The Marriage Contract (37 page)

Chapter Twenty Four

              My bare feet clenched against the soft woolen carpet- the beats of my heart beginning to thunder within my chest, as I gaped at Charlene. Her emerald eyes held a cheerful glow, as her thin lips spread into an eager smile.

              “Come on!” she urged, rushing towards me.

              I took a step back, almost tripping, as Charlene’s small palm curled over my wrist, dragging me out of the room. I glanced nervously at April, who gave me a comforting nod, as she walked out of the room, down the narrow hallway. April strode slowly, her narrow hips slightly swaying, as the lavender of her pony tail, swung like a pendulum. I gaped at her back, wanting her to say something, anything, to stop me from seeing the man that had ripped my heart out. I wasn’t ready to see him.

              At least, I thought I wasn’t.

              “Charlene, wait,” I said. “Are you sure Rich…I mean, James is downstairs? In a car, you said?—“

              “No, not a car, silly. A limo. A great, white, limo!” she exclaimed. “Quit asking questions and just come with me!”

              But I didn’t want to go with her. I didn’t want to go anywhere that meant seeing him again. But then, there was a small part, resting deep within the pits of my soul that was curious to see what he had to say.  

              “Dory.” April’s voice startled my musings, as I shook, flipping my head towards her.

She stood by the stairs at the end of the hall, staring passively at me, though from the worry glazed over her ocean blue eyes, I could almost read what she was thinking.

             
Don’t be a coward
, she said.
Confront him.

             
“You’re right.” My voice escaped in a whisper as I stared from Charlene to April, exhaling a sharp breath.

              “Huh?” asked Charlene. “What’s right? Who’s right? What are you saying?”

              She blinked her large almond eyes at me, tilting her head- confused. Her fingers fiddled over the ends of her braid, as she placed another hand on her hip- her mint green top appearing vibrant against the light of the room. 

              “It’s nothing,” I muttered. “Let’s go downstairs…I think Mr. James and I need to have a little talk.”

              Charlene beamed, her small lips widening to a happy smile, as she tugged me by the wrist out of the room, and down the hall. While we trudged down the steps, I could feel the blood in my veins begin to simmer, as James’s mischievous eyes fogged over my mind.

              As we descended the stairs, my thoughts wandered on the idea that James was always used to being the hero of his story. In his world of glamor, he’d always been the main lead, defeating all odds to get the Cinderella like girl. Unfortunately for him, I was no Cinderella, whose kindness could forgive even the coldest of hearts.

              While Charlene, April, and I, walked through the living room, heading towards the front door, a simple thought occurred to me. In the few seconds before my warm hand curled over the knob, my mind sped a mile a minute. In the millisecond before I opened the door, allowing the sunshine to splash over my cheeks- I came to the conclusion that James Bellevue was a cruel, heartless, selfish, spoiled brat, who didn’t deserve anybody.

              And he sure as hell didn’t deserve me.

**

              Charlene was wrong, for James didn’t appear in a great white limo. No, that would be an understatement.

              I stood on the steps before my door- the humid wind whisking past my neck, my eyes roaming over the beast of a limo that James leaned against. The sun soaked against the white coat of the car, giving it a milky shine, as the large, silver rims, glimmered against the pavement, putting my bland suburban street to shame.

              My gaze stopped on James, who stood against the door of the limo, his arms crossed over his chest- wrinkling his smooth white polo shirt. His long legs were draped in pale brown board shorts, as he tapped a foot against the ground- impatient. While I pursed my lips, unsure of whether or not I had anything to say to him- he ran a tanned hand over the thick main of his locks, pushing the tresses back.

              “You’re not going to stare at him all day are you?” Charlene complained. “He’s been here for a long while, but this is the first time I’ve seen you look at him like that. Dory? Are you even listening to me? Go to him! Tell him I want to ride front seat in the limo!—“

              “Charlene, Dory’s got a headache,” I heard April whisper. “Let’s let them have some time alone okay?—“

              “But!”

              “No buts! Now, come on! I have some cool magic tricks to show you, and believe me- they’re a lot more interesting than that lame limo. I bet the inside smells like sardines anyway.”

              Charlene objected, as April dragged her inside by the wrist, before giving my shoulder a light squeeze. The door swung shut as they entered inside, leaving me alone, with him.

              When our eyes met, his back straightened against the car, as he nervously stuffed both hands within the pockets of his shorts, before pulling them out, as though unsure where to place them. He opened his mouth to speak, as if ready to spill out an explanation, but then, his eyes fell to the ground, his words seeming to disappear altogether. James appeared to be lost in thought, chewing the edge of his lip in a way that was quite unlike him, because for the first time since I’d met him, he looked confused.

              Lifting his golden eyed gaze towards me once more, I could almost feel his apprehension radiate through the silver fence and ten feet of distance that separated us.

As I contemplated James’s peculiar behavior, he took the first step towards me- just one, small step, staring nervously me. The sunlight splashed over his face- casting a light over his eyes, which I couldn’t quite read.

I couldn’t move either. I couldn’t do anything, but stand there, gaping at him like a fool. I had so much to say to him, so much to ask, yet all I could do, was gawk at him, my throat suddenly feeling dry. There was a slow pounding in my heart, as my mind recalled that woman I’d found him in bed with. The woman who had proved to me what a fool I was for falling for a womanizing jerk who could only ever love himself.

But then, like an echo in a silent cave, James’s voice boomed through my disordered thoughts, forcing me to listen.

              “Hey,” he began. “It’s…it’s been…a while.”

              My eyes stung, but I held back the tears with every ounce of my strength.

              I will not cry. I must not cry.

              “Two days,” I said. “It’s been two days.”

              He smiled. “Feels a lot longer, I guess.”

His legs fiddled against the pavement, shuffling over the grey patchy ground- his hands dropping to his side. A faint blush rested against the apples of his cheeks, as he stuffed one hand within his right pocket, staring at me with a kind of hope riddled over his eyes.

              He was tense- that was for sure.

              I took careful steps down the three cemented stairs, walking with an edge towards him. His back straightened, as he gulped, watching me approach him with an antagonistic stride.

              I could feel his apprehension- the blood in my veins, boiling. Upon reaching the short metal gate, I pulled it open, taking sharp steps towards him. The wind blew back my pony tail, though an annoying strand blew over my nose, flapping over the tip like a bird’s broken wing.

              I stared up at him- my eyes narrowed.  

              “I didn’t expect you here,” I said.

              His lips curled to a small smile, as he took a step towards me, breaking into my personal space. I glanced at his feet, then back at him, my eyes tracing over his face, before taking a careful step back.

              “Well, here I am,” he replied.

              There was a two second pause, as he cleared his throat, his lips extending to a smile. I glanced at his mouth for a moment, to which he raised a brow, making my cheeks flame in that way of his. Meeting his gaze once more, I stared blankly at him.

              “Man, I swear I memorized everything I was going to say to you.” His voice was light, as though trying to break the frozen lake of ice that rested like a wall between us. “But now…now I’m here, right in front of you, and all those words I’d been practicing to say, just drowned somewhere. Geez, I’m such a dumbass…I keep losing my damn train of thought. I mean…just look at you. You’re beautiful.”

              I pursed my lips, my eyes rolling.

              “And you’re full of crap,” I snapped. “Look, I don’t need your flattery, alright. I need you to leave. What? Did you think I’d run into your arms like some brainless doll, excited that you came all the way here just for me? Well, guess what. I don’t feel anything for you. And, it’s kind of a long story, but I need you to go before someone sees you—“

              His hands cupped my cheeks, lifting my face up to meet his. I gasped at his touch, my skin burning, and my eyes widening. My voice drowned in my throat, as he stared at me with tears brimmed over his eyes.

              “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “But I can explain. Just please, give me a chance to explain. Please…one chance. That’s all I’m asking for.”

              His hands were cool against my flesh, and for a moment, I leaned against his touch, for I didn’t realize how much I’d missed the tingling of his warm skin against mine. I inhaled his musky lavender scent that could only belong to him- my pulse racing as he wrapped both arms around me.

              Wait. What the hell was I doing?

Snapping my eyes open- I gasped, taking a step back and shaking out of his touch. He looked taken aback, almost hurt, as he tried to approach me once again.

              “Not a step closer!” I warned. “Stay back. And don’t touch me! I don’t need any explanation from you. Just go! I don’t want anything to do with you. Not now and not ever.”

              James’s jaw ticked, as he rubbed both hands over his face, grunting in frustration. Placing his hands by the sides of his shorts, he shot me an exasperated look, before turning, and heading towards the car.

I felt almost relieved, but confused as well. Was he just leaving like that, without giving that explanation he was begging to give? No, that wasn’t like him. But then again, why did I care?

I shook my head, biting the corner of my lip, watching as he reached the door to the limo.

“Well, guess this is the official goodbye,” I whispered.

I turned, feeling an aching in my chest- my eyes focused on the silver fence a few feet ahead. My eyes glazed, as I reached the fence, my palm curled over the small handle.

But the strumming of a bass guitar stopped me in place- my ears perked on the unfamiliar tune streaming from behind my back.

All I could think, as the strings of the guitar grew louder, was, ‘this can’t be happening.’

              “Dorothy. Wait. Don’t turn until I say so alright?” His voice was soft, as the slow melody from the guitar strummed on.

              “I don’t have to listen to you,” I replied. “I don’t know what you’re doing, and I really don’t care—“

              “Alright, alright, I get it,” he said. “I have no right to tell you anything, I understand all that. But please, I’m on my hands and knees. Just give me a few minutes. Please?”

              I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest, deciding to give him those precious minutes. As he requested, I didn’t turn, though I did hear some strange noises.

              The sound of shuffling escaped out of the car, as muffled voices spoke in hushed whispers.

              “Damn it, Alec!” James swore. “Watch the equipment!”

              “Man, chillax. It’s all good,” said Alec.             

              “It’s not all good,” James snapped. “Do your damn job, alright? Now, on three. You ready, Jose?”

              “I’m all set,” replied Jose.

              I could feel James’s glare towards this Alec person, as my ears perked on other sounds. There seemed to be two men with him, carrying some type of instrument, as though setting up a band or something.

              I bit my tongue, feeling a bit confused, for James was not the type of person to woo anybody with a song. Much less prepare a band in two days, fly them over to suburban Ohio, just to try to win me over.