Maxine

Chapter 8

We stared at the moon, letting the acknowledgement of my situation hang between us. “What happened? Why did he file a divorce?” My dad’s voice was gentle and calm.

It what has hard to tell anyone this. To have your husband betray you is a punch to your gut. You don’t feel enough or beautiful. You look at his new girlfriend and wonder what you’ve done wrong. How you let yourself get manipulated like that? “He fell in love with someone else.” I gazed up at the stars as I answered. They look beautiful from afar before their “shine” runs out and they are nothing but a crater. A beautiful lie that turned grey and lifeless, like a rock.

“He met her six months ago.” I faced my dad. “She’s the complete opposite of me. Beautiful, platinum blond locks. Legs that run forever. She’s soft against his big frame.” I don’t know why tears pooled up in my eyes as I explained. I felt dumb to cry about an unconsidered man.

“We agreed on a six months break. We were constantly arguing and once he confessed that he doesn’t love me anymore.” That one truly hurt. I should’ve opened my eyes that day and realized that nothing I can do can make him fall in love with me again. He has already made up his mind. “I guess, he knew that things weren’t meant to work out because he made the decision on his own by filing a divorce.” I got played. Like this was a game to him.

My dad curled his arm around my shoulders and pressed me against his side. I rested my head on his shoulders and took this moment to express my true feelings. I was sad, hurt and angry. Mostly hurt. My heart was confused, it was covered in guilt and despair.

“You placed your heart on the table and played open cards with him. You showed him your true intentions and fought for your marriage. He betrayed you, honey. He was the unfaithful one and you should never blame yourself for his mistakes.” I couldn’t deny it, he did stab me in the back when I left everything and everyone behind to be with him.

“You are a beautiful woman with a strong heart. Your love is endless and your intentions are always good. He made the mistake of choosing the wrong girl. Your love is rare and so is your kind. Your eyes are a reflection of that.” I nodded my head against his shoulder.

I do have two different sets of eye colour. I’ve got one blue and one green eye.

Back in my school days, there was this girl, Angie. She used to pick on me and told everyone that I was a witch and that they should stay away from me.

My eyes used to bother me but no anymore. I looked past the bullying and the harsh words. I finally accepted and appreciated them. I was different and it wasn’t a bad thing. As my dad said, I was rare and my eyes were a reflection of how unique I am. Beauty comes in different forms.

We glanced over our shoulders in unison when we heard deep laughter’s. “Well, if it isn’t the lost boys.” I joked when I noticed Ethan, Mike, Nick and Jason. They froze before making their way over. My dad was an intimidated guy but carries his heart on his sleeve. My dad pecked my cheek before standing up. He shook Jason’s free hand as he walked past them to join the rest of the guests inside. I tried to get rid of my tears before the guys noticed them.

Jason sat down next to me when the guys decided to stand at the side, facing me. He handed me a plate with a piece of wedding cake. Jason gave me a questioning look when he noticed the wetness in the corner of my eye but he didn’t say anything.

I looked at the guys and noticed a few lipstick smudges all over Nick’s collar. He was doing his usual thing and weddings was his personal favourite playground to pick up single women. “It’s not even midnight and you already have a collar smudge with different shades of lipstick.” I teased Nick who gave me a smirk.

“Don’t worry. None of the young girls is interested in this playboy tonight. There is a certain divorced, middle-aged woman who wants a piece of Casanova.” Mike joked, I almost choked on the small bite of wedding cake.

Nick gave Mike a playful look. “Experience women are the best. They can still teach me a couple of tricks.” I pulled a face while the guys chuckled at him.

“Until she brings her dead husband over to your house and leaves his ashes on your nightstand.” Ethan pointed out, getting Nick to glare at him.

“I’m not a man who falls in love. Haven’t we agreed on that?” Nick pointed out.

“Until you can’t stop her when she kicks her pretty red heels underneath your bed and you can’t get rid of her, honey.” That was Lucy. She finally decided to join us outside. Nick quirked a challenging eyebrow at her. It felt great to have the whole gang outside making it feel like the old times. Bickering and teasing each other endlessly.

“Who says I don’t like Maxine’s kind?” I raised both my eyebrows.

“What the heck, Nick? How many drinks have you had?” I asked in a playful tone.

“I like a woman who doesn’t have plastic surgery or wears clothes to impress. When I find myself a natural girl, who loves long walks on the beach and enjoys being in the company of me then maybe I will consider retiring from my old habits but for now, I’m enjoying the party of being a free man.” Mike gave him a pointed look.

“She’s sitting right in front of you,” Mike said, making us laugh.

“She’s like my sister, doofus. I can’t date my sister.” Nick argued while everyone chuckled. I grinned at him. Not one of them has ever tried to get into my pants or had a crush on me. They were like my brothers. Except for Jason. What we had, is completely the opposite. He is the man that I will share my darkest secrets and know he will take them to the grave with him.

I looked at Lucy and Ethan standing side to side. They were talking in hushed tones and every now and again, he would smile at her. I don’t know why Lucy hasn’t told me about their relationship. We’ve all waited for the day that they would end up together.

I looked at Jason who was listening to something Mike was explaining. For a second, he faced me when he noticed that I was looking at him. He gave me a questioning look but I shook my head. I was still struggling to come to my senses. To accept that he was here and alive. I wasn’t imaging this and would wake up tomorrow and this will all be just a dream.

“I told you that we’ll find them outside. I just imagined Nick to be the one stealing the champagne from the table.” Ryan playfully tsk-tsk at me.

“He’s already got a cougar who is looking to pounce on his young, unwrinkled flesh.” Ethan joked making everyone laugh in unison while Nick just shook his head at us.

Ryan sat down next to me after Jason stood up to join the guys for a group photo. “How are you holding up?” Ryan asked. I looked at my friends and I couldn’t stop shaking my head at their craziness.

“Better since I’m back home and surrounded by you guys. I don’t feel so lonely anymore.” I admitted.

I then hid my sadness and gave him a smile. “How are you holding up? Now being married and in less than an hour getting on a plane and flying out of here?” His features were overwhelmed by pure happiness.

“I wish you could have felt like this, Maxine. The happiness I have in my heart, knowing that I am going to wake up next to her every morning, it’s something I’ve never felt before.” True love is rare. My parents have the rarest kind of love one can find. I don’t know where I went wrong. Maybe I was too stubborn and was moving too fast and anxious to have someone loving me that I completely missed the whole picture.

“I’m really happy for you and Rachel. You two deserve each other and this happiness. Don’t let my screw up bother you. I will be fine. Maybe I will get myself a dog or a cat.” He chuckled and bumped my shoulder playfully.

“You never know maybe your prince charming is standing right in front of you.” I don’t know why I looked at Jason. “You just need to open your heart for you to see it.” I didn’t miss when Jason gazed back at me.

“Maybe that boat sailed a long time ago, it anchored somewhere else with someone else. And maybe, I just need to find myself and regain what I’ve lost.” Love has to wait for a while.

Ryan nodded and stood up from the bench. “It’s time to go,” Rachel told him. He helped me up from the bench, I winced slightly at the soreness of my feet from wearing those stupid heels. The guy’s teased Ryan about their honeymoon when he shook their hands. He gave me a hug and held on a little tighter. “Take care. I will see you when I get back and then we’ll talk about this.” He said.

“Yes, dad.” I teased, wiping away an escaped tear. 

We stood outside and watched them get in their car. A shiver ran up my spine when the evening breeze tickled my skin. I crossed my hands in front of my chest and rubbed my hands up and down my arms trying to warm them up as I said my goodbyes to them. The guys made their way back and Jason stopped in front of me when he noticed that I was shivering from the cold.

I gave him a reassuring smile, wanting him not to be worried about me. “I believe I still owe you a dance or two.” He said with a cheeky grin.