A Taste of You

40: Feels so Right

"I need some air." I gasp inmediately

"Alise, wait. He didn't..." I ignore Aron, whirl out of his grasp on my arm, and push through one of the glass doors leading to the external observation deck before he finishes his sentence. It's cold, but I drink in the air to calm myself.

We've barely been at odds for 48 hours and they're back together like I meant absolutely nothing to him. I know I'm spiraling, but the pain I'm experiencing in my heart makes me sick to my stomach.

I hear the door open and shut behind me. I dab at the tears under my eyes and yell out unconvincingly. "I'm fine, Aron. Just let me deal with this on my own. I told you and Ronnie this was dumb."

"It's not Aron." I whirl around and see Vera. My eyes narrow until I see her own face is blotchy with emotion. She looks at me for a second studying my face. "Oh this is too ironic. You work at that restaurant where this whole mess started. What are you doing here?"

She recognizes me, but doesn't seem to know about me and Ethan. Before I can answer, she continues. "Never mind. You're here with Aron. Small world."

She looks up at the sky and I can see tears forming in her eyes. She starts to speak aloud. "Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't realize how good things were until you went ahead and screwed it up?"

Preach, lady! She's describing exactly how I feel about the whole Ethan-Mateo ordeal right now.

She continues. "I had this great guy, but I got bored like what happens in most relationships. So I screwed around, got it out of my system, and wouldn't you know it, he finds someone else. Says he loves her more than he ever did me. That I'm a poor excuse for a relationship partner compared to her. He was about to marry me, for Christ's sake! I obviously wasn't all that bad."

I can't belive my ears. "Wait, he told you all that?"

"I know what a prick, right?" She scoffs.

"Here?"

She looks at me funny. "Just now. He wouldn't even bite when I suggested we mess around a little, for old times sake. I mean if she's so important to him why isn't she here? She'd never know."

"Maybe she made her own mistake?" I say, knowing full well that I did.

"Well if so he's not moving on anytime soon. Dammit!" She curses. I turn away, awkwardly. I need to get back in there and find Ethan. She prompts me. "Don't you want to talk about your problems? Misery loves company, you know?"

"It's complicated. Thanks for the offer, though." I pull the door open and go actively looking for Ethan.

Aron spots me. "Alise he didn't kiss her!"

"I know. Have you seen him? He didn't leave, did he?" I ask.

Aron shrugs and I squeeze through the crowd. I'm starting to panic as I step outside of the main hall to catch my breath. That's when I notice him. He's leaning against the metal window frame. It appears that he's admiring the view, a scotch in hand. But I can see the wariness on his expression and the tension in his body.

As I walk towards him, he swallows the remainder of his drink and turns towards me. He's surprised to see me it seems. It's the first time we're really seeing one another tonight.

"Alise."

"I just wanted to say hi. I'll let you..."

From the time he says my name, he takes several quick strides to close the distance between us. He cuts me off mid-sentence, pressing his lips to mine. There's an urgency there, pure need. He pulls back, grasping my face in his large hands. "We have a lot that needs to be said, but right now I just want you in my arms."