Saturday night...
"You prat! Why didn't you tell me that Serena was coming here alone tonight?" Darien said pushed Andrew into his kitchen.
Andrew wrinkled his nose remembering. Oh, right, that's what I forgot to tell him.
"What the hell, man?!" He pointed his finger at him angrily. "I should really kick your ass for this!"
Andrew slapped Darien playfully on his arm, laughing nervously. "You know, funny thing, true thing. It turns out that Serena's life-sized ken doll went out of town today, and he won't be here tonight."
Darien stared at him; his expression blank before he punched Andrew in the arm. "You should have told me you son-of-a-bitch!"
"Okay, low!" He looked at Darien wounded. "What are you so worried up about anyway? You said that you didn't want to run into Serena and her boy toy, and He's not here, so."
Mina walked into the kitchen at that moment, looking around wildly. "What the bloody hell are you two doing in here?! I'm out there alone with your stiff co-workers, Andrew! Not to mention those dips from my job!"
"Man, forget about them! Did you know that Serena was coming here alone tonight? Because your spindly husband forgot to mention it to me!"
Mina looked at Darien, confusion on her face. "What are you talking about?" She shook her head. "And what difference does it make if she came alone? All I know is that both of you better get your asses out there right now before I drag you out there myself!" She turned and walked out of the kitchen in a huff.
They stood, staring at one another. Andrew was still rubbing his arm, a goofy grin on his face. Darien had a snarl on his.
The kitchen door swung open again, slowly. "Now!" Mina yelled.
Darien had spent the better part of the previous two days trying to figure out what he was going to say when he saw Serena again. Everything he'd come up with went completely out of his head when he saw her walk through the door.
Walking back into the living room, he saw her standing by the fireplace talking to two of Mina's male co-workers. She was wearing a dark red sundress with thin straps. It was one of his favorite colors on her and it fit her body like a glove.
Since the room was better lit then the bar was the other night, he noticed for the first time how tanned her skin was, which complimented the dress perfectly.
Her hair was down and not surprisingly; she was wearing it much like she had throughout high school and college. It was longer now, and it hung in loose beautiful curls half way down her back. He always had a thing for her hair. This is going to be a long night. He thought to himself as he took another sip from his drink.
~'
Serena drew in a long, slow breath as she watched Darien stroll into Mina and Andrew's living room; that usual swagger in his step. She smiled inwardly, amazed at how he wore that casual confidence like a well tailored-suit.
She was trying to concentrate on the boring conversation she had found herself in, but couldn't help herself from stealing appreciative glances at him. Damn, that green looks good on him. She thought as she briefly met his gaze from across the room.
She noticed, like the other night he wasn't wearing his glasses and she could see his beautiful green eyes. Oh, this is no good! He doesn't belong to me anymore. She thought regretfully.
To distract herself, Serena plastered a fake smile on her face and feigned interest in the men who stood around her.
~'
"So how's operation get them to finally talk going there lovely lady"" Andrew asked jokingly as he guided Mina into a quiet corner.
"Not so good. The stubborn bastards have successfully avoided one another for almost an hour now. " Mina took a sip of her drink. "And you and I both know that when those two were together, they could never go more than ten minutes in the same room without at least touching." She looked at him briefly. "Hence the other night at the bar."
Andrew nodded in agreement. "Well, it could be worse, they could be having sex in our toilet right now, so."
"That's true," Mina wrinkled her nose at the thought. "So, what should we do?"
"Nothing." Andrew put his arm around her waist. "Look, I know you want to help, but Darien and Serena are complicated enough without us getting any more involved. They'll figure it out, okay?" He kissed her on her cheek before leading her back into the party. "Now come, let's get you another drink, shall we?"
~'
Darien slipped out on the balcony to get some fresh air, and to clear his head.
He and Serena had managed to avoid one another up until now, but for him it was getting harder to do by the minute. As he was taking a deep breath he heard the balcony doors open; turning he regarded Serena looking at him pensively.
"I thought I saw you come out here," She walked over and stood beside him, keeping her voice light. "It's really nice out here."
"Yeah, late spring in London is nice," He replied coolly. They stood in uncomfortable silence for a while, avoiding eye contact. "So, how was Italy?" Darien finally asked.
"It's wonderful. There are some beautiful places there," She stared straight ahead as she spoke. "The culture is so different than it is in Britain, but I really loved living in Milan."
He nodded and looked over at her briefly. "Wow, that's uh, that's great," They immediately lapsed back into that uncomfortable silence again.
Serena fidgeted with a strap on her dress as several seconds passed before she spoke. "Darien, about the other night-"
He cut her off. "So why are you back? If you loved living in Italy so much, why are you here?" The tone of his voice was biting. "Let me guess "Toe Head", oh, I'm sorry, I meant Patrick must have asked you to come back."
The bitterness in his tone was a surprise even to him. But listening to her go on about how great living in Italy was, evoked his guilt on how bad things had gotten between them and the huge part he'd played in that.
"Well, at least he was worth coming back for!" She replied with equal venom.
He choked out a sarcastic laugh, "Oh, yeah that's right, He's good to you. How could I forget?"
She put her hand up hoping to avoid any harsher comments. "Look Darien, I didn't come out here to argue. I just wanted to-"
"You wanted to what?" He interrupted again. "Tell me how great your life has been since you took off four years ago without so much as a letter, card or a fuckin call!"
Serena crossed her arms, regarding him scornfully. "What was there to say Darien? Hey, just in case it isn't obvious enough, I've left you because you fucked around on me! Would that had somehow eased your conscious?" She pointed her finger at him accusingly. "You wanted out of our relationship long before I left, Darien, I just made the shit easy for you!"
They stood staring at one another angrily, neither willing to back down. Then within seconds they were enthralled in a scorching kiss.
This wasn't her plan. When she followed him out onto the balcony she only meant to talk, try to clear the air between them somehow. But everything went haywire as soon as they started arguing. She felt that all too familiar arousal from just being in his presence. Now as Darien pressed her back against the balcony railing, grinding his body into hers, her plan all but disappeared.
Everything in him screamed bad idea when he placed his hands on her face and pulled her into their kiss. Despite rational thought, he was perilous to stop when he felt her hands move between his legs, exciting an erection...he pushed all thoughts aside.
She felt his hands slid under her dress. Her breath caught in her throat as he used the back of his hand to gently stroke her clit over the material of her panties; flinching involuntarily as a fiery spark drummed through her body.
"I don't know Allison, maybe He's out on the balcony!" Mina said in a louder than normal voice, from the other side of the door.
They had just enough time to straighten out their clothes and retreat to safe distances before Mina and Allison opened the balcony doors.
"Surprise!" Allison exclaimed as she stepped onto the balcony smiling.
Darien blinked away surprise as he walked over and hugged her. "Hey, wha...what are doing here? I wasn't expecting you back until tomorrow evening"" He looked over at Serena's guilt stricken face.
Serena tilted her head and looked a question at Mina. Mina shrugged, mouthing the words. I'm sorry.
"They cancelled the seminar for tomorrow because the speaker got sick. So, I flew back this afternoon, dropped my bags off at home and came right over."
She stopped and looked between Darien and Serena, her brow furrowed slightly. "Hey, Serena. I didn't know you would be here." She smiled apprehensively, still regarding their faces. "What are you two out here talking about?"
Serena ran her hand through her hair trying to mask her flustered emotions. "Hey Allison, we were just...catching up on old times," she gestured with her hands. "I was just asking Darien why you weren't here."
"Oh," She continued to regard them for an uncertainly before she waved a dismissive hand. "Well, I'm glad you're here. We didn't get a chance to really talk the other night."
"You're right; we didn't get a chance to talk much the other night. But you know what? It will have to be another time, I really need to go," She looked at Darien crossly as she walked past him.
"No, please stay. I hoping you could tell me some juicy gossip about the fashion industry."
From behind Allison, Darien looked at Serena apologetically. "Serena, wait I uh-,"
She cut him off. "Normally, I would love to Allison, but unfortunately I have to go into the office pretty early in the morning." Serena squeezed her hands briefly and looked at Mina. "I'll call you later, okay""
"Well, let me give you my card at least, we can do lunch one day," Allison offered reaching into her purse.
Serena looked up at Darien again, her gaze full of anger. She smiled sweetly when Allison handed her, her business card.
"I'll uh, I'll call you, I promise." She took the card hesitantly. "Well, goodnight." She looked at Darien once more, turned and hurriedly left the party.