Strong Attraction

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3
SHE looked dazzling in her midnight blue gown. It had a v neck studded with diamonds that dipped teasing you with little flashes of her bust  and a low back. If flowed to her feet and had a slit from her knees, on the right side. Her make-up was beautifully done. All in all, she looked stunning.
“Excuse me.” She said when she noticed I was staring at her.
“Hey. It’s been a long time.” I said as I rubbed my neck nervously.
“Yeah.” She said a little flustered.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” I stated plainly as a sarcastic smile crossed her lips. She seemed to have been knocked out of her reverie.
‘That’s rich, considering who it’s coming from.”
“Steph…”
“…anie. It’s Stephanie. You lost the right to call me Steph when you dumped me five years ago without a single goodbye or anything. You didn’t have the guts to do it, so you let me embarrass myself by going to your house and finding out from the security that you’d left the country. It was a huge shock. I mean, my boyfriend was out of the country and I didn’t know. And you stand here in front of me, accusing me of avoiding you. FYI, I avoid people I have relationships with, you on the other hand, are a stranger to me.”
“Why don’t you give me a chance to explain, tell you how sorry I am and show you how much I love you?”
“Love! Love! Love! I’ve forgotten about that thrash. By the way, what do you want to explain?” she asked “That your sorry, that you want me back, that you love me?” she let out a dry laugh. “Keep your lies to yourself, and say hello to Amanda for me. Tell her I have a cousin who can plan her a staggering wedding.” She said as she sized me up with her eyes. I stood mute. How the hell did she know about her?
“Now if you’ll excuse me.” She said as she walked out, taking extra care not to touch me.
I looked at her retreating figure and sighed. What was I supposed to do? I loved her dearly, and I wished I could show her. But obviously, she was done with me. She definitely should when I left her standing without a single word.
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“What took you so long?” Amanda complained as I joined her outside.
“Nothing.” I said as I opened the passenger door for her to enter.
“Anyway, I liked the job the interior designer did here, and I heard she’s also an event planner. She could be in charge of our wedding, considering you haven’t found anyone yet.” She said once I begun driving.
“That sounds great. Do whatever you want.” I said with forced enthusiasm which she picked up.
“You know it’s our wedding Jeremy; not just mine. I’d like it if you acted semi interested.” She said obviously angry. I didn’t want to handle an angry woman. I had enough drama on my mind on how to deal with Stephanie.
“Look Amanda, I’m interested. It’s just I have a lot on my mind and I’m very tired right now.”
“I don’t believe you Jerry, but I’d listen to you.” She said as I cringed at the name. Was I some rat from a cartoon? Don’t get me wrong, it was a nice name, but Amanda always said it in a way that made me hate the name.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I said sardonically.
“It’s true. If you really are interested, why don’t you make our wedding public?”
“Amanda, I’m not in the mood to argue with you and besides, I’m not interested in paparazzi acting like we’re on Ashley and Evan by following me everywhere.” She kept quiet and I returned to my driving, my mind drifting to Stephanie. I needed a plan if I wanted her to ever agree to see me. I know I was in the wrong, and it was all my fault, but I hurt her. And I made even worse decisions by getting engaged to Amanda. I needed to make things right, and I needed to do so fast.
*******^^^^******
“You know what to do, so why aren’t you doing it?” my best friend Greg said to me. I had come to him seeking advice on my Stephanie-Amanda dilemma and his advice was to cancel my engagement to Amanda and chase after Stephanie.
“Stop being a chicken and bothering about Amanda’s feelings.” I looked at him with raised eyebrows. “What I mean to say is, you should look at it this way. You love Stephanie. Yes? And you want her. Overtime, you’ll be unable to control your desire for her and it will end up with you cheating on Amanda. You’d be hurting three of them.”
“Please, be realistic. What makes you think she’ll agree to coffee with me, when I am married?” I said referring to Stephanie.
“We both know she has her values set right, when it comes to that aspect, but what I’m saying is that your heart will long after her, and that is in itself adultery.”
“Please, be serious.” I said with an eye roll.
“The Bible says it. “ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Besides, everyman has a wife destined for him, and every woman has a husband destined for her. Stephanie is your destined wife, even I don’t need to be God to tell you this. The one reason for divorce is that people don’t marry their destined partner. The ball is in your court, but I’ll advice you to break that engagement. Amanda is a sweet, beautiful and intelligent girl. She’d find a man perfect for her. You Femi, will only cause unhappiness to four people, including yourself by marrying her. You, Amanda, Steph and whosoever she marries.”
“You should leave law and go into philosophy or become a love doctor.”
“Very funny.” He said as I sat back, thinking over what he’d just said. His words held truth. It was a tough decision but I had to do it, if for no one else, then for Amanda. She deserved better than I was giving her. She deserved a man to love her just as much as I loved Stephanie. And although it was a difficult decision, and a difficult fight for Stephanie, I knew it was going to be worth it in the long run as we all would be happy; Steph and me, Amanda and probably Greg. I suspected he had a thing for her, but right now confirmed it. I should have been furious with him, or maybe a little upset, but I wasn’t and it went to prove how much Amanda and I weren’t meant for each other.
*******
Hello from the other side.
So what do you think of Femi’s decision? Well, it’s better late than never.
Good luck Femi.
Ps: Femi is also Jeremy
Anyway, my ship is setting sail in chapter 4- #Fest. (I’m terrible at ship names.) All aboard!
Please don’t forget to vote, comment and share. By the way, Thanks to all my silent and commenting readers. It helps to know you’re there reading and on this ship.