Coming Full Circle pt. 2

I was getting dressed and ready for this dreaded dinner.  Duane and his boys were in the living room drinking and getting rowdy.  Monroe was helping me look amazing; he even pinched a dress from one of the designers he was working for.  I was sliding into my shoes when I heard the girls and their boyfriends arrive.  I am pretty sure I had invited way to many people but Craig said to invite my friends.....

I came out and the room went silent.  Duane’s boy’s jaws had dropped and then there were whistles and cat calls echoing throughout the room.  I sighed thinking I looked awful.  We sat around having drinks and some laughs.  We had all decided that rolling in late to this farce was going to be the icing on the cake, not to mention us all being a little drunk.

I was looking for my phone to call some cabs when Duane said he had it taken care of already.  We headed downstairs at 7:30pm to a nice black stretch hummer.  I was shocked but Duane winked and opened the door.  We rolled up to the restaurant rowdy as ever and walked inside.  It was now 7:45pm and when we walked in, Craig was angry and his family was looking at me like I was so disrespectful.  I was all giggles when we sat on the other side of the table.  I noticed we didn’t have enough room for everyone so I asked a waitress to add another table. 

All of my friends were sitting on one side; I was flanked by Duane and Monroe.  Craig was looking across the table at me his face was red as he had saved me a seat next to him.  I was not going to play his game at all.  The waitress came by to take our drink orders and Monroe and I ordered 2 bottles of Cristal the boys ordered a bunch of beers and the ladies ordered 2 bottles of Torbreck Grenache Les Amis Barossa Valley 2006 which retail for about $150 a bottle.  I am almost positive that Craig’s mom was disgusted that we had basically ordered about $800 worth of alcohol.  We got our order and started looking over the menu.  We all decided to order the surf and turf.

Craig went to say something and Duane cut him off by thanking every one for coming he apologized that our family couldn’t attend but they had a previous social engagement.  I snorted and Monroe sipped his Cristal.  Our food arrived and his mother leaned over and whispered something to Craig.   Who immediately got up and walked over to me “Can I see you for a second....now!”

I smiled and politely got up and followed him outside of the restaurant...

C: “What the fuck are you playing at?  You show up here late, drunk and you don’t even have your ring on....and to top it off you and your friends order $800 worth of alcohol?! My parents are wondering what the fuck is going on....”

Me: “First of all....we are over and have been for months.  Secondly you should’ve told them the truth.  Thirdly you told me to invite my friends...and lastly why would I wear a tainted engagement ring??”

C: “Why can’t you just give us another chance?  Is it really that easy for you to throw away all those years?”

Me: “This conversation is over; I am going inside to eat my dinner.”

I walked away and headed back inside.  I sat between my two men and at my dinner and drank more Cristal.  I noticed that Craig hadn’t come back in yet.  I didn’t really care if he came back at all but his mother leaned over and asked if everything was ok with Craig.  I shrugged my shoulders and told her that she needed to talk to her son. 

After dinner was cleared away and we had polished off our second bottle of Cristal, Craig still had not returned.  I decided to go and find out what his deal was.  So I went out to the front of the restaurant but he was nowhere to be found.  I tried to call him, but he didn’t answer.  I was just about to go inside when I saw a car kind of bouncing up across the parking lot.  I knew I had my answer as to where he was...and probably who was there with him.  I called Monroe and asked him to walk Craig’s mother out as I had found her son.  A few moments later, his mother and Monroe came strolling out.   I walked with them towards the bouncing car, which was now identified as Craig’s.  We got closer and his mother asked what was going on here.....

She knocked on the window and Craig yelled “GO AWAY”.  She knocked again and tried the door handle.  I was standing back; I knew exactly what was going on here.  The moaning got louder on the girls end, and his mother was now banging on the window.  I was laughing and crying at the same time.  I had to try and play this up a little didn’t I?  Monroe was trying to hide the amusement on his face, when his mother produced a set of keys.  She quickly opened the door and saw more than any mother should see.  She screamed at the top of her lungs, as Craig quickly opened the back door with his pants down and who was trying to find her panties.....Chloe.

I stood back and laughed at him, his mother was berating him in a parking lot.  Monroe was snapping pictures of Chloe trying to get dressed as quickly as possible.  He turned to me and I was trying to play this up like I didn’t even know.  He walked over and very quietly whispered ‘you bitch!’  I laughed it off and whispered right back ‘guess they know it’s over now huh?’

I walked past them and let his mother continue her berating him.  Monroe followed behind me as we called everyone out of the restaurant.  They all saw Chloe trying to get away, but Craig’s mom was having none of it.  She was causing a scene for both of them.  Both of them were embarrassed and a small crowd had started to form outside of the restaurant.  Our limo pulled up and my friends and I piled in it and took off laughing all the way home.  Needless to say I didn’t hear from Craig.....

 

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August 2013

While I was working at the restaurant again, I couldn’t keep my mind off Joel.  I was wishing he was back, but I knew it would be a while before we would be together again.  While I wasn’t on the prowl, I knew I couldn’t hide out forever.  Maybe that is why I didn’t take notice to Mark right away.  Maybe that is why I didn’t pick up on his subtle flirtation. 

After a few “dates” which usually consisted of us grabbing coffee and either going to the beach or somewhere where we would talk, he never made a move.  I had made it very clear to him that I didn’t know exactly how this would work, but I never mentioned Joel.  I knew as soon as Joel was back I’d have a way out. 

One night after one of Mark and my outings, he gave me a hug, which was odd because he had never done that before.  As I was pulling away he kissed me, softly.  I giggled to myself, only because it took him so long to kiss me.  But also because there was nothing behind it, no passion, no chemistry.  I pulled away and smiled.  His phone rang and it was his wife asking when he was coming home.  He responded that he was on his way as I exited from the van.  He had hung up the phone as I came around and went to the driver’s side window.  We chatted a bit before I made my way inside.   I didn’t hear from him that night, but I did the next morning.

“It was a mistake....”