The Intoxicating Affair

Chapter 15

Owen, Luke and their girlfriends came to my birthday dinner to celebrate me turning 30. The flirty thirties. I was excited. I love birthdays. It's my favourite day of the year. I love the attention being on me. A lot of people despise it but I love it. Mariana joined us as well. We're still really good friends even after our break up. We spent 4.5 years together and we only ended things due to a mutual agreement. I swear it's how all my relationships end. I blew out the candles to my cake. Everyone was clapping and cheering.
"Drink time! My shout!" Owen shouted as he grabbed my hand and led me to the bar. He ordered us drinks and I turned to face the table where my friends were sitting.
"So, hows you and Marianna?" Owen asked
"Good! Really good" I replied
"Any chance of y'all getting back together?" He smirked
"No Owen.." I smiled
"Sucks man... You two were adorable together" He replied as he handed me my drink.
"Oh actually, can you take it back to the table? I just need to go to the toilet" I asked as I handed my drink back to him.
After I finished doing my business, I was washing my hands next to a young girl. I looked at her. Our eyes connected. I looked back down to my hands then back to her. This girl looks familiar. Where do I know her from? Then it clicked.
"Sophia?" I spoke
"Yeah?" She replied. I was shocked. I couldn't get any words out. I admired her. She's so grown up.
"Sorry, I'm not sure if you remember me. I'm Summer.. I'm friends... Uh used to be friends with your mum" I spoke, still admiring her. She's looking more like her mother. She's gorgoeus.
"Oh wow, I thought you looked familiar but I couldn't put your face to a name! How are you?" She asked
"I'm great! How are you? Oh my god, I can't get over how much you've grown. How old are you now?" I asked
"I'm fifteen" She replied
"Wow! I haven't seen you since you were ten! You were adorable and now you're just... Wow. Sorry I can't believe it that's all" I was rambling. She smiled.
"Is your mum here?" I asked
"She is actually! Did you want to say hello. I'm sure she'd love to see you" She replied. I suddenly became extremely nervous. I haven't seen Julia in 5 years! I haven't heard from her... I haven't even seen her in the streets near work or anything!
"Come, she'd love to see you" Sophia spoke as she grabbed my hand and led me out of the bathroom. I followed her back to a table. Where her, Julia and Liam were having dinner. I couldn't believe Liam's size!! He's huge! Taller than me I'd say.
"Mum" Sophia spoke. Julia turned to face me. Her expression dropped in utter surprise... I think?
"Hi" I smiled
"Summer?" She stood as she greeted me, gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Her perfume hit me like the flood gates had just been opened. It instantly brought back memories. Julia looked stunning as she did when I last saw her. She was dressed casually but she still looked amazing. She's barely even aged.
"I just bumped into Sophia in the toilets and I couldn't believe my eyes... How big she was" I spoke as I darted my eyes to Liam.
"And you... Oh my god. How... How old are you?" I asked
"Eighteen" Liam replied in his deep voice. Oh my god. This is just so weird.
"They grow up fast" Julia spoke
"Well it's been five years... isn't that just..." I spoke as Julia cut me off
"Crazy?"
"Yeah... Real crazy.... How are you? You look... Great!" I smiled as I admired her.
"I'm good! Thankyou, you also look stunning. What's the occasion?" She asked
"Oh it's my birthday" I smiled
"Oh?" She looked at me surprised
"I'm thirty! Ahhh" I joked, she smiled.
"Wow" She looked at me up and down and shook her head in disbelief.
Owen had tapped me on the shoulder.
"Hey, wondered where you ran off to" He spoke as he locked eyes with Julia.
"Hey!! Julia!?" He added as he greeted her with a hug. He then looked at me as if to ask, are you okay.
"I just bumped into them" I spoke. We all stood there for a moment, awkward silence was filling the room. My eyes were locked on Julia.
"Well... I better get back to my friends and let you guys enjoy your dinner" I broke the silence.
"Ofcourse! It was good seeing you" Julia spoke softly.
"You too!" I smiled before walking off. I should've asked for her number. I don't think I still have her number in my phone. Ugh it's too late now. I sat down at my table and had a drink but my eyes kept darting over to Julia.
"You okay?" Owen asked
"Yeah, I guess I'm just still in shock" I faked a smile
"You don't want to go down that road again... Remember how heart broken you were about her" He stated. My mind was playing flash backs of the sneaky nights we had together, all the sex, the passion, the love... I shook my head as a took another sip of my drink. I kept nervously shaking my legs under the table. Ugh I need to talk to her. I stood from my chair and walked up to her once more, looks like she was about to leave.
"Hey I just had to ask before you left, maybe I can grab your number and we can have coffee sometime?" I asked. I felt like my heart was going to pass away with how fast it was beating. I am so nervous.
"I'd like that" Julia smiled as she grabs her phone out. I punch my number into her phone and my name was still there.
"Oh you still have it" I spoke
"I do?" She replied in shock as she looked at her phone and realised.
"Oh wow" She added, I smiled.
"I guess I'll hear from you" I spoke
"Seeya guys" I smiled at the kids. I still can't believe how much they've grown up.
I walked back to my table and sat in relief. I feel good knowing I'll see her again soon.
"Who was that?" Mariana asked with a hint of jealousy.
"Just an old friend" I smiled. Mariana wouldn't remember Julia from that one night where she saw her, they didn't even meet.
The night went well, we had dinner, a few drinks and ended it early. I am old after all... Thirty... Gosh I can't believe it. They all wanted to come back to my place but I didn't feel like it. I suppose my mind is distracted. I didn't have Julia's number but she had mine so I have to wait until she messaged me which was killing me, what if she never does? I messaged Mariana to distract myself. I spent the rest of my birthday cuddling with Boomer on the couch while watching Pretty Woman, a great classic. As I was shoving my face with popcorn I received a text message. I saw that it was Julia, I checked the time it was just after 10pm.
Hi, I'm sorry if it's late I just didn't know what to message you... so hi
I smiled at her awkwardness.
That's okay! I'm spending my birthday night watching pretty woman while eating popcorn. I guess life after 30 really does suck huh
We spent half an hour texting each other back and forth about random things. It honestly felt like no time had passed. The messages turned into a phone call which lasted for another half an hour.
"So... Is it a good idea for us to meet?" I asked. I needed to point out the elephant in the room... We were both thinking it.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Julia replied
"I just don't want things to be complicated... Like last time" I spoke
"Doesn't have to be. We aren't going to do anything? Just a drink... Right?" She asked as if she wanted me to reassure her.
"Right... Yes. Just a drink" I replied. There was silence on the call for a moment.
"Well yes... Anyway I best get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow night" Julia broke the silence.
"Yes see you then" I replied and hung up.
We decided to meet for a drink tomorrow at a local pub. I'm not sure if it's the best idea but she's made it clear that it's not going to be anything other than a friendly drink. Which I'm fine with ofcourse.