Ruined (completed) ✔️

62

December

It's nearly Christmas and I've been looking around the shops for a gift for Casey and I'm having a hard time finding one.

Casey opens the door to the condo and walks through the door. She smiles at me. "Hey, Austin. I wasn't expecting you to be home just yet."

The door opens behind her and a guy wearing a chef uniform steps into the house. "Casey, where are you?"

"In the kitchen." She doesn't flinch as she replies to the guy. "Can you put the stuff on the counter, Charlie?"

"Sure," he enters the house with bags on his hands. Looking at me, a smile appears on his face. "Hey, you must be, Austin. Casey, can't stop talking about you." He holds his hand out for me.

Placing my hand in his I shake it. "It's nice to meet you, Charlie. How do you know my fiancé?"

He looks over at her. "She came to the restaurant that I'm the head chef at and she asked me if there's a chance that I could help her make something special for dinner. She said something about it being your anniversary or something like that."

Shit, I forgot that was today. I'll have to go back out and get something for her.

I'm sure she'd like the excuse I give her to get out of the house while she cooks up a storm with this guy.

Dropping his hand I say. "Well, I'll leave you with the kitchen." I walk out of the kitchen and move toward Casey who's grabbing something from her bag.

She spins around as she hears me approaching her. "Hey, Austin. What do you need?"

"I'm going out for an hour. I'll see you when I get back."

A smile spreads across her face. "That will give Charlie and me enough time to finish dinner. Also, Mom wants us at her place for Christmas. She wants me to meet her new partner and his family."

That's great. She gets to spend the holiday with her family. While I'm in the dark with mine.

Ding,

My phone goes off alerting me to a text message. Looking at the phone I see it's from my brother Calvin.

Calvin: Hey, Bro. The family and I are in the city for a couple of days. Do you want to catch up for a drink?

Me: Sure, do you think you can get away now?

Calvin: Of course. I'll let Kayla know that I'm catching up with you. She's probably going to see her father with the kids.

Me: I'll meet you at Rivera. It's the best bar in the city.

Calvin: Text me the address I'll be there.

I send him the address before I put my phone back into my pocket.

Looking at her I say. "That should be nice. I can't wait until we meet them. My brother is here. So, I'm going to meet him. Message me when dinner is close to being ready."

"Okay," she kisses my cheek and then she walks back to the kitchen. She laughs at something that the chef said and then I hear the clambering of the dishes as they prepare dinner.

Walking out the door I pick up my keys and head towards the basement. I climb into the car and head towards the bar.

***

It doesn't take long before I'm pulling the car in front of the bar. I see my brother standing next to the door talking to the security team.

He points towards me and says. "That's my brother."

The security guy looks closely at me and then recognition slowly appears on his face. "Austin Wilde, it's been a while since you've been here. I heard you were hanging out someplace different these last couple of months."

I have been elsewhere these last couple of months. With my ex Eliza in our small town, then when I was suspended Casey wanted to do other things and after that, I've stayed at home since Casey hasn't been able to drink because of the pregnancy.

"My fiancé is pregnant and we've been staying at home a lot more."

"I'd say congrats, but most of us know that the possibility of that child being yours is slim to none. She's opened her legs to a lot of people and has come up with several stories for men to sleep with her."

I didn't know she was telling stories to men, so they would sleep with her. I'm not sure if I believe this part of the story.

"Are you going to let us in?"

"Sure," he opens the door for me. "Have fun in there. I'm sure a lot of people are going to ask you about Casey."

Calvin looks at me and disgust crosses his face. "Bro, are you really with a woman that spreads her legs open to any guy? Because I don't see why you'd leave Eliza for someone like that."

"Eliza was a good time. I just needed time away from my fiancé to see what other options I had out there."

Calvin slaps the back of my head. "You're full of fucking shit, Austin. We all know that Eliza was the love of your life and you broke up with her after you moved away to university. Then I'm guessing that Casey put herself in your life somehow and you've never spent a moment without her until you went to the reunion. Where you ruined everything good for you. Also, you shattered the one person that could be everything you needed."

We enter the club and head over to the bar. "Have you spoken to Eliza? Mom and Dad?"

"Mom and Dad, I have. Eliza shut down a lot of accounts on social media so it's hard for anyone to reach out to her. I've tried, but things aren't getting through to her."

We order drinks at the bar and continue talking about Eliza and Casey.

Ding,

My phone goes off with a message and I check the phone. Looking over at my brother I say. "That's Casey. She wants me home soon. She made dinner with a chef she met at a restaurant."

"Are you sure they made dinner and didn't make a mess all over the kitchen counter instead? I'd buy a special light and see if I can find stains all over the house. It seems like you've got yourself in a sticky situation."

Shoving him I say. "Shut up. I'm so sick and tired of everyone telling me about that."

When I return home I see Casey sitting at the table and she has a pitcher of water sitting on the table. "Hey, baby." I kiss her on the lips.  "This looks and smells great." Looking around the room I ask. "Did Charlie leave?"

"Yes," she starts putting the food on the plates for us. "I hope this tastes amazing. Do you know what we're celebrating?"

"No," I tell her honestly.

She shakes her head. "This day last year you proposed to me and it was the best day of life. I was lucky that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me."