Too Little, Too Late

18

Ayra was standing on the other side of the door when Ibrahim finally returned home. She was still in her dress but the make-up and every other accessory was gone. Her arms were folded and she had no smile on her face.

Ibrahim took her in and cursed. "Shit, there was the Bridgerton party."

She couldn't help the scoff that slipped past her lips. "Seriously, Ibrahim? That's what you're going to say? There was the Bridgerton party?"

"Ayra, I'm sorry."

"I think I deserve more than that."

He stepped in, letting the door fall shut behind him. "Ayra –"

Her brows furrowed when she caught a whiff of a smell she despised. "Is that alcohol? Ibrahim, please tell me you didn't drink."

"I didn't." He said it immediately. "I didn't drink."

Her heart was plummeting. "You reek of alcohol."

He ran his hands through his hair, nearly pulling at the curls. "I swear I didn't drink. Tobi clumsily spilled his drink on me while going after this lady at the restaurant. I didn't drink. You can call the others and ask. I don't drink, Ayra. You know that."

Her heart kept sinking. "So where were you? I called you over and over." Her voice rose. "I sent you countless texts. You never called back, never responded, and didn't leave any message to say you were no longer coming and I have to come across a post on IG shortly after leaving the party that you and the others went out to have fun?! Seriously, Ibrahim?!"

"Ayra –"

She reached up to massage her temple that began to softly throb. Despite knowing the answer, she asked "Where were you?"

He let his head drop, blowing out a breath. "Kingstone."

"Why couldn't I reach you?"

"My phone was on DND."

"And the party?"

His voice dropped. "I forgot."

She stilled and then her hand dropped. She felt too much at that moment and she nearly stumbled back at how it all hit her at once. Underneath all the emotions was her inner self who was struggling to come up with an excuse for him because the Ibrahim she knew and loved didn't just forget stuff, especially something that was not on short notice.

"You forgot?" She could barely hear herself as her voice was a whisper. "Ibrahim, how –"

"I know it'll seem like I'm lying but I swear, I forgot. I also swear that I'm telling you the truth. The meeting stretched and then we had to have another one because something came up with Little Walker that needed to be settled as soon as possible because we're finalising the launch dates and all of that. The party was the last thing on my mind, I swear. It was the last thing on all our minds because we were exhausted."

He paused briefly to breathe and then he continued. "When we finished, we ended up picking Nathaniel up from work because his car broke down and he was just tired and frustrated. Then there was this little accident with a patient of his and we had to help. One thing led to the other and it was a whole lot and we all wanted to cheer up so we decided to head to Kingstone. My phone was on DND since I got to the office and I haven't looked at it since then."

"And the others? Someone had to have seen our calls and messages."

"The others have their phones on DND too and they are wasted, Ayra. I'm the only sober person and I'm so sorry all of this happened while you were waiting for me. I fucked up and I'm going to make it up to you and Ibty. I'm really sorry, Ayra."