Chapter Six

12 8 2
                                    

SAPPHIRE'S POV

Rhys and I walked into the local deli, our arms intertwined. We were greeted by the fresh smell of bread and pastries. It was a snug place with wooden booths and walls covered in vintage posters. We sat down at a booth near the window, and Rhys pulled out the menu. We both started scanning the menu boards as we tried to decide what to order. I was eyeing the turkey and avocado sandwich, while Rhys was considering a reuben.

"I think we should get the pastrami reuben," Rhys said, pointing at the menu board.

"But I'm not a big fan of sauerkraut," I replied, wrinkling my nose.

"You haven't had a good reuben until you've had one with sauerkraut," Rhys teased.

I chuckled. "Well, I guess I'll just have to trust you then."

As we placed our order and waited for our food, we started chatting about a random topic.

"I can't believe you've never seen 'Breaking Bad'," I said, taking a sip of my iced tea.

Rhys raised his eyebrows. "What? How have I not seen it?"

"It's a classic! We need to binge-watch it together," I replied.

Rhys nodded. "Deal. But you have to promise to watch The Office with me too."

"Deal." I grinned. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

Rhys grinned back. "I thought it was because of my devilishly good looks."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Don't flatter yourself too much."

Our banter continued throughout our meal, and we even started making puns about the different types of sandwiches.

"I'm pretty sure this turkey and avocado sandwich is a fowl play," I joked.

Rhys laughed. "Well, this pastrami reuben is a little corny, but it's still the beef."

I groaned. "Oh, that was bad. Even for you."

As we finished our meal, Rhys pulled out his wallet to pay the bill.

"Let me get this one," he said.

I protested. "No, no, we can split it."

Rhys shook his head. "Consider it my treat. Besides, I have to make up for all the times you paid for me."

I smiled. "Alright, you win this time."

My heart sank when I saw the tall blonde woman walking towards us. She looked all classy and flashy, she was dressed debonair style. As you look at her, you can't help but feel captivated by her debonair style. She is dressed in an impeccably tailored suit that fits her like a second skin, accentuating her curves and making her look both powerful and feminine at the same time. Her crisp white shirt and sleek tie complete the look, adding to the sense of sophistication and refinement that surrounds her.

I automatically knew she was Holly. Rhys had told me about his ex-girlfriend Holly, but seeing her in person was a completely different experience.

"Hey, Rhys," Holly said as she reached their table. "I see you've..er moved on already." She said scrunching her nose.

"Good to see you, Holly. This is Sapphire, my girlfriend."

I forced a smile as I stood up to shake Holly's hand. "Nice to meet you," I said, trying to sound friendly.

Holly just looked me up and down, and I felt a wave of insecurity wash over me. She was wearing a pencil skirt that elongated her already impressive legs, making her look tall and more imposing. She was also wearing understated but elegant accessories - a simple watch, a pair of stud earrings, and a statement brooch while I was wearing a simple sundress and sandals.

"So, Rhys, how's work been treating you?" Holly asked, completely ignoring me.

"Work's been good," Rhys answered tightly. I could tell he was uncomfortable too.

Holly turned to me and said, "It was nice meeting you. Maybe next time we can grab lunch, just the two of us."

I forced another smile and said, "Sure, that sounds great," but I knew I would do anything to avoid seeing Holly again.

Soon, Holly skipped away and just then, Rhys noticed my downcast expression and put his arm around me. "You okay?" he asked.

I let out a sigh. "I just feel like I don't measure up to Holly. She's so confident and successful, and I'm still trying to figure out my place in the world."

Rhys pulled me close and kissed my forehead. "Sapphire, you're amazing just the way you are. Holly may have a big ego, but she doesn't hold a candle to you. You're the one I want to be with."

I beamed a warm, heartfelt smile and wrapped my arms tightly around Rhys, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Despite my insecurities and self-doubt, deep down I knew he was right. I realized that comparing myself to others only served to undermine my own sense of self-worth and hinder my progress. Instead, I needed to focus on my own path, stay true to my values and aspirations, and trust that everything would fall into place, just as it was meant to be.

As we strolled out of the deli, the crisp air of the autumn afternoon tingling on our cheeks, a warm feeling of contentment spread through my chest. In that moment, I was struck by a profound sense of gratitude for Rhys, for his steady support and for the countless moments of joy and laughter we had shared together. As we walked side by side, I couldn't help but feel excited about what the future held for us.

Sapphire.Where stories live. Discover now