Loyal

Chapter 64

Vera's POV

            Music pulses through the hallway from the ballroom, adding to the tension between us. He looks to me, his forehead creasing questioningly. And that look in his eyes, deep in his eyes....the longing. My head spins and I feel the alcohol at the edge of my throat, somehow I manage to keep it down, turning to make a run for it. Colin grabs my wrist before I can. 

            "What do you want?" I snap, trying my best to maintain my balance. Out of all the hallways he could have been in, within this large convention center, he happens to be in the one where I'm trying to find a bathroom. Why, why WHY!?

                        "Vera...baby girl.."

            There's a hurt in his voice that tears me apart, but I keep my guard up. There's no way I'm going to let him sway me, drunk or not. 

            "You lost the privilege of calling me that a long time ago," I glare at him, roughly pulling my wrist away.

                        "Vera, don't say that," he puts a hand up to his head trying to figure out what to say. He furrows his eyebrows, his brown eyes searching mine. I can't maintain his eye contact, because if I do I'll cry. I look to the floor, trying to figure out what to do. Where to go, praying for someone to take me away from this awkward space. 

            "Colin, how the fuck are you going to....come at me like this...and you have a....fucking date," I'm irritated, but something keeps me from leaving. My feet are planted on the sleek floor, unmoving. Even though I'm drunk, I can feel my heart beating faster at the nearness of him. My skin aches to move forward, to feel him against me. 

                        "Melody?" He scoffs, shaking his head. "That fuckin.....she's not my date. She's been on me ever since an interview. Nothing happened with her, nothing will ever happen with her. She cornered me at the entrance, we didn't even come here together!"

            "Oh what the fuck ever Colin, I don't even know what to believe from you anymore," I snap.

                        "Vera, please.."

            "You know what surprises me about you Colin? That you actually thought you could keep everything from me. That you actually thought you could fucking marry me without telling me about the fucking tape,..the fucking..." I feel heat rising within my chest, more alcohol tasting vomit at the back of my throat. Damn I'm tired of feeling sick, even without the alcohol I've been having random bouts of nausea for a while now. The drinking definitely isn't helping.

                        "If you'd let me explain.."

            "Fuck you Colin!" I snap. Colin looks down at me, bewildered. I'm blind in an angry haze, pissed off at him for everything he's put me through, and even more pissed at the fact that I still love him. Pissed off at the fact that he had the nerve to bring some blonde bitch to this gala, and  had the nerve to come here calling me baby girl. How DARE HE!

            "Fuck you Colin!" I yell once more, a waiter stopped as he walked by, continuing after Colin glared in his direction. 

            "Fuck YOU!" I'm hysterical now; every ounce of bitterness and anger I've been holding in coming out. At my words I raise my hand to slap him across the face, but just before my hand is about to connect to his jaw, he catches it.

            Colin grips my hand and holds it, looking down at me with a raw passion. Passion I haven't seen since the last time we made love. He holds my hand against his face, closing his eyes and rubbing my fingers against his soft lips. Oh his lips.