All that we have

Two

5 months earlier
June

Skye

I couldn't sit around at home any longer. I totally decluttered and redecorated to remove any reminders of Michael. By the time I cleared out his things, selling some stuff, but donating most, I was left with nothing to do each day. So I went back to work.

I knew everyone would stare when I first came back. I was waiting for it. Expecting it to be awkward and for most people to not know how to act around me.

For the most part, everyone held up that expectation.

Everyone except for Alice and Ben. When I walked in from the lift lobby, Alice rushed to me and wrapped me up in a hug. I had seen her and spoken to her during my absence and she attended the funeral. Still, it was nice having a friendly face amongst all the curious eyes.

I kept to myself most of the week. I was quiet in team meetings and didn't speak to anyone besides Ben or Alice on breaks. By Friday, Ben insisted we get after work drinks to celebrate me surviving my first week back.

"I'm going to the bar to get another drink, you two want anything?" I stood from our small table and placed both hands on the table as I stared down my friends, challenging them to match me drink for drink. I was bordering on tipsy, but I felt good. Everything was lighter than it had been in weeks. If I knew drinking would have such an effect, I would have started three weeks ago.

Though I'm sure it was a combination of the alcohol, the music, and the company. I know that drinking alone in a house that held reminders of my dead fiancé everywhere I turned would have been a recipe for disaster.

"I'm good, I'm going to head home soon. Tyson is waiting on me," Alice said, checking the time on her phone. I jutted out my bottom lip, pouting at her. I got it though, I used to do the same thing when I knew Michael was waiting on me to get home.

"Ben?" I fluttered my eyes at him. I needn't have begged though, he was happy to keep drinking. Ben was younger than me, and he would likely meet up with friends later and party all night.

I waited my turn at the bar, watching the staff serve the few people waiting before me.

"What are you drinking?" A deep voice sounded beside me. I turned to see an attractive, well dressed guy leaning with one arm on the bar. I narrowed my eyes, not used to having anyone show me any attention. I'd been a relationship girl for so long, I guess I had put out the energy that I was taken without even intending to.

I scanned my eyes up and down this guy, deducing he was probably a finance guy working in a nearby office in the CBD. The sleeves of his well fitting shirt were rolled up to his elbows, a tattoo peaking out on the right arm that was leaning on the bar in front of me. In the dim lighting of the bar I couldn't see much more than his dark eyes and pretty boy face.

"Uh, I'm buying for my friend and I," I gesture behind me while answering him awkwardly. He glances to our table and nods.

"I noticed you earlier. He's not your boyfriend is he?" The stranger asked, before I saw his eyes zero in on my left hand, his eyes widening slightly. "Or fiancé?"

Confusion washes over me for a moment before I remember I still have my engagement ring on. It was such a habit to wear it that I hadn't even thought to remove it.

"Oh, um no. No, he's a workmate. I'm... I'm not," I shook my head, unable to let the words escape. I hadn't yet said it out loud, despite knowing it in my head. I'm single. Unattached.

Like a bucket of ice water being tipped over my head I realise that if I wanted to, nothing would stop me from going home with this man. A man that I'm that moment was making me feel desired. Wanted for my body in a way I wasn't used to at all. Because hell, Michael didn't make me feel that way for a long time.