12. ADELE
12
ADELE
T WO WEEKS LATER
Orion swept into the bar like the beginning of a storm, her now silver hair shimmering like a waterfall under the glow of the lamps. She shrugged off her thick coat, a cascade of raindrops scattering onto the worn wooden floor. The scent of damp earth and tobacco clung to her, a testament to her journey through the bustling city streets.
“Bloody England,” she muttered, her voice a rough growl that cut through the hum of the crowded bar.
The patrons glanced up, their eyes drawn to the magnetic whirlwind that was Orion. She was a vibrant splash of colour in the otherwise muted room, her tanned skin glowing against the dim lighting.
“Delly!” she roared, spotting me tucked away in the corner. Heads swivelled in my direction, and I raised a tentative hand, feeling the familiar warmth of embarrassment creep up my neck. Orion’s nude lips stretched into a wide grin as she approached me, her silver bangles clinking with each step.
“I like the silver,” I commented, embracing her. Her hair tickled my nose, the fresh scent of her shampoo lingering as she pulled away.
“Oh, yeah, this.” Orion ran her fingers through her hair, the silver strands slipping through her grip like liquid metal. “I’m shaving it all off soon for charity.”
“Wow,” I breathed, impressed. “That’s brave.”
Orion shrugged, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and trepidation. “I think it will be liberating. I’ll be like Sinead O’Connor. Jez always thinks he knows best because he once met Dave Grohl. I said to him, if you think you can play like our Dave, be my guest. But he can’t, so instead, he shuts up.”
I nodded, pouring her a glass of wine as she filled me in on the latest drama with her band. The soft jazz music playing in the background faded to a distant hum as I lost myself in her stories, the warmth of the wine seeping into my veins.
“We’re playing at The Magnolia next Thursday. I’ve got you a ticket,” Orion said, her eyes locked onto mine.
I raised a brow. “They’re selling tickets to your performance now?”
Orion rolled her eyes, swirling the wine in her glass. “No, but it means you’ll come.”
“Of course, I’ll come!” I assured her, taking a sip of my wine. The rich, velvety liquid coated my tongue, leaving a warm trail down my throat.
Orion’s gaze sharpened, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in closer. “Please, for the love of God, tell me you’ve got a hot date sometime soon.”
I sighed, picking at the hem of my skirt. “Nope.”
Orion’s brows knitted together, her lips pursing in thought. “What about Mike from work?”
“Marco,” I corrected her, feeling a familiar surge of irritation at the mention of his name. “And no thanks.”
Orion’s eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. “But...?”
I hesitated, the words hanging heavy on my tongue. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confession weighing on my mind. “You know Elena Dalton?”
Orion frowned, her fingers tapping against the stem of her wine glass. “No. Should I?”
I shrugged, feeling a sense of satisfaction at Orion’s ignorance. She was blissfully unaware of the world of socialites and influencers, preferring to immerse herself in the raw, unfiltered realm of music. “She’s a socialite. Reviews products on her blog. Candles that smell like celeb vaginas, that sort of thing.”
Orion’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What the fuck did you just say?”
I snorted with laughter, the absurdity of it all hitting me like a punch to the gut. “I know, right? She’s engaged, and they sent me to cover the big story.”
Orion watched me, her eyes narrowing as she picked up on the unspoken words hovering between us. “And...?”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. “Remember Ted?”
Orion froze, and her wine glass paused mid-air. “Oh God, don’t tell me you’re still wanking over him. It was fifteen years ago.”
“Ten,” I amended, feeling a familiar ache in my chest.
Orion groaned, her head lolling back against the leather armchair. “What about him?”
I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out of my mouth like a waterfall. “I saw him.”
Orion’s eyes widened, her wine glass slamming down on the table with a loud thud. The sound echoed through the bar, drawing the attention of the nearby patrons. “Fuck. Off. You saw The One That Got Away?”
I cringed, feeling the heat of embarrassment creep up my neck. “Right. But...” I trailed off, feeling a familiar tightness in my chest.
Orion leaned forward, her eyes locked onto mine. “But...?”
“He’s engaged to Elena Dalton,” I confided, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
Orion’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with shock. “The vagina sniffer?! Are you fucking kidding me?”
I sighed, rubbing my temples to stave off the inevitable headache. “I wish I was.”
Orion’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a low growl. “He was supposed to be your End Game, Delly. But then he took your cherry and fucked off without a trace. He can’t just waltz back into your life like nothing happened.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar sting of tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “I know. But it’s not that simple.”
Orion’s expression softened, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine. “It never is, babe. But you deserve better than some wanker who couldn’t be bothered to stick around.”
I nodded, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. “I know. But it’s hard, you know? Seeing him again after all these years...”
Orion leaned back in her chair, her eyes scanning the room as she flagged down a passing waiter. “We need shots,” she declared, her voice leaving no room for argument.
I groaned, my head falling into my hands. “Oh God, not shots. I’ve got work tomorrow.”
Orion waved a dismissive hand, her eyes glittering with mischief. “Fuck work. Tonight, we drink. Tomorrow, we deal with the consequences.”
The waiter returned with a tray of neon-coloured shots, the tiny glasses glowing like beacons in the dimly lit bar. Orion handed me a shot, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “To finding your man.”
I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “He’s not my man,” I mumbled, downing the shot. The liquid burned its way down my throat, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
Orion grinned, slamming her empty glass down on the table. “Not yet, maybe. But who knows what the future holds?”
I shook my head, feeling the familiar weight of reality settling on my shoulders. “He’s engaged, Oz. To a socialite with more followers than the Pope. I don’t stand a chance.”
Orion’s eyes narrowed, her expression fierce. “You never know, Delly. Fate has a funny way of working things out.”
I sighed. “I hope you’re right.”
Orion leaned forward, her voice low and conspiratorial. “Did you ever think about what would happen if you saw him again? Like, really thought about it?”
I hesitated, the words hanging heavy on my tongue. “I...I don’t know. I guess I always hoped that if we ever crossed paths again, it would be different. That he would be different.”
Orion’s eyes softened, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine. “People change, Delly. And sometimes, they change for the better.”
I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope sparking in my chest. Maybe Orion was right. Maybe fate had brought Ted back into my life for a reason.
But before I could dwell on the thought any further, a familiar voice cut through the hum of the bar like a knife.
“Tell me this isn’t fate.”
I turned to see Ted standing before me, his eyes fixed on me.
My stomach lurched, and I tried to speak, but nothing came out.
“You!” I heard Orion gasp from beside us. “Some bloody prince you are, shacking up with a crotch sniffer!”
Oh God.