When Love Comes Back Around

Agreeing to go on a blind date with some guy Julia met up with on the internet, she meets up with her date at her favorite Cafe, only to find out that her blind date is the last person she ever thought she would see again.

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"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Julia looked from the full-length mirror to her sister and said with a reassuring smile that soften the oval outline of her face.

"I need to do this," she said her eyes filled with a determination that was almost bordering on stubbornness.

Crysta was the youngest of the two and was often the one to give in to reckless abandonment; live on a dare and thrive from the thrill of it.

To be seeing the reserved Julia all dolled up in a long sleeve, backless cocktail, skin-tight, black dress that showed off curves and legs that were often hidden underneath sensible work clothes or her customary jeans had her a bit apprehensive and more so knowing she is going on a blind date with some guy she had been talking to for four months on the internet had her skeptical and very concerned.

Julia moved from where she stood and pulled her sister to her in a tight hug.

"Relax I have my pepper spray, we are meeting at the Ritzz Cafe and you know Marcello wouldn't allow anyone to hurt me there," she said reassuringly. "If anyone should be apprehensive is my date as he's meeting me under all my rules and terms."

"What if he doesn't wear the lime green tie you suggested and comes to the cafe early and awaits your arrival...."

"Sssshhhh, you're overthinking this too much," she said cutting her off, "no one gets into the Ritzz Cafe without a reservation, relax."

She sighed as she watch Julia slip on a pair of gold sling-back strap stiletto heels, took up her clutch and coat give herself a final scrutinizing stare in the mirror then turn and said.

"Wish me luck."

Crysta followed Julia out of their flat to the elevator and stood watching as the door closed her sister away from her. Her last sight of Julia's plump red bow-shaped lips curved in a sweet excited smile nothing to relieve her doubts.

She prayed it wasn't a mistake her sister was making as she went back to their flat and locked the door.

Julia's smile faltered as the elevator door closed but as she exited and made her way to an awaiting taxi already by the curb the reality of what she was about to do filled her with dread. The same dread she knew Crysta felt.

"Where to?" the cab driver asked.

"The Ritzz Café," she answered before slipping into her coat and smiling politely as he opened the cab door.

It was time she rose from the cacoon of her broken heart and love again she told herself as she slipped inside the cab and they made their way on the half-hour journey that would fit together the jigsaw puzzle that was M.J.

He was the fascinating stranger she had met four months ago today through their passion for reading on the reading and writing app Wattpad.

Her mind went back six months ago when she had woken up to find herself alone and broken when Justin walk out on her is explanation being..."It's not you it's me."

She had wanted to beg him not to leave, however, she had just stood there staring at the man who had made sweet, erotic love to her a few hours prior now saying he was leaving out of her life.

The shock of it had caused her to retreat into herself. Work and the books she had found on Wattpad were the balms for her brokenness until she came across a book of poems so relatable she had starting following the writer before you know it M.J had been her savior he had listened to her woes, her pain, the fear of trusting and loving again. Due to him those four months out of the six Justin had left had begun to be somewhat bearable.

She had spent days looking forward to their PMs and now here she was going to her best friend's restaurant to meet this stranger that had saved her from the slough of despondency and the pits of brokenness hell.

If only he could drive Justin from the depths of her soul, erase him from her mind, and scrub the feel of his intimacy from her body. Justin Malone was a drug that withdrawal from was inevitable.

As they neared the pillared arch entrance to the Ritzz she pulled her compact from her clutch gave her charming face a one over and tuck the jade and ebony hair clips further in place that held her chestnut strands in its french twist.

With a sigh, she pushed all thoughts of Justin from her mind. Tonight was about her and M.J and where things might lead. After paying the cab driver she alighted from the cab and on legs made of rubber, she walked on the scarlet carpet that lead to the gold and glass paneled door.

"Good evening Ms.Grey," the attendee said as she stepped into the lustrous interior of the scarlet and gold decor with green plants artistically place to enhance the rich ambiance.

From rags to riches was the story here. With a lot of hard work and perseverance thrown into the mix, Marcello was the ultimate success story.

"Good evening Ray," she smiled in return at the slightly graying red hair freckled face man.

"Your table is ready but your dinner date is not yet here. Care to wait by the bar or do you prefer to go straight to your table?" he indicated but a bout of nerves took a hold of her and she opted for the ladies' room first.

The man that entered the restaurant just a few seconds after Julia had left for the ladies straighten his lime green tie and went to the reservation desk where he gave both him and Julia's name and the password she had indicated he was to use.

"This way sir," he was instructed after it seemed the old but rather trapping man was satisfied with him.

He nodded his thanks after the attendee left and sat down with his heart in his throat as he glanced about the filled yet quiet dining lounge. He saw a few celebrities and big wigs but none held his interest as the woman who was walking to the table in animated conversation with an attendee.

Julia Elizabeth Grey the woman who he had walked out on six months ago. He had thought his memories of her face and body had done him justice but the reality of her send awareness coursing through him and stopping at a place that he could not dear mention.

Julia's words died in her throat and she felt the breath rush from her body as she stood by her reserved table and stared at Justin Malone the mythical M.J.

He watched as she quickly composed herself and stared at him some more before she realized the attendee was staring with blatant curiosity at them. She thanked him telling him they will signal when they are ready to eat.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" she heard herself snapping stupidly.

"Well am here for a date with you," he returned too cool and calm for her uncollective demeanor.

"Well you can consider this date over before it has begun," she told him fighting her need to take in the handsome outline of his tanned lean face and the happiness that was bubbling in her when she should be furious with this farce he had created.

All along he knew it was her and he played her again. "How you must have laughed at my ignorance. Twice you have made a fool of me! Well no more!"

Her effort to rise and leave was stilled by him moving to stand by her chair. With eyes that spoke nothing but the truth he said.

"I did all I did because I was a real coward. I found myself falling head over heels in love with you and I ran. Then fate send you back to me confirming that you belong to me but I knew you weren't ready to forgive my callous behavior or see that it was love coming back around, so I hid behind MJ until I could reveal that I am Justin.

Jules, I love you so much it's like the very blood that runs through my veins. I know it will not be easy for you to let yourself open up completely to me like before but can you find it in your heart to give love with me another chance?"

Julia stared into eyes that were reflecting hope and she heard herself speaking from the heart.

"I want nothing else, Justin. I never stopped loving you."

With a whoop of joy, he pulled her to him, and with a kiss that was pleasing to their onlookers and more than pleasing to her Julia melted into his sweet embrace.

When love comes back around you would be a fool to push it away and a fool she was not.