Shit.

Shit shit shit.

I toss my keys to the valet attendant and sprint of the stairs, my heels clacking on the outdoor marbled flooring loudly, so loudly. I'm also shivering uncontrollably, having left the warm confines of my car and in the process thrusting myself into the unusually chilly May weather. At least, I think that's what it is.

As soon as I enter Le Calais, I glance around wildly, ignoring the query of the maitre d'. Ryan must be here somewhere. Then I find him, listening intently to whatever his dining companion is saying. I take a deep breath, pulling my thin wrap sweater tighter against my body and willing it to stop shaking. I can do this.

"Sorry I'm late. Hope you saved a seat." They look up at me, and all I see is Ryan's accusatory face.

"There's always a seat for my personal favourite Pine Valley midget. Siddown Greenlee." Tad smiles at me and I smile back gratefully. Ryan still hasn't said anything. What is his problem?

"Have you ordered yet? I'm absolutely famished." Now, why would that be?

"Well, you're in luck then." He pours me a glass of wine and I gulp it down quickly. I need to steady myself. I turn to Ryan.

"Hey, I'm sorry."

"That's alright, dear. It gave me a chance to share with Tad the news of our recent nuptials. He was pretty surprised." Ryan smiled ruefully, but not at me. Tad laughed.

"Yeah, you could say that. But it's, ah, great news. I'm happy for both of you." Tad's voice wavered slightly and I didn't care that he was being disingenuous. I really didn't. I order some smoked salmon, but as soon as it's placed in front of me I immediately lose my appetite. Ryan looked at me questioningly and I tried to give him a reassuring smile.

"So, what, did you buy a whole greenhouse? I was getting worried about you." This was said in between bites of his taco shell salad. Somehow his choice in foods did not surprise me.

"Ahhh well you know. I did a little shopping too and it completely slipped my mind that I was supposed to meet you." How incredibly lame. I found it hard to believe that I actually used to be good at lying.

"Just married and already having to make appointments to see each other." Its obvious Tad isn't buying our love story for one moment. "That's the modern world, I guess." Ryan nods vigorously.

"Yeah. It's crazy. So, what did you buy?"

"Um, nothing really." He looks at me sharply. "I just thought that we should go shopping later to pick out some stuff together."

I think Tad senses the tension between us as he tries to be placating.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. You know how it is when two people move in together. It's like two worlds colliding." He laughs. This time Ryan doesn't.

I feel as though Ryan can read my mind, as though he knows where I was. That I wasn't at the nursery or the mall, but instead tangled up in the sheets of my former brother in law, letting out all my frustrations and fears, again and again and again. But that's impossible. There's no way that he could know.

And then my breath catches.

Because David has just stalked into the room, glaring at no one in particular. No one, that is, until he spots my companions and me. Then it's directed at us. At me.

Ryan sees him as well.

"Well, look who it is." I don't understand why David's here, why he's doing this. Why did I ever tell him where I was going? Stupid, stupid, stupid. "David, join us will you?"

I can see the beginnings of a sneer on David's face but he comes over anyway. He seems intent on torturing me.

"Well this is a coincidence. Haven't seen you in awhile, Tad." David seats himself beside me, and I hold my breath, trying to slow my rapidly pounding heart. He reaches across me for the wine, and his arm brushes against my breast. Bastard.

"Well, I don't think you've seen much of anyone lately. At least, that's what it seems like." Tad cannot be seriously wanting to stage some sort of intervention for David here, can he? Besides, what does he care? He hates David. As does everyone in this goddamn town who is moral and good.

"Yeah, well, I've been busy." I'm horrified to feel the beginnings of a smile on face. My hand flies to cover my mouth. The men look at me questioningly. Except David, whose mouth is pressed into a thin smirk. What an asshole.

"I uh, I bit my tongue." I mumble, my face burning.

Whatever.

Author's Note- I guess by now it's pretty obvious that I'm not really up on my recent Pine Valley history. . . I took a bit of a hiatus sometime before Greenlee and Leo got married and I've just started watching again. So bear with me, please.