusion and he motions with his towards the candles. Then I realize the song had come to an end, and it is time to blow out the candles. We do it togther, the three of us.
"Over here!" My mom sings out. When I look up she snaps some pictures on her phone. Jared reaches down sticking his finger in the cake and dabs Alex on the nose. Alex pouts, then bursts out in laughter as he sticks his enitre hand flat into the cake. He uses that same hand to decorate Jared's face with blue and white icing.
I laugh at his shocked expression, and at how silly Alex is for using his whole hand; kids are so messy. I'm also glad we had another cake.
"You think that's funny?" Jared smirks at me as he swipes his finger down the middle of my lips slowly, slathering them in icing.
I instinctively lick the buttercream off my lips and scowl at him. Alex's giggle over powers my anger and i laugh along.
Jared begins gwaking at me and it makes me feel rather uncomfortable.
"I Love you." he says, which takes me totally by surprise.
"What?!" I yelp as I stumble backwards. I trip over a stack of gifts and land hard on my ass.
"Sam!" Jared puts Alex down and comes towards me. He doesn't get far before he stops and takes a step back.
Eli helps me onto my feet and holds me close to his chest. Kim, my mom, and some of my family ask if I am ok and others disperse back to their seats, looking over their shoulders at us.
"Mommy, you ok?" Alex peeks over from behind Jared.
"Im fine baby." I glare over at Jared. "What makes you think you have any right to say that to me?"
"Say what? I didn't say anything." He looks at me worried.
"You did! I can't believe you.."
"Sam I really didnt say a thing."
"You're lying you said, you said-"
"He didn't say anything." Eli confirms solemnly.
"But..how-I heard." I huff and push off of Eli and storm off to the back. Kim follows close behind me.
I walk straight to the fridge, where the venue owners allowed us to hold our food and beverages for the party. I open up the freezer and stick my head inside. I feel overheated.
"Sam, what the f**k was that about? What did he say to you?" Kim posts up against the sink beside me. I stay quiet for about 5 minutes before she slaps me on my arm for a response.
"Heh sid heh uv me." I mumble into the fridge which probably sounded like jibberish to her. she pulls me out by my ponytail to look at me.
"Huh?" She rolls her eyes.
"He said he loved me." Her jaw drops. She releases my hair allowing me to return to the refreshing coolness of the freezer.
"What the hell?!" She exclaims as she pases the room.
- Writer
