“We have a dinner party tomorrow,” Mason said as he adjusted his tie.
Abby wanted to tell him that it was such a short notice but decided against it. It had been a month and one week since their reconciliation. Things were good, and she preferred not to ruin the bliss.
“I understand that it is such a short notice, but it had escaped my mind.” He continued.
“No. It’s fine.”
She stood watching him with a sigh and a small smile. He looked handsome, and she was lucky to have him. Of course, he was fortunate to have her too. Abby thought. She was beautiful by anyone’s standards. Her eyes were big with a hint of brown and gold. Her hair brown hair was medium-length and framed her oval face perfectly. Her lips though small were full and she had two well-formed dimples on both sides of her cheeks. She had a toned athletic body with slight curves and a round derriere that gave her a feminine look. But she knew that what Mason loved most about her was her sense of humor and kind heart.
He looked at her from the mirror.
“How do you think Ethan is surviving now that you are absent from work?” Though his tone sounded casual, Abby could sense the underlying tension. He had never liked Ethan and had never made a secret of it. Ethan had returned his sentiments, and at times, Abby felt like they were in a battle of wits.
“He will survive. It’s just one week.”
She’d taken a week of absence just to concentrate on herself and her relationship. It is a notion that seemed to please Mason. He would never insist that she leave her job at the moment, but Abby knew that with time, he would raise that argument again.
“He acts like he cannot run the business without you. If I didn’t know any better, I would bet that the guy is in love with you and just gave you the job to have you close to him.”
His words were offensive. She had a degree in marketing and her position as the head of marketing was well-deserved.
“I think I got the job because I am a good marketer.” She bit out.
The anger in her eyes and words must have warned him to tread lightly.
“Of course. I am sorry babe.”
His words were meant to be comforting, but Abby felt the opposite.
Emma turned her brown eyes to Abby and gave her a wink as she lowered her willowy body frame into the seat opposite her. Emma was not beautiful in the classic way, but she possessed a charming personality that drew people in. Her sense of humor and loyalty were the traits that Abby loved most in her.
“You look good,” Emma said as she placed her elbow on the table.
“Thank you. So do you.”
“Things must be going great between you and Mason.” Emma baited her.
“Yeah, they are great. We are reconnecting emotionally and having sex regularly. But I still feel like he is holding a part of himself away from me. This is not the same Mason I remember before all the problems.”
She let out a sigh. She didn’t want to sound whiny, but she felt a bit lost. On a typical day, she would have confided her fears to Emma, but lately, she had been tight-lipped about her relationship. It’s not that Emma wouldn’t understand, but Abby felt unsure of herself or her thoughts.
“So are you going to the party?” Abby asked changing the subject.
“Yeah. James has been reminding me for a week about it.”
Abby felt emotions clogging her throat and was on the verge of tears. If she was being honest with herself, she was jealous of Emma and James relationship. She wished that she and Mason had a fraction of what the other couple had. Was it wrong to feel so alone? Her relationship was on the right path, but loneliness still clutched on her. For a moment the disquiet between the two friends escalated. Abby peered at Emma on top of her menu and saw the distress in the other woman’s face. Shortly after, the waiter took their orders.
“Are you okay?” Abby asked.
“Yeah. Why?” Emma asked
“You came here in your normal jovial self, and now you seem a bit distant.”
“I was just thinking about Nathan.”
Nathan was Emma and James’ five-year-old son. He was such an adorable little boy, and Abby loved him as she would love her own.
“How is he?”
Emma’s lips twitched. “Adorable as usual.”
The waiter arrived with their meals, and the site of the salmon made her stomach growl. She took a small bite and savored the taste.
“Have you heard that Joel is leaving the company?” Emma asked taking small bites of her stake.
Joel was the legal advisor of the Latter investment banking company that James and Mason worked for. He had become one of the guy’s closest friends. His presence always brought laughter and Abby liked him a lot. So the news of his resignation and impending move to another state was unexpected.
“Yes. Mason told me. We will miss him a lot. Who is taking his position?”
“I don’t know.”
They chattered along and shared laughter and reminiscing on life. Anyone observing would have thought that the two women did not have a care in the world. However, both had a lot weighing heavily on their hearts, and none was willing to share with the other- maybe not just yet.