Chapter Twenty-One

Leilani POV

" Miss we're here " the driver hissed and she jerked herself out of her daydream.

" Sorry " she muttered grabbing her bag , he nodded and cleared into the drive,

" Thank you" she muttered opening the door and stepping out.

The restaurant was just like Ella had described it was tucked away, from the office district so it had a family feel to it.

And it seemed to you could order delivery as well, depending on how she liked the meals here maybe she'd order once in a while for the kids on the weeks she would be to busy to cook. The place was busy, she got off the taxi fidgeting her fingers on the straps of her hand bag. She swallowed a little the place was busy, maybe because it was Friday night , it seemed filled with couple on dates or friends who wanted to hang out free from the hustle of the city or those who had just finished eating. It was private

She entered the restaurant and smiled she had missed home she walked to the counter

"Good evening. I'm here for the Jordan reservation " she said softly, to the waitress, he looked at her staring at her from head then back to the list in his hand and then he nodded

" Follow me ma'am" he muttered smiling and she couldn't help it, she smiled back.

She followed him to the table

" I'm expecting a guest can you direct him to this table " she asked and he nodded and walked away. She sat there and ordered water for the time, all while bouncing her foot against the table wondering what to do when he actually came.

He was married, there was no getting back together, but it would be nice to not have to worry about that.

She saw when he came in, the soft lighting of the restaurant fell on his face making him look like a dream.

It felt like the world must have fallen silent he leaned into the hostess and she smiled at him flirting lightly before she gestures him to the house. She looked down at her finger, wrapping them around a glass of water and pretending that she hadn't seen him, she heard his footsteps across the floor as he approached, she swallowed and looked up at him

His hair was slicked back, a little bit of it pouring in his face, he still had in a suit which meant he had just come back from work.

Gustin slid into the seat across from her, studying her face like he was looking for something, she moved her hand to her lap and looked away from him

“Thanks for meeting me,” he began, keeping his tone calm almost dead.

She nodded, but said nothing at first, took a slow sip of her water, then set the glass down carefully, her eyes never leaving his.

“I’ve had time to think,” she said finally.

“About what you said. About us and the children.”she mumbled, there was really nothing to think about he had to be part of their lives, it was selfish to keep him away in the first place.

Gustin leaned forward slightly, waiting for her to continue.

“I needed space,” Leilani continued.

“I’ve been patient,” Gustin said, his voice calm but firm.

“I’ve given you time, but I need to know where we stand, Leilani.”

She ignored what he was saying because if she didn't it would be like she was drowning.

“And I still do. But avoiding this conversation forever isn’t going to change anything.” she said her eyes meeting his, unflinching.

“So, here we are.” she gestured to the room

He seemed to sense of her tone , because he straightened

She sighed, leaning back in her seat, moving on to answer his previous question

“Where we stand? Gustin, that's up to you"

" To me we’ve been in limbo for years, four to be exact . I see no point in pushing, to keep fix something that’s… broken.” she mumbled.

Their marriage had broken four years ago when he had fallen in love with another woman, she didn't have the time to rehash it anymore.

Gustin frowned., leaning into her but they were interrupted by the smiling waitress, she seemed to have out in more lipstick but Gustin was barely paying attention

" Would you like to order" she asked, she wasn't sure he would recall what he had ordered if asked, he seems to mutter the first thing on the menu.

She looked to the girl and smiled

" I'll like the chicken" she mumbled and the girl nodded closing her pad and walking away.

“Nothing’s broken that can’t be repaired.” Gustin muttered as soon as she had left. Leilani shook her head.

“That’s what you but that's just pretending that things will go back to the way they were. We’re both different people now.”

Gustin’s jaw tightened, the frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.

“I’m not asking for everything to go back to how it was. I’m asking for a chance to move forward.”

Leilani’s gaze softened slightly, once upon a time those words would have filled her with happiness, now it just made her feel sad at how lonely she had once been.

“And what does ‘moving forward’ look like to you, Gustin? Because to me, it looks like walking away.”

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Gustin wasn’t ready to give in.

Not yet.

“I don’t believe that,” he said quietly.

" It doesn't matter if you do." she replied softly, her fingers twisting against the glass, the waitress came back with the wine and they remained quiet as she poured them both a glass. She took a sip,

“I don’t believe you’re ready to walk away.”

She froze, looking away, as she swallowed deeply her lips pressed into a thin line, her stomach twisting with fear and annoyance

“Maybe I’m not,” she admitted softly.

“But that doesn’t mean we’re going to fix this, either.”

" And why is that " he asked and she scoffed

" Are you really asking me that, you the man I ran into looking for apartments with his wife and child " she muttered and he stilled

" What do you plan to tell her, about this, the fact that you're with me at this time of the night " she continued

Wife! What the hell did she mean by wife.

" Bellamy is not my"

" goddamit Gustin when are you going to grow up and start caring about other people's emotions" she hissed

" You take and take, from me and her and all others around you, is that all you know how to do" she hissed

" I'm not–"

" I don't want to hear it. If you want to see your children then grow up. They want a father too " she mumbled and he was about to speak when the waitress came back she rose from her seat.

" I'm sorry but I'll get that to go, in two place if you can"