The Wedding Ring

Chapter 21: Next year

I looked up and saw Gerald right before me. I swallowed hard and looked at him wide eyed for a few seconds.

"Are.. are.... you the last in line?" I asked and looked behind me.

"Yeah I was the last one" he said.

No words came out of my mouth and he just stood there with his hands inside his leather jacket even though it was the middle of march.

"You cut your hair" he said placing two of his fingers bellow his ear.

"What are you even doing here?" I finally said and he looked down at his feet.

"I read your book" he said

"Obviously"

"You really think I'm an asshole?" he said.

"What is a 26 year old guy doing reading Wedding Crashers?" I said and he looked away.

"I'm sorry" I said and finished signing the book. "Here" I said handing it over and got up from my chair.

"I know I was an asshole" he said and I stopped.

The mixture of emotions in my gut wouldn't let me react every time. Anger. Surprise. Sadness. Anger above all and deep down whatever was left of love.

"There's a coffee place two blocks away" he said and I didn't look at him.

"it's just coffee" he said. I finally turned around and saw him standing in front of the table.

"Yeah... okay" I said and took my things.

The employees stared at me and I just waved goodbye and we walked outside, it was a bit chilly. We walked for a few blocks and went inside the small coffee shop.

"Whatever happened to Jack?" I said as we got in line.

"I don't know we don't really talk anymore" he said.

Why

"I heard Natalie moved to San Francisco" he said.

"Yeah" I said and awkwardly looked down at my feet.

"I can help whoever's next" the cashier said. Gerald walked up to the counter and he started ordering looking up at the menu and pointing at some stuff.

"You want anything?" he said.

"Huh?" I said "Oh... uh... yeah large caramel macchiato" I said

"You seem off" he said and we walked over to the small tables.

"I.... just... have too much to think about" I said.

Hannah was getting married, for real this time

Gerald came back out of nowhere.

what was going on

"like?"

"Why'd you leave and never even call or try anything what so ever then nine months later you come out of nowhere saying you've read my book and that you cold ass heartless bitch want to grab some coffee" I said looking at the table.

"I mean I understand the never calling back or trying to look for me part I mean you're a player and the last time we saw eachother we fought, you yourself said people never changed and that you don't believe in relationships, of any kind, but why now? why did you come now?" I said and he looked at me.