Say you'll stay - Channing Tatum

P.39

It's cramped with people as I walk down the hallway with Madison trailing behind me. I excuse myself as I bump into a woman who in return gives me a murderous glare before continuing in the opposite direction.

The hallway is narrow and the lights are doing a poor job lightning up the space that makes up the passage between the entrance and the restaurant area. The waiter walking in front of us uses big steps and glances back two or three times to make sure we're keeping up with him. We barely do, but flashes him forced smiles nonetheless.

"I hope Jessica read the date backwards. I can't listen to her talk about her granddads wine yard in Italy one more time." Madison tells me and I stifle a laugh. "I can't take it!"

"You're sure? You don't want to hear about the special grapes again?" I squint and she gives me a look just as the waiter gestures to the table. We thank him and he quickly nods before disappearing down the the hallway we just came from.

"Hi!" Alison excitedly greets us as we make our way towards her. "I'm so glad you could come!" She holds her arms open and Madison gives her an awkward half-hug, still holding onto the gift.

"Happy birthday!" I say and listen to Madison repeat the words. "This is for you," I nod towards the present Madison's holding and she hands it over.

We fought for a good few hours over what to get her. I voted for one of those big candles from Linari while Madison thought lingerie would be the perfect gift. By the silky ribbon and glittery paper the gift is wrapped in, I don't even think our ideas have to be known to be able to guess what's inside.

"Thank you," Alison smiles widely which makes her dimples appear. She looks different with her hair pinned back. I'm so used to seeing her with her hair down, the way she always wore it through our high school years, but it suits her.

I watch her attention shift to three girls walking towards us. They loudly greet her with not one, not two, but three happy birthdays before they've even made it all the way to the table.

I nudge my elbow in Madisons side when Alison puts down our gift on the table, next to one wrapped in the exact same paper.

Madison rolls her eyes. "It could be anything."

"Sure," I smile, biting my tongue.

The table is nicely set with candles and flowers and my eyes land on the small cards placed in front of every plate. Madison has already noticed and started searching for her name among the twenty-something places.

We quickly find our names and our arms touch when we stand beside each other.

I'm glad I decided to come tonight. I haven't been out in what must be almost a month now and in all honesty I didn't think I had missed it until Madison pulled up in the cab and yelled at me to get in.

I've said no to both dinners and birthdays and blamed it on my work schedule and apartment, said it's taken up all of my time and that I've been too busy to focus on anything else.

A white lie I guess you could say.

I haven't had more to do these last couple of weeks than usual. I've worked the same hours I usually work and on my evenings and free days I've spent my time scrolling the web for furniture and paint, while Sex and The City has been playing in the background. I never took notice of how narcissistic Mr. Big is and how much I wanted it to work between Carrie and Aiden until this time around. I still can't get over the fact that they didn't end up together.