Page 39 of When Forever Falls Apart

Elliot chuckles. “Weather talk? Come on, you can do better than that, Bugs.”

“All right, let’s talk about Billie. She’s single, you’re single, so maybe…” My words trail off into a dead silence. I catch sight of a man standing at the bar, and something ignites inside of me. An unsettling tremor shoots through my hands, and my breath turns shallow and panicked. I fixate on the figure, fear coursing through me, even as Elliot rambles on about me minding my own business or something equally annoying.

Beneath the table, my feet bounce nervously, the rhythm betraying my mounting anxiety as the man slowly shifts to reveal his face.

Our eyes lock, and in that instant, my entire body freezes.

Fuck!

It can’t be.

Myles.

CHAPTER 11Elliot

Madelina’s complexion drains to a ghostly pale white as her gaze fixates on the man standing at the bar.

There’s nothing distinctive about him. He’s of average height, dressed in tailored black slacks and a burgundy shirt, and is chatting with the woman beside him. They appear cozy, and judging by the way his hand rubs the small of her back, he’s fucking her. Maybe it’s new, since she eagerly flicks her hair back like she’s trying to impress him still.

“Myles,” Madelina whispers, her voice barely audible.

It takes me longer than it should to connect her rising panic with the name that slips from her lips. My curiosity spikes as I observe the scene, wondering how this tense encounter will unfold after what happened today with Myles’s mother.

The woman was downright rude, and while I’m not one to save Madelina from her own personal woes, she didn’t deserve a public outburst from the scorned woman.

Myles recognizes Madelina, his body stiffening, and he, too, appears shocked to see her. He leans to whisper something in the ear of the woman next to him. She turns around, eyeing Madelina up and down, then whispers something back to him.

Madelina hasn’t moved at all, frozen with her shoulders tight and eyes wide with fear. I find my gaze darting back and forth between the two of them, but then they begin to walk toward our table, much to Madelina’s horror.

“Fuck. This can’t be happening. Not here,” she sputters. “What do I say? I’m not ready…” She bows her head, mumbling more swear words as if it will change the outcome. Her leg begins a restless tap beneath the table, only adding to the tension filling the air.

“Maddy,” Myles calls, his tone filled with disbelief. “It really is you?”

At an extremely slow pace, Madelina lifts her gaze, her eyes revealing a tumult of emotions. Her complexion is ashen, and I notice her lips begin to tremble.

I’m unsure what to say or do, so I remain quiet but watch closely.

“My-Myles,” she stutters, a fragile breath escaping her lips. “I, um, what brings you here?”

An incredulous stare spreads across Myles’s face. He’s just as I would have pictured him; a man from an elite upbringing with more wealth than he knows what to do with. Oddly, I never would have picked Madelina to marry a man like him. She appears more carefree, with no interest in money despite growing up in a wealthy family.

“I’m in town to wrap up some business. Let’s just say things have been quite hectic since you packed your bags and left,” he responds, the edge in his voice sharpening. Yet, as if sensing the gravity of the moment, he smooths the hostility away with a practiced ease. “Ah, how rude of me. This is Lara.”

Lara appears much older than Myles. She’s wearing one of those blazers with gold buttons, similar to what Myles’s mother wore today.

Frankly, her outfit ages her. But hey, maybe she’s a great fuck.

“Myles’s girlfriend,” Lara interjects, extending her hand with a scrutinizing glare. “We met at one of Georgina’s high teas.”

She hangs out at teas? I take it back, pegging her as being all vanilla.

Madelina tilts her head, bewildered, as if Lara has just dropped big news. I clear my throat, nudging her gently to respond. Our eyes meet, and hers widen with panic at realization that she’s been silent for far too long.

“Yes, of course. It’s nice, um… to see you again,” Madelina finally manages, stretching out her hand. “This is Elliot. He’s my man friend.”

I suppress a grin, surprised by Madelina’s tone when mentioning the wordsman friend. It sounded more like she picked me up on the side of the road, hitchhiking into town.

“I believe what Madelina is trying to say,” I intercept smoothly, “is that I’m Eva’s older brother, and we were unwinding with a drink after a long day at the café.”