Chapter 6 Paul or Keith?

Chapter 6 Paul or Keith?
Back at the office Elizabeth was in a meeting with a client discussing their upcoming mediation when she heard her phone vibrate. She waited until her client left then she checked her phone, she saw that Davina has texted her. Davina apologized for not responding sooner, and asked if she could make it up to Elizabeth by having her over for dinner. Elizabeth texted Davina back to let her know that she would love to go over to her place for dinner.

Davina had ordered dinner in for them. They sat down to eat, and Elizabeth eager to talk about everything that was going on just blurted everything out. She told Davina about the date she was tricked into having with Keith. About how Keith told her that she was pretending Paul meant more to her than he did. And she told Davina about how she confessed her love for Paul to Keith, and later to Paul on the phone who just hung up on her.

Upon hearing this, Davina told her “That man is an idiot.”

“That is what Keith said.” responded Elizabeth.

“What do you mean that is what Keith said, you told Keith? You don’t find that weird” asked Davina.

“Yea it was a little. I was really tired and not thinking straight he asked what was wrong and I told him. Was that bad?” Elizabeth asked.

Davina thought about it “No it’s probably good that he knows you love another man.”

Elizabeth gave an unconvincing, long and drawn out “Yea.”

“What is that?” Davina asked intrigued.

“What was what?” Elizabeth asked

Davina raised an eyebrow and explained “That ‘yea’. You said it like you don’t want him to know about your feelings for Paul.”

“I do not have to tell you.” retorted Elizabeth emphasizing the word have.

“Ok will you please tell me, please, please, please, please.” begged Davina.

“OK fine but, only to shut you up.” Elizabeth gave in.

“Yay, thank you.” Davina said excited to hear juicy gossip.

Elizabeth took a deep breath in then explained to Davina “Well, I think that my boss may be trying to, ugh, I guess get with me, because I may have been sending him signals that I may like him back.”

Davina grabbed Elizabeth’s knee and screeched “Oh my God! Seriously?”

Uncomfortable Elizabeth responded “Yea, he is gorgeous and when we are alone together all I can think about is ripping his clothes off, and letting him do whatever he wants to me.”

“Wow are you sure you love Paul then?” Davina asked.

“Yes, I love Paul. This Keith thing is just physical.” Elizabeth answered.

“You trying to convince me or yourself of that?” asked Davina.

“I think a little of both, it makes me feel so guilty.” responded Elizabeth.

“Human beings are not meant to be monogamous.” Davina stated matter-of-factly.

“If I am not faithful I become my dad, and I hate my dad.” Elizabeth came back with.

“You are not your dad, you had fantasies, fantasies are fine, it is acting on them that is not OK and you have not acted on them.” Davina soothed Elizabeth.

“Right but I wanted to and I almost did a couple of times, and regretted it when I didn’t. Like last night. I could have left, but I stayed. I wanted to stay; even when I left I wanted to stay.” Elizabeth admitted.

“You just stayed to have dinner with a friend there is nothing to feel bad about. You’re alone with me having dinner tonight. There is nothing wrong with that right?” Davina quizzed Elizabeth.

“No there is nothing wrong with having dinner with you. But this is not a date with a gorgeous man who so clearly wants to have sex with me. Oh, who rented out an entire hotel banquet hall just for us? And he had it set up beautifully; there were flowers and candles everywhere.” Elizabeth stopped talking when she saw a concerned look on Davina’s face.

“Holy crap is he rich?” asked Davina.

“That’s what you took from that?” asked Elizabeth.

“Yea.” Davina responded urging “So is he?”

“Yea, he is.” Elizabeth answered Davina.

“Isn’t he an environmental lawyer?” asked Davina, surprised that he could be wealthy.

“No he is a criminal lawyer, he only took on that environmental case as a favour to a friend or something I am not totally sure. Besides he has got his hands in many pots all of which seem to make him a shit load of money.” explained Elizabeth.

“Maybe you should leave Paul for him.” Davina joked.

“I am not a gold digger.” Elizabeth defended herself offended at Davina’s insinuation that she was.

“Of course not, maybe I should get with him.” Davina expressed amused at the thought.

Elizabeth joined in on the joke “Maybe then we can get him to focus on you instead of me.”

Right then Elizabeth getting a call, she took out her phone and looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Paul. After what had happened on the phone the night before Elizabeth did not want to answer. Davina saw that Elizabeth ignored the call.

“Who was that?” asked Davina.

“Paul.” Elizabeth answered.

“Maybe you should talk to him maybe he wants to apologize for hanging up on you.” responded Davina.

“Maybe? He better be apologizing. I’ll check the message.” Elizabeth answered.

Elizabeth called her answering machine, and listened to Paul’s message. It was short, he just said ‘Hey Elizabeth, it’s Paul, just wanted to get dinner tonight.’ Elizabeth erased the message after hearing it and put her phone back in her purse.

Elizabeth then told Davina “He just wants to go out for dinner.”

“OK so call him back.” Davina told her.

“I already ate dinner.” Elizabeth reminded her.

“OK so go, and do something else with him. He probably wants to apologize to you in person.” Davina said.

“Yea maybe. Thanks.” Elizabeth got up to leave and hugged Davina goodbye. “I love you.” she said.

“I love you too.” Davina responded.

“See is that so hard.” Elizabeth joked.

Davina uncomfortably giggled.

Elizabeth left Davina’s house she got a cab and called Paul back. Since she had already eaten they decided to meet at a dessert bar. Elizabeth directed her driver there. By the time she got there she saw that Paul was already there waiting for her. He looked nervous. Seeing Paul look nervous made Elizabeth feel a little nervous herself.

Elizabeth nervously went inside. As she was walking she thought to herself ‘maybe he is going to tell me he love me’. She made herself feel better with that thought.

Elizabeth had noticed that Paul was in some sort of trance, he had not even known that she had arrived. So she went up to him, touched his arm, and kissed him to let him know that she was there.

“Hey.” Paul said as he backed away from Elizabeth.

“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked concerned.

“Nothing.” answered Paul.

Elizabeth could see that Paul was lying. She could also see that he was acting cold and distant and she did not like what was happening.

“Really? Cause it seems like something is going on here.” Elizabeth said confused.

“Let’s just sit down and order something.” Paul said distantly

Elizabeth did not want to order anything but she obliged him anyway. They got a table, Elizabeth got a butterscotch sundae, and Paul got a vanilla milkshake. Elizabeth took a spoonful of her sundae and Paul asked “Is it good?”

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders “Yea, it’s a butterscotch sundae, always good.” Elizabeth forced a smile.

“Good.” Paul muttered.

“OK what is going on? You are acting very distant and indifferent right now.” Elizabeth demanded.

“Listen we need to talk” Paul began.

“Oh my God, you brought me here to break up with me?” Elizabeth cut him off.

“I’m sorry.” pleaded Paul.

“No. No you are not. I tell you I love you; you hang up on me and then you take me out on a date to break up with me?” Elizabeth’s eyes were starting to fill with tears, she tried to fight it, but she could not and tears started rolling down her face.

“Can you try to maintain yourself we are in public?” Paul said embarrassed to be sitting with Elizabeth. Especially when everyone started staring at them, and he knew that they knew he was the reason she was crying.

“I can’t believe you.” Elizabeth said then stormed out.

Elizabeth started walking toward her place. Paul ran out of the dessert bar and caught up with her. He grabbed her arm to stop her from moving.

“Wait.” Paul requested

Elizabeth turned around ripped her arm out of his grasp, and screamed “Don’t touch me.”

“Elizabeth please just stop.” Paul pleaded with her as she continued walking.

“No I am going home. You and I are no longer together now. So, whatever I’ll just go home.” Elizabeth stated.

“Let me give you a ride home at least.” Paul offered.

“No I don’t need you to drive me places. I make good money now I can probably get my own car.” retorted Elizabeth.

“You’re going to get a new car now?” asked Paul amused and annoyed.

“Yea, maybe, I am getting a car now. What do you care.” answered Elizabeth

She realized she wanted to know so she asked “Why?”

Taken aback Paul asked “What?”

“Why are you breaking up with me?” Elizabeth asked.

“OK it’s because when you told me that you loved me I said nothing. Later, I realized I didn’t love you. Maybe one day I could, but it’s been almost a year, and I don’t feel it... You need to find someone who will love you back, not someone who maybe might love you too one day.” answered Paul “I truly am sorry.”

“But probably not.” Elizabeth added.

Elizabeth was hurt, she felt like she was in so much pain that she might not survive it. So she said coolly to him “Fine.”

She turned around and walked away. Paul stood there and watched as she left knowing that it was fruitless to go after her again. As she was walking away he was surprised to feel his heart pull at him. Losing Elizabeth was harder to do then he had thought it would have been. He was immediately starting to regret his decision. He stood there just staring at her until she turned a corner and was out of his sight forever.

Elizabeth was very upset. She could not believe that that had just happened, that Paul had just broken up with her. Elizabeth really needed her friend so she called Davina. Davina picked up but, all Elizabeth could hear was really loud music and the booming bass from it. Elizabeth decided to hang up and text her about what happened. Davina texted Elizabeth back telling her she was in the club, but she would go to her place. Elizabeth decided that she could blow off some steam so she decided to meet Davina at the club instead.

Elizabeth used the directions that Davina sent her and found her way to the club. Davina liked to stay trendy by going to the most current hot spots. Tonight was no different, as Elizabeth found out when she arrived at Melanie’s. It was a new place that was glow in the dark themed. Elizabeth would normally not like a place like this but tonight she just wanted to go out and have fun no matter what.

Elizabeth looked around for Davina, finally she found her in the back of the club in the VIP section.

Davina looked at Elizabeth’s face and could see that she had been crying, and her heart melted Davina knew that something happened so she asked “What happened?”

“Paul broke up with me.” Elizabeth stated in a matter of fact manner.

“Oh my god” Davina responded shocked then hugged her. “How are you? Do you want to go somewhere else?”

“I am OK I just do not want to think about it or talk about it. I just want to have fun, get hammered, and forget the asshole.” Elizabeth responded.

Davina stroked her arm consolingly, Elizabeth jerked away. She did not want Davina to feel sorry for her.

“I’m OK. I just need a drink.” Elizabeth stated.

“Alright then, let’s get you a drink.” replied Davina.

Elizabeth let loose and drank herself half blind, before she knew it the club was closing. She was so happy that she decided to meet up with Davina. They had the best time getting the VIP treatment. Davina had always known how to have a great time. Elizabeth believed that it was why she was so good at her job in PR, she could make anything fun.

It was three in the morning when the club closed and they left. They were both too drunk to drive so they decided to split a cab. Davina got dropped off first, and then the driver headed toward Elizabeth’s place. In her drunken state, Elizabeth decided she wanted to go somewhere else and directed the driver to her new destination.

When Elizabeth got there she walked up to the door and, knocked, no one answered. She knocked again and again no one answered. She was getting annoyed Elizabeth started to knock relentlessly on the door. She did not give up until she saw the light come on and the door was answered.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” asked Keith.

“Hey, I am here.” Elizabeth paused “Because of the reason.” Elizabeth pointed to the air as though she was pointing to the unknown reason. She explained when she realized Keith had no idea what she was talking about. “That is I have been broken up with today, and now I am here.” Elizabeth continued blabbering in her drunken state. “And now let me in and we will proceed to have sex.”

“Wow. You are really drunk.” Keith stated.

“To the bedroom.” said Elizabeth as she pushed past Keith and started to walk toward his room. Keith held her arm to stop her from going any further and told her “No.”

Elizabeth surprised said “I thought that this is what you wanted.”

“Not like this.” Keith said disappointed. “You can sleep it off here; I’ll let you take my bed. Just because I do not think you can stay upright long enough for me to make up the guestroom for you.”

“OK. You are a gentleman sir.” Elizabeth stated drunkenly.

“Yea alright.” answered Keith.

Keith took Elizabeth to his room and put her into his bed. He told her where the en suite was sure that she would have to use it during the night. He took his garbage can from beside his desk and put it beside his bed by her side just in case she could not make it to the bathroom. He could not resist he kissed her forehead then turned to walk away. Elizabeth grabbed his hand. He stopped, looked at her, she asked him to stay with her. He agreed to stay until she fell asleep. He assumed she would pass out quickly. However she took a while to fall asleep and he fell asleep waiting for her to drift off. She fell asleep soon after he had, and they laid there sleeping next to each other in his bed until morning.