21. I want him back.
BETH.
“Bitch, I’m back!!!” was the message I got from Lara just as soon as I stepped off the ship I was on. I unconsciously rolled my eyes when I saw the message and decided to just ignore it, until she called again.
“Girl! I’m back and better. Come over to the house this instant, I’m over there with the girls. We need to do some kind of reunion or something, do you guys not miss me?” Lara screeched into the phone speaker such that I had to extend my phone from my ears a little bit.
The only reply I gave was “on my way “ before I hung up the phone. I can’t belive that she’d do something as huge as leaving a man at the altar and disappearing for weeks then coming back to act like it was something normal to do. Well, she’s Lara afterall though.
Since Tony left my room this morning, I had not seen him at all, he seemed totally withdrawn as soon as I told him that whatever that happened between us was a mistake, I mean even if I wanted more, even if I felt more, Lara was obviously back to claim Jim eight back and with the way I saw him, it seemed like he was ready to take her back too. I can’t get entangled in all of that, I just can’t.
I took the nearest cab to my house since I knew that whenever Lara mentioned the house, it was always my house, she practically lived there most of the time even though I gave her an apartment of hers as a birthday gift two years ago. The moment I stepped into my house, the hug and excited screams that engulfed me was almost enough to choke life out of me.
“Oh my Gosh, I miss you so much.” Lara repeated over and over while still hugging me. I hugged her right back taking in her scent and noticing the little bump on her stomach.
“I miss you too baby girl, where the hell have you even been?” I replied, in all sincerity knowing that I’ve really missed her bubbly and talkative personality around me.
We both took a seat just after I have greeted Yeesha, Janet and Grace with an hug each too. I looked at Lara expecting some explanation with all that happened but when she remained silent, I had to speak up.
“Uh… are you not going to go ahead and explain yourself? I mean, one minute, you were so excited at the bachelorette party such that you were so hyped and all and then the next minute, you were no where to be found to even walk down the isle, it was like some dramatic shit, what the hell happened to you?” I asked, looking curious.
“Uh-“ Lara started to say only to be interrupted by Grace. “Don’t we need some popcorn and drinks to enjoy while we listen to this? I feel like we are really about to listen do some dramatic story right now.” She said causing us to laugh even though I really only smiled, I wasn’t really finding anything funny, at least not yet.
“You can go get some from the kitchen.” I simply replied to Grace who jumped off the chair almost immediately.
Lara started to talk just as soon as she was gone too, “Look girls, it’s very complicated. I just kinda got so confused and all as soon as I was about to walk down the isle. I mean, first off, I don’t even love Tony, I might like him but I don’t feel anything like love for him, well, I love his money though…” At this point, Janet laughed at what she said, Yeesha and I remained unfazed so she continued, “the person I actually do feel something very strong for is Damien and then just at that moment, he showed up right in my dressing room!”
“You’re joking, right? The same Damien who witnessed you screaming yes to another man on your birthday?That same Damien who have refused to pick your calls for weeks? Why on earth would he decide to just pop up on your wedding day, in your dressing room?” I questioned, totally confused.
“You should know why, Lara. He came to beg me to take him back, that’s what… he came to griv see later on the floor for me not to get married to any other man except him, he was so intentional and emotional about it that I knew I had to take off that wedding dress and go for the man I truly feel something for. “ Lara explained while I stared at her, getting even more confused.
Lara might be a goddess, she might be so gorgeous and all but what man would stoop so low to beg a woman who he discovered to have been cheating on her, one who chose another man above him and was proceeding to get married to him, what man would grovel ar such woman’s feet just to get her to marry him? I mean, that makes absolutely no sense at all, not even a little. I was not born yesterday and it disint take much time for me to know that Lara was obviously exaggerating if not lying.
“Are you kidding me right now? Is this some sort of joke?” I let out, glaring daggers at Lara.
At that point, Grace came back with lot of goodies and sodas in a tray and she dumped it on the table in the center of the living room before proceeding to grab one for herself and then sitting down.
“What did I miss?” She asked as soon as she sat.
“A freaking lot. I mean, I get that you have these men in your palms, but really? What man.would do that?” Yeesha spoke this time, confirming my suspicions, if she felt that way too then I was not wrong at all.
“Oh come on, Yeesha. These men love me, they live for me, they would die for me, it’s not an exaggeration or anything. I’m Lara, the Lara. It’s not a bug deal at all, he simply came begging for me and I left Tony for him, it’s that simple.” She responded, in a proud and egoistic manner that somehow got on my nerves.
“If that’s the case, why then are you back? Why then did you call Tony as soon as you got back?” I let out and then I realised that I might have just exposed my self by asking those questions because she didn’t tell us yet about calling Tony or anything.
“Well… wait, what? How did you know that I called Tony this morning? I never said anything about that yet.” She said, giving me a suspicious and confused look, the girls suddenly had the same looks on their faces. My head went blank at first before my brain started to boot and then I quickly made up something to say,
“I was on a boat cruise with my boyfriend till this morning and I left when you called, Tony happened to be on that same boat cruise too. We met eachother and he told me that you called him this morning.” I rushed out, praying that they all buy that story and they did.
“Oh, yea. I heard that he was on a boat cruise. We’ll talk about this new boyfriend of yours later, I want all the juicy gists!” Lara screamed the last part with excitement causing an eyeroll from me, yeah right, the same boyfriend that I’m down with in literally just weeks.
“So as I was saying, I’m back and I called Tony because I want him back, that’s all.” She said, in a nonchalant manner.
“You want Tony back? Even when you already have Damien?” I questioned, confused.
“Well, it’s not like I can’t shuffle two to three men at once but then not this time though. I’ve decided to get serious with Tony, uh… I discovered that Damien is actually married…”
This earned a gasp from all of us.
“Yes, he’s actually married and so you know know this dimwit dared to suggest to me? He said he’d like to make me his mistress? Like me, Lara, a mistress when I have men who would marry me this instant? Can you juat imagine the guts? So I left him immediately, I mean, I’d rather remain single than be a man’s mistress! I’m not numbed two, I’m always number one.”
I scoffed, “and you’re do sure that Tony will take you back, right? After all the humiliations and heartbreak you put him through?” I let out, sounding more pissed than I intended.
“Of course, he would. He has no choice, all I have to do is come up with some excuses, add some tears here and there and he’ll be mine. Easy peasy.”
I was very pissed at this point, very. I do not know whether it was because she was so sure of herself or the fact that I knew she was right and he would definitely take her back, but everything she said made me very angry. No man deserved to be played that way, nobody deserves it. Why won’t Lara get this?
As I stared at her and the girls laughing and talking about the issue with no conscience, I felt like just running to Tony and spilling it all to him but then I won’t, bestfriends come before men.
