Lydia


    55 vouchers


    I looked at my reflection onest time. The ck short dress hugged my body perfectly, entuating my figure. A silver ney on my neck. I inhaled sharply, passing my hand over my hair cascading down my


    back.


    I had spent two hours getting ready for tonight’s date. “You look beautiful.” The stylist who had done most of the work said. I smiled at herpliments, wishing Mia was here. She was the best when it came to things like this.


    Thedy brought a ck heels and ced them in front of me, “What do you think about them? It goes with your dress.” It was a ck Louboutin heels.


    I smiled and nodded. I loved it. The heels added a few inches to my height.


    I walked out of the shop, heads turned, staring at me. Each step I took was bolder than thest one. My shoulders were squared as I walked, knowing that Mason was outside waiting for me with his car.


    Two days came a little too quickly. And while I’d love to talk about how much I didn’t want to do this, I can’t deny that therger part of me has been counting down the hours to this moment.


    I was happy to be going on a date with Mason after many years.


    Cold air pped against my cheeks as I stepped out through the sliding ss door. I inhaled a scent of breath, my gaze fixed ahead,bing through the people at the entrance in search of Mason.


    It didn’t take long for me to spot him. It seemed he was doing the same, searching for me. I stood rooted to the ground. Did Mason wear a suit all the time? Yes. Was he wearing a suit right now? Yes.


    But there was something different about him today, something I simply can’t put my finger on right now.


    Our eyes finally met, and he smiled before starting towards me. I began to do the same. He looked more charming as he drew closer. I tried to mask my smile with indifference. I can’t allow him to know I wanted this as much as he did.


    He wore a red tuxedo and a silver Rolex wristwatch wrapped around his wrist. His hair was now in curls, styled in a way to highlight his perfect cheekbones and jaw.


    This man looked Divine.


    “You look splendid.” He said, not taking his eyes off me for even the slightest moment. My cheeks burned at hispliment.


    “And so do you,” I said, and I meant it. We didn’t say anything for the next minute, just kept staring at each


    other.


    When I finally found my breath, I asked, “So where are we going tonight?” We started walking slowly toward the car. He entwined his finger with mine, so tight as though afraid I’d disappear if he was to loosen his hold on my hand for a brief moment.


    <b>9:10 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>8 B.


    “It’s a surprise.” He said, “I’m going to blow you away.” He said in a mischievous tone.


    <b>90 </b>


    E 55 youchers


    Now standing in front of the arranged ce, I waspletely blown away. We were on the rooftop of a five- star hotel. There was a table in the middle with rose petals scattered all around, and a bottle of champagne was on the table along with two sses.


    The view was crazy. The city stood in front of us in all its glory, the sky stretched into infinity, dotted with stars like diamonds.


    “This is beautiful,” I admitted as I walked forward. Mason drank in every bit of my reaction. When I turned to look at him, a proud smile was stered on his lips.


    “I’m d you like it. I truly am.” He said.


    The first course was served. We spoke all through eating, and soon we were on dessert.


    “Do you remember the first time we had something like this?” Mason asked just as I dumped the spoon of cake into my mouth. The cake melted in my mouth, the taste pressing all over.


    “I do. Your friend was the chef, and he made sure the dessert was the best on the menu.” I said, remembering our very first real date. That was the day he announced our rtionship to the world. In his words, it was that day that sealed our love.


    “This dessert is also nice, but I had never had a cake as sweet as his,” I confess, wondering what happened to that amazing man and why Mason didn’t go to his restaurant this time


    “It’s a pity he’s no longer a chef,” Mason said, sadness sipping into his words. I lifted a brow, questions evident in my eyes. “What do you mean? He was so good and was at the peak of his career, why did he stop?” I asked.


    “Personal reasons, it seems, but I’m sure it rtes to his family.”


    “Oh, I see,” I said. There seemed to be more, and Mason wasn’t spilling. I had no intention of forcing him to.


    “I actually wasn’t talking about the dessert.” He dered. He continued, “When I asked you about the first time. I meant our first date. It was at a scene like this.”


    I nodded as memories of that day and the scene hit me like a storm. I couldn’t stop the smile that crept on my lips. I’d say it was one of the best times in my life. “I never thought we’d be so fortunate to have another one, although that date feels a little different from this.”


    Warmth filled my chest as he spoke, and we reminisced about the past.


    “It feels different because something is missing,” I said


    “What is missing?” He asked eagerly, like he was going to add that immediately, and I said it.


    I chewed on my bottom lip for a while, then grabbed my ss of wine. Holding it by the stem, I twirled it around before taking a whiff from it.


    “That date was romantic, this one isn’t. This <b>is </b>like <b>a </b>meal between friends.” I admitted. That was the most romantic date ever. Aside from the food, there <b>was </b>music<b>, </b>and we went on a romantic walk afterwards.


    <b>9:11 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>8 B


    90


    55 vouchers


    “This is a romantic date too,” Mason said. I ced my hand on myp, trying to hold back myself from giving


    him all the reasons it isn’t one.


    “There’s no misunderstanding between us anymore, and we are both single.” I bit my lower lip. My hair danced in the wind. He grabbed my hand on the table and wrapped his palm over mine.


    “Lydia, you know how I feel about you. Allow me back into your life. I want to be able to show my kids to the world as a proud father.


    “You want to be in my life because of the twins?” I asked, and he shook his head. I was indeed happy he loved the twins, but I do not want to be loved exclusively as the twins’s mother.


    If we were to get back together, it would be because he loved me for me, the same way he’d love me without the twins.


    “I want you with or without the twins, it is you I want.” My chest tightened from too many emotions. Mason was being honest. I could see it in his eyes.


    However, I am yet to figure it out myself. Yes, I am attracted to him right now, he’ll, like, who wouldn’t, he was so handsome, but I do not want to make a big decision that may probably change my life simply from one meal.


    I needed time to think this through. “I need to think about this,” I said slowly, freeing my hand from his hold. His face fell as he watched me move my hand.


    “Can you promise me you’ll at least think about it?”


    “Yes.”


    “I’m sorry I brought it up again. I won’t until you are ready to make a decision.”


    That night we drove around the city for a while, stopping at our favourite spot to relive memories of us. I didn’t realise I had missed Mason until now. Whenever my eyes fell on him, my heartbeat always tripled in pace.


    It didn’t make sense <i>to </i>be this attracted to my ex husband and still not knowing what I wanted from him.


    The car rolled to a stop in front of the gate. “Do you want toe inside, maybe to see the twins?” I didn’t want him to leave. It felt good having him here.


    “They should be asleep, right?” He asked, and I nodded. Yes, how did I forget that? He turned to me at the same time, wetting his lower lip with his tongue.


    Who wants to kiss the same man they just rejected an hour ago? Well me!