You Saw Me

57

After dinner we had drinks and played games. The athmosphere was alive with laughs and drunken silliness. I heard Gayle suggest they play strip poker, since she was the poorest of the bunch, but she had clothes to take off. The others laughed. 

I was talking to Sarah, who played drums in Henry's band. She was English like Henry and married to the guitarist of the band, Mitch. She was really sweet and recommended places Henry and I should go to in London. I found her company so natural, almost like I had known her for a long time. She was very down to earth and easy to talk to. 

"I'm really happy he met you", she said after we had been talking for a while. "He's so happy with you. It seems like he's just calmed down completely. It's no secret there were times where he wasn't doing very well. But you seem to be a good influence on him". 

I smiled at her. "In all honesty he's just as good an influence on me. I wasn't in a good place either. He sees something in me, I don't see, but I'm getting there, I think". 

Sarah squeezed my hand and nodded. "Yeah he tends to see something in people, helping them come out of their shell. That's what he did for my Mitch, as well". She looked over at Mitch, who was laughing with Thomas and Lloyd. I sensed the introvert in him, just like myself.

***

I went out to get a couple of cold drinks and overheard Henry and Gayle talking in the hallway. I really shouldn't eavesdrop, but I couldn't help it. 

"...need to ask for their permission first?" Henry was a little drunk, but his words weren't slurred, so I could hear him perfectly. 

Gayle was not good at keeping her voice down in general, but when drunk she was terrible at it. Henry shushed her several times, trying to keep whatever they were talking about out of other peoples ears. "You've met them, Henry. She doesn't want them to", someone dropped something in the livingroom making me lose focus, "I say yes", Gayle finished her sentence not making anything clearer for me.

Since it didn't make any sense to me, I decided to walk in pretending I hadn't heard anything. As soon as they saw me, they both tensed up a bit and enthusiastically exclaimed: "Hey!"

"Hi", I said smiling at them, cocking an eyebrow to signal that I thought they were acting weird. "What are you two up to?"

"Oh nothing!" Gayle said. "I was just complementing Henry on his shoes". 

Henry wasn't wearing any shoes. I looked down at his feet and back up at Gayle, who burst out laughing. 

Henry laughed and grabbed me by the waist, pulling me close to him. "How are you?" He asked, caressing my back. Gayle snuck off in a hurry to avoid further interrogation.

"I'm good", I said looking up at him, searching his face for answers to what they were talking about. 

"I know that", he smirked making me roll eyes at him, but unable to resist his charm. 

He kissed me and whispered in my ear: "If all these people weren't here, I'd make you come for a third time, right here and now". He pulled away from my ear, making sure to lick my earlobe before he stood back up and smirked at me. 

I leaned against the wall, and said: "You almost did at dinner. The effect you have on me; just by looking at me..." I shook my head in disbelief. 

Henry laughed and pulled me close, kissing me. "Good to know I have that effect", he said and winked. 

"Don't take advantage of it", I warned him with a smirk. 

"I would never", he said patting my behind as we went back to our guests. 

***

The weekend flew by and before I knew it, I had to drive Gayle back to LAX. I really didn't want her to go, so I was feeling sad. I sensed she was feeling the same. We were quieter than usual and it wasn't because we didn't have things to say.

"Will you promise me something?" Gayle said when we were almost at the airport. I glanced at her and nodded, forced to keep my eyes on the road. 

"Hold on tight to Henry", she said, her voice a little weak. "He's made of the right stuff, hon. Don't let anything change the way he makes you feel". 

I felt my eyes tearing up, making the road ahead of me blurry. I just nodded, unable to find the words. 

"He's serious about you, Ellie. Like, really-really serious." Gayle sniffled a little and I reached my hand over to hold hers. 

I was confused, was she crying because she was happy or sad? 

"Gayle, are you alright?" I asked with a tearfilled voice. 

"No! I'm so damn happy for you", she fumbled with a tissue from her bag and blew her nose. 

So she was happy. 

"Okay...", I said feeling slightly confused. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. So damn happy. That guy loves you exactly the way you should be loved. And I am so fucking grateful that he coaxed my friend back out from where she was hiding. You are my Ellie again. The funny, silly, loveable goofball, who I met in college." She made a little sob and squeezed my hand. 

I smiled at her through tears. "Gayle, it's okay", I tried to console her. 

"I'm not sad, Ellie. I'm relieved and excited. And so emotionally unstable right now", she chuckled. 

When we arrived at the airport she shook her head and snapped out of it. My oldest and dearest friend put on her brave face and hugged me tight. Then she made me promise, I'd call her every day before she walked away smiling. 

I stood and waved for a while, well-aware that she wouldn't turn around. The risk of her crying again was too great and nothing was breaking her stride at that moment.