Vanilla, Cream and Strawberries (Unedited copy)

Chapter 31 - Unedited

he soft sound of the waves was meant to be calming and Christian knew most people in his position would just shut their eyes and block out the world and the problems that came with it. After all that had been his intention, somehow Arabella had intertwined herself into his deepest thoughts, he thought after leaving her the first time, surly the second time would be easier, but he should have known; she was simply unforgettable and nothing seemed to quite compare to her. Even the beautiful surroundings of the Maldives, maybe she was his own person demon, sent to tease and torment him. Sometimes he thought she was the devil herself sent from his own personal hell to remind him just how much of a mere mortal he really was. He wanted to be everything for her, and all he tried to do was love her, he knew he loved her more than anything alive, yet somehow she seemed to be the constant sadness in his life, even without her he longed to fell something more than the sorrow of missing her. Maybe it was his own fault. He battled internally to compete with Alexander and look where it had gotten them - in love with the same woman, unable to live separate lives and the sad reality it seemed was that he no longer was in the running to be in her life. Would Ari and Alex live happily ever after without him there he wondered as he sipped the ice cold cocktail of more alcohol than juice and watched the shapely ass of a woman walking into the ocean. He wondered if he could ever be happy with a woman like that? with a random woman who he bother wasn't in the running to fuck and steal. He shut his eyes to stop the resentful thoughts. The sun beat on his closed lids, showing him a world of bright yellows and intense oranges, he was so focused on controlling his temper he hardly noticed the dark haired woman who had sat to his left.

"I'm sorry for intruding" Her voice was delicate and she almost looked as sad as Christian felt

"Its a public beach" He answered in a clipped tone

"But personal space isn't" She replied looking at him intensively

"You've got me there" He smirked raising his glass - "Now why don't you cheer me up and tell me why you're seeking the comfort of a strange man on the beach instead of enjoying yourself like everyone else?" He asked, his eyes scanning the happy individuals and couples across the beach

"I thought it would be easier to sit with someone as grumpy looking as myself, instead of upsetting the happy holiday makers" She answered

"Grumpy am i?" Christian laughed

"Anyone drinking themselves silly on a beach in the Maldives with a face liked a slapped ass definitely looked like the person who was on my sort of wave length"

"I can't really argue with you there and you didn't really answer my question"

"I left the love of my life at the alter a few days ago and I think its the biggest mistake of my life"

"I think i might have walked out on the love of life who might be pregnant with my child"

"I think you win"

"Looks like we're both looking for answers" He answered

"Found any?"

"Only that i've probably fucked it all up, how about you?"

"Whiskey helps a lot" She smirked, and Christian couldn't help but laugh

"So why did you leave the love of your life standing at the alter?"

"Loving someone is always difficult and it requires compromise, but marrying the love of my life meant wholeheartedly committing myself to one woman for the rest of my life and honestly I don't know why i'm even telling you this"

"Women are always difficult" He smiled "And because i'm a stranger and in no position to judge you considering i'm definitely the bigger piece of shit"

**