Slater?
"Yeah, Daddy!" the baby squealed. Gina had married Paul? Gina had married Paul? GINA HAD MARRIED PAUL !
I knew I had recognised the groom! But Paul? Paul? PAUL !
They are so wrong for each other… Gina loves playing the field and Paul … well … he likes playing the stalker. So wrong for each other!
When did they meet? I always guessed Paul had stayed in Carmel after the 'Incident'. I looked at the baby. He seemed to recognise me, it was eerie.
"Suze, Oh! I see you've met Jesse."
"Jesse?" I gulped
"Yeah, cute name, huh? Sorry I didn't tell you earlier, he was meant to be a surprise" she said, playfully kicking Jesse.
Jesse! I can't believe Paul would do that! He hated Jesse!
"So," Gina said, putting down her coffee "We need to catch up!"
"Definitely! What's it been? 6 Years?" I said "And you're married … with children. Wow – tell me everything"
I knew most of the story, My best friend and my … how to describe him? … ex-stalker, had a baby named after my ex boyfriend.
" Well, I met this guy … well, at your house actually, he was looking around," Why was Paul looking at my house? "and we got to talking, he's so charming, he always wanted to know about me. My childhood, my friends. I told him all about you. He's so sweet, here's a picture from our wedding day. I wanted to invite you, but we ended up eloping." She said in a love-sick tone. She walked to the picture and showed me, I can't believe I'd missed it – It was definitely Paul.
"When did you get married?" I asked.
"3 years this Sunday! It's our anniversary. He'll be home any minute." She replied excitedly. As if on cue, the door slammed shut, and Paul Slater walked in.
"Heya Hon… Suze?" he said, stopping in his stride.
Paul Slater hadn't changed a bit, sure, he'd grown out of pants and into suits, but he still had that confidence and the winning smile. And the icy blues that were unmissable.
"You know Suze! How?" Gina asked.
"Paul Slater" I said in a disgusted tone.
"What the hell are you doing here Suze?" Paul said in a sly manner "Shouldn't you be off with Rico Suave somewhere?"
HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED! I'd had it, I couldn't stay there with him!
"I'm outta here." I said grabbing my handbag off the floor and began marching towards the door.
"Suze, what's up with you?" Gina asked, poor Gina – she didn't deserve to have him as a husband.
" Ask him!" I shouted "I might see you sometime."
I glared at Paul once more, who seemed to find this funny.
I stormed out of the door, slammed it shut, then fell back on it.
Tears began to slowly roll down my cheeks.
The empty space in my heart that I had slowly managed to get rid of had just opened again, and by the one who had made it in the first place.