WE MEET AGAIN

Blaire awoke the next morning with a persisting sense of longing. Her conversation with Damien played over in her mind, a moment that refused to diminish. She missed the warmth of his presence, the way he made her feel seen and understood. The excitement of their meeting had quickly turned into a quiet throb of desire.

As she prepared for the day, a hasty thought crossed her mind, she thought of going back to the bar where they had met. It felt silly to chase after something that might not even exist, but the idea of seeing Damien again sent a spark of hope within her.

“Why not? I mean what's the worst that could happen, but I have to avoid Mark's nagging today by going early.” she whispered to herself, getting hold of her jacket and heading out the door to the coffee shop.

Damien sat in his room, his phone still warm from his conversation with Gina. They had discussed everything about her return to the city and his father's desire to see them married that seemed to weigh heavily on his mind.

“Gina, I really want you back here for the engagement party,” he said, running a hand through his hair, feeling a blend of love and frustration. “My sister has specific ideas for the wedding. This is important for our families.”

“I know, Damien,” Gina replied, her voice soft but firm. “But you know I’m working on my career here. I want to be there, but I also have commitments. It has been really busy for me.”

“I understand Gina,” he said, trying to hide the disappointment in his tone. “I just wish it could be easier. You’re all I think about, and I want to share this part of my life with you. What happened to us?”

Their conversation continued, filled with both warmth and hidden tension. Damien felt comforted by her words, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He loved Gina, but a part of him couldn’t ignore the connection he had felt with Blaire.

Meanwhile, after work in the evening, Blaire arrived at the bar, her heart raced with anticipation. The dim lights and familiar atmosphere welcomed her, but as she scanned the room, her heart submerged. Damien wasn’t there. The absence of his presence felt like a heavy burden on her chest, and she fought to push back the disappointment.

“ Come on Blaire, stop dreaming,” she murmured to herself, forcing a smile as she approached the bar. “You’re just going insane and giving yourself up for heartache.”

She ordered a drink, trying to distract herself. The lively chatter around her felt distant, and she found herself lost in her thoughts. Why was she coming back to Damien? Who probably just wanted a one night stand. She didn’t know him well enough to feel this way, yet he had stirred something within her, she thought was buried.

As she sat taking her drink, memories of their brief encounter and intense sex replayed in her mind, mixing with doubts and insecurities. Maybe she was just another temporary moment in his life, a dream he’d soon forget.

Back at home, Damien hung up the phone after their conversation. He glanced at the picture of Gina on his desk, smiling and radiant. He loved her, but things weren't the way it used to.

The thought of Blaire rushed through his mind. The conversation they had shared moved on the edge of his memory, and he couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing. A nagging feeling of curiosity stirred within him, but he quickly pushed it aside.

“Focus on the future, it was just a one night stand.” he reminded himself. “You have a life to build with Gina and a legacy to uphold.”

But as he settled into the evening, a flicker of doubt lingered. What if he was missing out on something real with Blaire? The thought was unsettling yet alluring.

Back at the bar, Blaire groaned, she finished her drink and realised she should leave, but she hesitated, trapped in a web of hope and uncertainty. The night felt long, and the absence of Damien left her feeling emptier than before.

With a heavy heart, she finally rose to leave, whispering a silent wish for the evening to have turned out differently. Just when she was about to leave she heard a voice.

“ How could you betray this stranger by having the drink without him?” She looked up and it was Damien.