Chapter 24

MJ got Ruby up to speed, because you just didn't have the guts to retell it again. Ruby had reacted in a very similar way to MJ when she finally arrived, with the intention of finding Peter and punching his face. While you very much appreciated the loyalty of your friends, you had to talk her out of it. You then spent the next two hours drinking more, and coming up with different theories and ways to handle it.

Theory 1 was that he never got your text. Although you didn't know how likely this was, considering he'd called MJ and Ned when he got back, so it wasn't like he lost his phone or it was broken.

Theory 2 was that he did get your text and ignored it.

Theory 3 was that he got your text, decided to pretend to date this girl to make you jealous. But you didn't think Peter was that kind of person, and MJ had to agree with you on that. So that left the first two theories.

Solution 1 - Talk to him. You didn't like the idea of this one very much.

Solution 2 - Ignore him.

Solution 3 - The girls beat him up. As you drank more, you were leaning more toward this one.

You knew that tomorrow, your clear head would tell you to talk to Peter about this. About him getting a girlfriend. About the text you sent that he may or may not have gotten. About what you were supposed to do now.

And that is exactly the first thing that came into your head when you woke up in the morning with a pounding headache. You put it off as long as possible. You called in sick to work, and while feeling incredibly guilty about it, you just knew that the moment you saw anyone, you would crack and probably cry.

So you stayed home, leaving your phone mostly untouched, but knowing that MJ and Ruby had been texting you. You sent them a quick text earlier to say you were having a day to yourself, then you left your phone in the kitchen, trying to ignore the incessant buzzing while you forced yourself to watch TV instead, simmering with your thoughts.

At dinnertime, as you waited for your pasta to boil, you allowed yourself to check your phone. You smiled slightly as you read the texts from MJ and Ruby, which had been sent every 15 minute updating you on their days, telling you to stop moping, subtly insulting Peter (although this was more on Ruby's side). You then spotted a text from Peter.

You stilled, wondering if you should read them or not.

Your finger tapped on his name before you came to a decision.

Peter: Hey, you free tomorrow? Me and Jenny are thinking of going to Gio's for dinner, would be nice of you two to join us.

You closed your eyes and you breathed. Did he really think that you would want to go to dinner with him and his new girlfriend? What if Jenny really wasn't his girlfriend, and it was all some kind of plan of his?

No, Luka, that's ridiculous.

You looked back at his text, and typed out a reply.

Luka: Two of us?

He texted back instantly.

Peter: Yeah, you and Adam.

He must have gotten your text. You could see it sitting above his in the thread, no error message, nothing. So why was he still asking Adam to come with you? Maybe he wanted to say something to him? Maybe clear the air?

You hadn't really spoken to Adam since you broke up, other than to get your stuff from his place a few days later. For the amount of time you were together, neither of you apparently had the urge to keep in touch. But, you supposed, if Peter wanted him there, for whatever reason, it was worth seeing if he would agree.

Luka: I can ask if you really want.

Peter: Great. We've booked a table for 6.30pm. See you then.

The next evening after work, Ruby came over yours, having popped in on her way back from work. She was helping you get ready before staying over at her boyfriends, which she insisted upon after you told her about yours and Peter's conversation.

"I just don't get what his angle is." She scoffed, watching you twirl your hair so that it fanned over your shoulders. "Bring up old wounds? Do a speech about forgiveness? Propose to you?!"

"I really doubt that Peter is going to ask me to marry him." You laughed, as you stood, brushing your dress down and turning to her. "Good?"

"Amazing." She complimented, stepping to you to straighten out your necklace. "If he doesn't dump this girl by the end of starters then he needs to get his brain checked."

"Thanks." You sighed. "I guess I'll let you know what happens after." She pulled you into a hug, which you gratefully accepted. "Right, come on. It'll be fine." You shook your hands as she released you. "I better get going."

Ruby walked you to the corner of the street that the restaurant was on, giving you another hug before turning off to Oscar's house. You breathed slowly as you walked to the doors, repeating to yourself that you could do this.

Was it foolish of you to think that maybe Jenny was just a ruse, and that he was here by himself?

As you found the table, you realised that yes, you were foolish.

"Hey, glad you could make it." Jenny grinned as she stood up, pulling you into a hug before you could even open your mouth.

"Uh, yeah. No problem." You turned to Peter, who was still sitting down. "Thanks for the invite." You said, quickly realising he wasn't going to hug you, or do anything, so you just sat down in the chair opposite him.

A waiter quickly appeared with another menu for you, and asked for drink orders. You ordered a gin martini, which made Peter's eyebrow raise. You didn't drink strong stuff often, but you needed the liquid courage.

"Is Adam on his way?" Peter asked as his hand went to the back of Jenny's chair.

"No. He...couldn't make it." You decided on saying. He had actually just ignored your text. Peter nodded. "So...any special occasion?" You asked, trying to hide your warm face by looking at the menu.

"No, just figured it's been a while since we last saw each other."

You looked up to see Peter watching you. Your face grew hotter. He knew exactly the last time you'd seen each other. Tangled up and having sex in your bed. Thankfully, the drinks appeared at that moment, so you broke the staring contest to take a big gulp, the gin searing against your throat as you swallowed it. You saw Jenny staring at you with an open mouth.

"Well, how did you two meet?" You asked, trying to divert the conversation.

"Ready for food orders?" The waiter interrupted. You let Jenny and Peter order first, seeing as you hadn't taken in a single word printed in front of you. When it was your turn, you just ordered the bruschetta and a salad.The first things you spotted.

As the waiter took your menus, Peter was frowning at you.

"You didn't want the ragu?" He asked. You hated how much he knew about you. If you realised there was ragu, yes, you would have definitely ordered that.

"I'm not that hungry." You stammered. "So, meeting story. How did that happen?" You tried to smile after your question, attempting to look the tiniest bit interested as Jenny started rambling on about how they bumped into each other outside a cafe, making her affagato spill all over her.

How adorable.

You had some more of your martini as the starters arrived.

"So how about you and your boyfriend?" She asked, and you almost choked on your bruschetta.

"Sorry, me and who?" You questioned as you cleared your throat.

"You and Adam."

You just looked at Peter, who looked like he was simply waiting for your reply. Your mouth bobbed open and shut.

"Me and ..." You inhaled. "Me and Adam aren't..." Jenny frowned and turned to Peter.

"I thought you said they were together." She hissed.

"We were. We were...together." You clarified, still looking at Peter. You shook your head. "We aren't together anymore."

Peter's eyes just widened as he stared back at you. A cold sweat flushed through you.

"So you didn't know." You muttered.

Theory 1, you have been proved correct. His hand left Jenny's chair and he leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table, his hand hanging off the edge.

"What happened?" He asked you.

"What do you mean 'what happened'?" You snapped. "You know exactly what happened."

You saw him inhale deeply, and then a hand appeared on the table in your peripherals, and you remembered that Jenny was here as well.

"Is there something going on here?" The innocent girl questioned.

"When?" Peter asked, ignoring the girl sitting next to him.

"The day you went ..." Your eyes darted to Jenny. "On holiday."

"Peter what-" Jenny started to say, but he ignored her yet again.

"Why didn't you tell me? When I mentioned him? Why didn't you say anything?"

"What did you think was going to happen after that night?!" You half-yelled, causing the tables closest to you to turn around.

You glanced at them, lowering your head in embarrassment as Peter just simply stared at you, and you took the napkin off your lap.

"I'm sorry. I think I better just go." You said, standing up and putting the napkin next to your plate. You went into your purse, taking out a couple of 20s and putting them on your napkin.

Both Peter and Jenny were silent as you walked off. You didn't blame them. It seems that everyone around the table had learnt something new tonight.