Adele
My heart stops for a few seconds when I look up and meet the angry eyes of Garth. I can hear Alexis talking to him in the background, but I don’t comprehend what she is saying. I am wondering how he’ll force me out of this restaurant. Will he whisper threats in my ear that will have me going home with him? Will he grab me by the hair and pull me out as I scream? I guess the second option isn’t really his style. Garth was an abuser, but he could appear to be so captivating to everyone else. He would never pull me out by my hair, he wouldn’t want to look bad in front of others. He always was a charmer and he is obviously charming the hell out of Alexis. I close my eyes briefly as I hear her laughter and turn to look at her. The moment I do, she slides over and Garth throws his arm over the back of her chair and turns to look at me.
It should be illegal at how he can switch personalities. One moment he is laughing and bewitching the hell out of Alexis and the next minute he glances at me and there is such hate. I am not sure why Alexis would invite him to sit with us. Apparently, someone never heard of stranger danger. I turn to look at the door and wonder if I would even make it out. I know I can’t make a run for it though because if he didn’t come after me, he’d be here with Alexis. I can’t put her in that kind of danger.
“I have obviously won the lottery. Not one, but two beautiful women.” I hear Garth say.
“I bet you say that to all the girls, Garrett.” Alexis laughs as she softly hits Garth on the chest.
“I’m sorry. Garrett?” I close my eyes and shake my head.
“I knew you weren’t paying attention! You totally zoned out when introductions were being made Adele. This is Garrett. He didn’t want to eat alone so I invited him to our table.” Alexis says as she smiles back over at Garth.
“We’re done eating. We’re just waiting for a box and the check.” I say.
“Don’t be rude, Adele. Besides if you must leave, you can go ahead and I can sit and chat with Garrett.”
I look back at Garth and he has a smug look on his face. There is no way in hell I would leave Alexis here alone with him.
“Are you in a rush to get somewhere? I’d hate to be interrupting something,” Garth says as he squints his eyes at me.
“I don’t. Adele needs to get to work soon.”
“Where do you work, Adele?” Garth turns back to look at me and my heart starts to race when I look back at Alexis, praying that she doesn’t answer for me.
“She works at--”
“I work nearby,” I cut her off and narrow my eyes at her. I should have never come here. I should have stayed with Alex. I thought it would be bad to stay in that house after last night. We kissed and I enjoyed it a little too much. I hid out in the bedroom to avoid him and when Alexis gave me an out, I took it. I should have been a big girl and suggested a different time with Alexis. If I had listened to what my heart was telling me, I would have stayed in and figured out what was going on between me and Alex. I chose the easier path which led to me sitting across from Garth.
I need a way out of this shit. I look between Garth and Alexis and he is turning on the charm to the point I want to throw up.
“What do you ladies do for work?” Garth asks and Alexis starts giving him all the details about her store. She even starts to tell him that we met there and became friends.
“Alexis. Please share your own life and not mine,” I rudely advise her and she looks at me a bit stunned as she looks back at Garth.
I will have to apologize later if there is a later for me. I don’t need her telling him where he can find me if I do make it out of here. My cell rings and I nearly jump from the table. Both Alexis and Garth look at me and then look back at each other as Alexis starts talking again. I close my eyes when I realize that it’s Alex. He asks me if Garth is with me and I tell him that he is. He tells me that someone named Oliver will be arriving shortly and that he is on his way too. I close my eyes and pray that this Oliver gets here as soon as possible. I hang up and notice Garth is watching me. A few minutes later Alexis’ phone rings. She answers with a ‘Yes, Alex.’ and I assume that he is warning her exactly who is at our table.
I can see Alexis stiffen as she listens to whatever he is telling her on the phone. She ends the call by saying “Okay. I understand, honey,” she says and hangs up.
“Is everything okay, Alexis?” Garth asks her when she pulls away from him slightly.
“No. It was my boyfriend. He is such a possessive bastard and he was just letting me know that he is on his way. The last thing I want is some pizza house brawl, so you’d better get your own table after all,” she says as her eyes meet mine.
“I think some things are worth fighting for, Alexis,” he declares as he turns back to look at me.
Alexis and I look at each other and realize that this situation isn’t going to end well. As the waiter drops off a box and our bill, another guy walks up to the table. He is tall with dark hair and he has a beard. He must be at least six feet tall and he is built like a football player. Alexis sighs and I look over at her as she nods her head at me and closes her eyes.
“Hi, Oliver. What are you doing here?” she asks and I release the breath that I was holding.
“I am actually here to pick you girls up. Let’s get out of here,” he suggests as he looks at Garth and hands the waiter a fifty-dollar bill.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think Adele will be going anywhere with you,” Garth says as he grabs my arm across the table.
“I suggest you take your hands off her. Alexis and Adele are walking out of here with me. How you leave here is totally up to you,” Oliver threatens as he opens his suit coat and displays his gun.
I look at the gun and look back towards Garth who has now released my arm. As he slides out to allow Alexis out of the booth, I get up and we both stand next to Oliver. As we turn to walk away Alex comes rushing into the restaurant and toward us. He pulls me into a hug and puts his hand on my face asking if I am okay. I nod and look over to Alexis as her eyes widen as she looks between the two of us. When Alex releases me, he looks over to Garth and I can see the same anger in his eyes that I saw in Garth’s earlier.
“Oliver, would you mind getting the girls out of here? I’ll deal with Garth.”
“I think it would be better if you take the girls and I deal with him. You’re not thinking straight right now, Alex. Let me handle this,” Oliver suggests and I grab Alex by the hand pulling him toward me. He looks over at me and back towards Garth and nods his head at Oliver.
Alex holds his arm out indicating for Alexis and me to leave first and he places his hand on my lower back as he follows us out of the restaurant.
“We’ll walk you to your car, Alexis, and then we have to get out of here,” Alex says as we head to her car.
“Which one of you should I call tomorrow morning to find out what the hell is going on between you two?” Alexis asks before she closes her car door and we both just look at her. We wait until she pulls off before heading to Alex’s car.
We both remain quiet during the short walk to his car. Once he pulls out into traffic I break down.