Hello, dear readers. This is yet another ficlet inspired by prompts sent to me on tumblr. Own nothing. Love it all. Thanks so very much for taking the time to read and review!
He's late.
This shouldn't make her nervous, shouldn't bother her at all, but she's a wreck inside, and she knows it. It is their first date, after all, and it means far more to her than it should. The man she has secretly loved for most of her adult life, the man she tried to push away when they first met, the man she nearly lost to another woman, she will finally be with him tonight, will finally be given the opportunity to make up for lost time, will finally be able to tell him how she really feels.
What is keeping Matthew? She takes another sip of her wine.
There is no text, at least there hadn't been when she checked thirty seconds ago, and he is always prompt. She fights down worry, reminding herself that his job is demanding, that traffic is bad, that he is only ten minutes late, and she cannot allow herself to panic over nothing.
"Mary?"
A voice from behind her hits her squarely in the gut, and she swallows audibly before pasting on a smile.
"Kemal," she acknowledges, purposely looking disinterested. "It's been a long time."
"Too long," he purrs, taking her hand without her permission. "Are you expecting someone?"
"Yes," she returns hastily. "I have a date."
"A date?" he questions, arching his brows. "Just who is the lucky man?"
He sits down in the seat across from her, and she stares at him hard.
"That's none of your business," she states firmly. "And that's also not your chair."
He chuckles and stretches back, making her resist the impulse to kick him under the table. But she spots Matthew—just walking through the door—and she tilts her head so he can see her, smiling in unmistakable eagerness.
Then another mouth is pressed against hers, lips far too demanding, arms much too strong, and she pushes against him with all that she has.
One backs up and smirks while another stares at her in hurt bewilderment.
"Oh God, no," she breathes as Matthew turns and retreats back the way he just entered, leaving her standing alone and shell-shocked while her past and her present walk away without a word.
