Page 111 of Surviving Slater
"I'm good," I said, and he raised an eyebrow, not believing me.
"It sucks but I can't do anything to change what happened," I finally admitted. I felt the sting of tears before my eyes began to water.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I've been worried about you."
"I'm trying the best I can," I said, wiping the tears away. "But it hasn't been easy."
"I know." His hand covered mine.
We were the first to arrive so I had a chance to dash to the bathroom to clean up my makeup. I didn't want anyone to see I had been crying.
It took a fifteen-minute pep talk and a couple of deep breaths before I worked up the courage to walk back out.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw a familiar figure seated at the table. Everyone around us disappeared into the background. There was only him. My lungs squeezed as I halted.
Breathe,I told myself.
It hurt to look at him. He was talking to Matthew, and whatever Matthew said to him made him frown. I was too caught up in my reaction to seeing him for the first time in five weeks to wonder what they were talking about.
He hadn't seen me yet. The urge to make a run for it was so tempting but I had to face him sometime. If not tonight, there would be another. It was better for me to just get it over and done with.
No running,I told myself sternly. I would face him, I would show him I was okay and that I could do this. I would sit across from him for our friends' sake and not make it uncomfortable.
My feet felt like lead as I stepped closer to the table. Matthew was the first to see me. Slater's eyes followed his to mine.
The hit was instant. It vibrated through me and I swear time slowed down as our eyes connected. I tried to keep calm. My lips tipped upward in a half-smile, not quite committing to a full one.
The pain that had ebbed was stirred to life and I was transported back to the time when he had told me we were over. I swallowed my hurt as I reached the table.
"Hi," I said, trying to do my best.
He didn't say anything; instead, he kept watching me.
Matthew turned to glare at Slater but I put my hand on his arm as I sat down beside him, using him as a buffer between Slater and me.
"Don't," I whispered under my breath. It was bad enough without Matthew making a scene.
He frowned, looking like he was wrestling between what he wanted to do and what I needed him to do.
Thankfully our attention was distracted when Sin arrived with Taylor. An extra two people eased the tension that had been building up between Matthew and Slater.
There were hugs as Sin and Taylor sat down. I kept a smile fixed on my face for my friend, making sure I kept my eyes away from the bad boy watching me.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
We watchedas Sin proposed to Taylor. I was so happy for her. Sin slid the ring onto her finger.
The happiness and love that shone in their eyes for each other was beautiful to witness. This was love triumphing and I felt the rise of emotion. My eyes teared up.
I should have known but I hadn't. Like everyone else, I had been totally surprised. The appearance of Connor should have been a clear indication of what was going to transpire tonight.
I hugged my friend and told her how happy I was for her.
They looked lost in a world of their own as they looked at each other, knowing they had met their partner who would walk their path together. As happy as I was for them, I felt the loss of what I would not have with Slater.
Just thinking of him made me look across the table at him. The flicker of the candle's flame on the table caught in his eyes as our gazes met.
Could he feel my pain? Was it written in my eyes? Connor touched my arm, breaking the intense stare.
