You made me feel

C H A P T E R T H R E E

I freeze.
My heart skips a few beats. I empty the glass in one sip before I turn to my right. It's him.

God, you've got to have your favorites, you enjoyed making him, didn't you?

"Ehm, then thank you. Took me a while. I'm not used to looking like this. I am more of a casual clothes type. My friend made me wear it."
"Then I have to thank your friend, too, once she's done talking business with my parents." He turns around and looks over at April, her boss, and his parents. I follow his gaze.
I'm always fascinated by how April's whole attitude changes when she's her business self.
Her posture is straight, her body language speaks for itself, she's confident, her hands are on her lower stomach, and she gestures as she speaks and laughs politely at some bad dad joke I guess because I see how Kody and his mom shake their heads at the same time and roll their eyes.
"How much do you wanna bet that he told your friend a joke about two friends in the real estate agency?"
"Nothing, because he's your dad and you know him and you and your mom shook your heads and rolled your eyes almost simultaneously." I side-eye him.

He looks surprised.
"What?"
"Nothing, just surprised by the fact that you noticed that."
I shrug, leaning back against the railing, close my eyes, and take a deep breath again.
Once I open them I look back at him only to notice that he is already taking me in. His eyes narrow over my chest along my neck until we lock eyes. I'm frozen once again, he comes closer and is right in front of me. He takes my hand and makes me stand.
"What are you doing?"
"Correcting your posture because my parents are walking towards us and I can't face them when you make me think of -"
"Kody honey," his mom interrupts him and he turns around.
"Have you been hiding from us? Since you said, hello, an hour ago, I haven't seen you."
I raise a brow and look at him. He licks his lips and laughs.
"No, I wasn't hiding. I had a lot to catch up on since I came back from Europe, you know how many hands you have to shake to get a good donation."
"Speaking off," his father says, facing me and reaching out for my hand.
"Who is this beautiful lady?" I take his hand.
"Cleo, nice to meet you," I say and reach out for his mother's hand. She smiles politely back as she shakes my hand.
"You look familiar, have I seen you before?" She asks.
"We never met." Her eyes widen and she starts laughing.
"Of course, you were the woman he spilled his coffee on, did you get the stains out?"
"How do you know that it was me?"
"Mom, please can-"
"It was on TV and all over social media"
"What?" I turn my head and look at him.
"Here sweetheart look," she hands me her phone and I look at the footage. It's me looking at April while I talk and him looking at his phone when he bumps into me and his coffee staining my white shirt. The moment when we look up is slowed down. I look at the video and it's like I relive the moment again. Our gaze meets, we look deep into each other's eyes and time stands still.
"I didn't notice the people around us. I had no idea there was proof of you ruining my favorite shirt." I say and look at him. His mouth twitches but he doesn't smile.
"Of course, you didn't, sweetheart," his mother says. "Look how you two look at each other like you fell in love at first sight."
"Kody, you didn't even look at your wife on your wedding day like that." His father says and clears his throat.
"You're married?" I say way too loud and way too surprised.
"Was!" He answers.
"We still are, the divorce isn't valid yet."
 A tall woman with green eyes, red lips, a black shiny dress, and impressive cheekbones implies as she hooks her arm into his elbow. She is the woman who talked to him at the bar earlier. He takes a deep sigh and his mother rolls her eyes.
"If you excuse me I have to look for my friend, she has my purse and I need something. Mrs. and Mr. McAndrews, it was a pleasure to meet you. Kody-" I don't say any further I just nod and leave.
I walk towards April and she looks at me smiling.
I grab her by the elbow and force her to follow me to the lady's room.
"He is fucking married, bitch! You didn't read that out loud!!!!" I yell at her once the door closes behind us.
"He is what?" She screams back.
"Yes! And I am all over social media, his mother recognized me!" I say and start taking my shoes off. I hate girl shoes! 
April takes her phone and looks him up again. She opens the page she read three weeks ago and I look over her shoulder.
"There isn't a single word in this page about him being - oh. I didn't scroll until the end. Sorry!" She says and shrugs.
"Sorry? Bitch he is fucking married!"
"He is almost divorced, in two weeks. The validation will be in my office."
His mother stands behind me.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt your meltdown, Cleo. I just wanted to let you know." She washes her hands and leaves.
"When did she come in?" I ask April.
"Maybe while we were looking at the phone?"
"Shit! Can I go home? There is no way I can keep a straight face now after all this?"
"I need you. I have to give a speech, my boss had to go, he usually does it."
"I hate you, fine! But I am going to sit down and I won't put my shoes on!"
"That's fine for me. We sit at table number five. There is a card with your name on your spot. I have to go on stage."
Shoes in my hand, I walk over to the seating area. I feel eyes on me as I walk. I don't care, let them think whatever they want to think.
I sit down and the waitress who gave me the drink earlier offers me a new glass.
"Thank you, I might need another one, just stay close."
She looks confused but nods.
I drink and look for my phone, well I don't have it, because I gave it to April and her purse is with her on stage. She walks up on stage and everyone goes quiet. I turn around to have a better look. I hear someone clearing his throat behind me and the chair gets pulled back. I don't bother turning around.