DeMarcus pulled up to Janelle's townhouse in his midnight blue Ford F-150, checking his reflection one last time in the rearview mirror. At twenty five, he still had that same boyish smile that made women weak, which had gotten Janelle attention. They had being seeing each other for 5 years despite their fifteen-year age gap, they clicked in ways he never expected.
The relationship started as a casual thing – just two people enjoying each other's company. But somewhere between them spending weekends together late-night and the Sunday morning brunches, it evolved into something deeper. Janelle had her life together and couldn’t believe how she clicked with someone much younger than her in ways that amazed her. Her real estate business was thriving, and she was the owner of a cooking store carried herself with a confidence and a sexy walk that drew him in like a magnet.
That Friday evening was supposed to be like any other. They had plans to try that new daiquiri spot downtown that Janelle wouldn't stop talking about. DeMarcus was already thinking about how she'd light up reading the drink list to him – one of her many things she liked to do to unwind from a long week.
But the universe has other plans.
After a good night out at the new daiquiri spot downtown with Janelle. The next morning he decided to go out and surprise Janelle with some breakfast from her favorite restaurant she speaks of every now and then.
The moment he walked into the restaurant, his heart stopped. There, at the hostess stand, still short and thick stood Monica. The same Monica who called him sexy face and had been his everything from sophomore year until they gradually drifted apart after graduation. The same Monica who married some dude named Ronald three years ago – some information he'd picked up from mutual friends and late-night Instagram scrolling.
Their eyes locked across the dimly lit entrance, and suddenly it was like they were the only ones in building. Monica's hand trembled slightly as she gripped her tablet, her wedding ring catching the light. She was still beautiful – maybe even more so now – with her short hair in an elegant updo, wearing some grey spandex that fitted her perfectly nicely rounded and she walked with confidence.
"DeMarcus?" she whispered, his name falling from her lips like a forgotten melody.
Before he could respond, he heard the click of Janelle's heels behind him. "Baby, I couldn’t sit out there I had to come and see what was taking so long —" It sounded like she was like she trying to see if I’m up to something.
Monica's eyes darted between them, recognition and something else flickering across her face. DeMarcus stood frozen between his past and his present, while somewhere in the city, Monica's husband was probably waiting on her to pick him up from work, completely unaware that his wife's first love had just walked through the door.
The cashier podium's tablet chimed with orders 15, 32, 10, but nobody moved. The usual Sunday morning hustle of the restaurant seemed to fade into the background as the three of them stood looking around in their own thoughts at that moment, until Janelle excused herself to the restroom before leaving.
And somewhere in the back of DeMarcus's mind, a voice whispered that was close and this wasn't just a chance encounter– was this the universe setting something in motion?
Then it was Dallas………
To be continued...