Dallas, Texas

"Same again?" offering her another drink as he cleared away her empty glass, the bartender's offer was tempting however Jenna had enough forethought to decline. Shaking her head, she answered, "no, thank you" considering her will to be of sound mind when she sat down to lunch with Sue Ellen. Another drink in the company of her new friend would be perfectly acceptable but to be two drinks ahead of her would put her at a disadvantage if she wanted to be taken seriously.

"As you wish", shrugging, accepting her answer for what it was as it probably made little difference to him, the bartender stood in place for a few seconds, saying nothing before smirking and muttering, "your date on the other hand, he looks like he could use a drink".

Intrigued by his comment, she leaned forward on one hand as she looked to him for further answers, "date?" She couldn't blame the bartender for assuming she was waiting for a date, it was an easy mistake to make, after all, she was a very attractive, very eligible lady and she wasn't afraid to make that known. In this case though she wasn't there to meet a man, instead she was at The Gardens restaurant to see Sue Ellen, though that little bit of information wasn't widely known outside of the hostess who had apologised that their table wasn't ready yet when she'd arrived earlier.

Nodding his head at something in the distance, she followed his gaze and turned around to look at what he was directing her attention to, coming face-to-face with a man who certainly looked like he could use a drink far more than she could.

"Jenna?" saying her name, his tone was disbelieving, questioning whether she was in fact the woman he'd named her as and not just someone who reminded him of her from afar but up close was clearly a different person.

"Hello Bobby", smiling mischievously, she greeted him with a warmth she wasn't sure he'd appreciate considering how things had ended between them. She had little shame though and warmth was what she felt in the mood to give him, warmth and a little good-natured teasing. It was clear from the way he was standing still, staring at her, that her presence had taken him completely by surprise and surprise wasn't something she'd seen much of during their long, intimate relationship so now that she was seeing it, she found it rather fascinating.

Looking her up and down from a few feet away, towering above her as she sat at the bar, he was silent for a long time before he finally spoke, "it's been a long time". That was an understatement if she ever heard one, she had practically lived an entire life since the last time they'd seen each other, she'd run away, married, had a child, divorced, run away again, and was now back, mothering and living her life on her terms. As for Bobby, she knew he was newly married and still heavily involved in Ewing affairs but other than that didn't really know what he'd been through while she'd been off living her own life, away from him. He was just as handsome as ever and she was sure she still had it, but it would be a lie to pretend their sustained youthful appearances meant the years of life between them hadn't happened or had just melted away the moment they'd locked eyes again.

"Yes it has", agreeing with his comment she patted the seat next to her, inviting him to sit down. She had told JR that she wouldn't beg Bobby for a place back in his life and that was still her position, however, talking to him was not a sign of her going back on her position. They were two old friends, two former lovers and they had a lot of catching up to do.

Following her direction, he sat down beside her, silent again as he studied her from a new position, giving her a chance to look him over from a different perspective too. His face was a little more mature looking, less like a college boy and more like an adult man, his hair was cut a little differently and there was a wedding band on his left hand now, but other than that, he looked the same as he had the day she'd left Dallas. Time had certainly passed, but not as much as it felt like it had.

"How are you? How have you been?" asking her about herself in very broad, general terms, his tone was friendly but strangely impersonal, though she shrugged it off as the shock continuing to affect him rather than that he didn't really care and was only asking because it was the polite thing to do. Bobby wasn't JR, he didn't run with familiarity as if no time had passed and that meant he certainly didn't jump into asking deep, personal questions before they'd established a tone for the conversation. He could have asked her why she'd left him before their wedding, why she was back now and whether she had deliberately planned their meeting, but that wasn't his style.

"I'm very well, thank you, and you?" answering his question in the same friendly but impersonal manner he'd used with her, she gave him little real information to work with. Anyone would say they were well, it was small talk, but that was done now and it was his turn to speak, to realise if he wanted anything more than that he was going to have to open up a little.

"I'm shocked; I never thought I'd see you again. Are you back in Dallas?" admitting what she could read clearly from his body language, he was honest in his comments and curious in his question without giving away too much of what he thought of the situation.

He didn't say she'd hurt him by leaving, he didn't need to, she knew she had, however, actually admitting she had, admitting she was wrong and apologising for what she'd done to him was harder than she had imagined it would be in the moment, so she simply avoided that part of his comment when she replied.

"I haven't decided yet. Why? Would you like me back?" smiling playfully, she leaned forward slightly and touched his hand, hoping her clear avoidance of the sore subject wasn't painfully transparent.

Looking nothing but uncomfortable at her direct questions, Bobby stared down at her hand on his for a few seconds before carefully and gently extricating his from hers, as if not to cause offence but to also send a message that he wasn't up to playing that game.

"It's not my place to ask or tell you to do anything anymore", reminding her that she was free of him, his words cut her where she didn't realise she was still tender.

"No, I hear there's a new lady occupying the position we both thought I'd hold one day", focusing her gaze on his wedding band, the playfulness in her voice disappeared as she brought attention to the stark reality that years had passed and they had both moved on.

"It was your decision to leave", appearing sympathetic, because that's the kind of man he was, he was also quick to remind her that it was hardly his fault that she wasn't his wife now.

"Yes, the impulsive decision of an immature young woman", answering him, she was shocked at how true her words felt. She hadn't spent the past few years pining for him, she'd gotten on with her life and not looked back, at least not until very recently. She didn't necessarily want him, she didn't really know exactly what she wanted, she was happy with how things were in her life at the moment, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt to know he was in almost the same place in his life, he didn't want her, he didn't need her, he had a wife of his own. She had left a situation she felt she had little control of and she had returned to a situation she now knew for sure she had no control of.

Opening his mouth to respond, unfortunately he didn't get a chance to as their attention was pulled away from their conversation at the most inconvenient moment. "Ms Wade?" appearing next to them, the hostess didn't seem to realise she had interrupted anything and launched into a further apology about the wait for her table before announcing it was now ready and she could show her over.

"I'd better go", turning her attention away from the hostess, her heart sank as she realised Bobby probably hadn't heard a word she'd said, he wasn't even looking at her anymore, he was far too focused on hallway that led to the ladies room, tracking a pretty brunette as she emerged and appeared to be walking toward the main restaurant.

"Bobby?" touching his hand to get his attention again, it was at that moment she knew whatever he had been about to say was never going to come out now.

"I'm sorry, I was distracted. Enjoy your lunch", apologising, he was polite but dismissive; they weren't close anymore and she didn't have the kind of pull with him that she used to have, he wasn't interested in reminiscing about their past, he already had his future laid out and she wasn't a part of it.

"I will, thanks", flustered by his lack of interest in her, she muttered a final goodbye before grabbing her purse and following the hostess to her table, glad to have a moment to herself when she took a seat and was left alone. She wasn't the type of woman to fall apart because of a man, but she was human and rejection stung; she would be fine, she just needed a few moments to herself to decompress and regain her composure, and thankfully that was exactly what she had now.

To be continued…