Page 119 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EmiLY’S POV.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I had dressed in a white satin shirt, and a long, pleated, black silk skirt. It was the last day of the year, and I wanted to look simple because John wasn’t worth looking impressive for.

I definitely didn’t want him thinking I had dressed up prettily for him because dressing up prettily for him was the last thing on my mind.

“Pretty casual, right?” I asked, throwing out my arms, showing myself to Sadie who sat on my bed, eating hot potatoes, which she juggled between her palms.

“You look pretty.” She said, and blew hot steam from her mouth.

“I do? Do you think I should change into a casual T-shirt and pants?” I asked, going to my wardrobe.

“You shouldn’t go.”

“Oh, come on.” I said, taking out a white T-shirt, and a pair of blue boyfriend jeans.

“John is acting really weird. He’s not usually this sweet. He wants something.” She said.

“He wants to be friends.” I said, hopping around, as I tried to put on the jeans, while standing.

“Friends, my foot. He’s after you. He wants to get married to you. Mom was speaking to herself the other day, ‘He has quite the audacity. How dare he think of getting the woman he cheated on repeatedly?’” She said, mimicking her mother, and I laughed, taking off my shirt.

“He knows he can’t get married to me. I already made that clear to him, so many times, and I won’t hesitate to break it to him again if he tries bringing it up.” I said, and she rolled her eyes. “It’s just dinner, Sadie.”

“Just dinner indeed. So many things can happen with just dinner.”

“Chill. We’re not even alone. We’re meeting some friends.” I said, tucking the T-shirt into the jeans.

“Whom he hired to kidnap you.” She said, and I stopped.

“Okay, you have a wild imagination. It’s scary.” I said, taking my bag, scarf and a brown coat.

I left the room, hoping I wouldn’t meet Lucas, as I wrapped my scarf around my neck. It would hurt me to tell him I was going to meet John.

Honestly, the past few weeks had been bliss.

We had talked so much, and Sadie had a huge role to play in it.

Each time I saw him, my heart skidded, beating like it had a grudge against me.

When I was with him, it sent nasty butterflies scattered in my tummy.

And whenever he moved closer, I’d feel something sinking in my belly, and my movement would stop.

It was a weird, but sweet feeling, and I kept on having the urge to touch him, hug him… cuddle him. He didn’t know how good he looked in white. Gosh! I died a million times each time he blended in the snow.

The street was alive as I walked through it. My scarf was warm on my neck, and so was the coat around me. Couples, families, friends, children… The street was so busy.

Christmas lights everywhere, and the sound of Christmas carols blaring from different shops and restaurants.

The snow flakes dropped slowly and beautifully and I smiled at them. John had told me to meet them at the restaurant, since he was coming from afar, and I was closer to it.

I took a cab, after taking in the beauty of the night, and shortly, I got to the restaurant; I smiled.

“And a happy new year. Good tidings we bring, to you and your King.” I sang to the song playing, as I walked in.

John wasn’t hard to spot. As always, he was next to the window.

He waved at me, and I went to meet him.

“Your friends are yet to be here?” I asked, dropping my bag on the chair next to me.

“You look beautiful. Let’s order something.” He said, as I sat.

“Something simple.”

“I’ll be back.” He said, and left. I watched him for a while, before checking the time on my phone. It was forty-two minutes past seven.

My phone buzzed before I could turn it off, and I saw a message from Lucas.

With a smile, I tapped on it.

I smiled widely.

John returned with the food which looked heavenly.

“Wow.”

“Behold the Chicken drizzled with Cilantro Vinaigrette.” John said dramatically, and I laughed.

“With it’s noble knight, Roasted sweet potatoes seasoned with Seasoning.” I played along, checking out the potatoes.

He laughed.

“Simple much?” He asked.

“Very much.” I replied, smiling.

“Who are you texting?” I asked.

“Lucas. We’re done talking though.” I said, dropping my phone, and he pushed a cocktail to me.

“Here.” He said, smiling.

“Thanks. By the way, where are your friends?” I asked, taking a bite.

“They should be here. I don’t know what’s taking them so long.” He said, looking at his watch. “Let’s start eating. They’ll meet us, and we’ll order snacks.” He said, and I nodded.

We began to eat, but even long after our meal, John’s friends were nowhere to be found.

“I’ll give them a call. Maybe something came up.” He said, and left.

I checked the time. It was fifty-three minutes past eight. We had waited over an hour for them.

When John came back, he had two more cocktails with him.

“Something came up. They’ll be here in about fifteen minutes.” He said, and I nodded. He handed me the cocktail, and I took it. “I’m sorry about their behavior. It’s wrong, and… you know, first impression.” He said, and I smiled.

“It’s fine. As long as they’re decent people who don’t make crude jokes.” I said, and he laughed.

“No, they don’t make crude jokes.” He said, laughing. “Hmm, this cocktail tastes good. It’s different from the other one.”

“Really?” I asked, looking at the drink.

“Let’s see who finishes their drink first.” He said, and we both grabbed our drinks, and drank without the straw. I finished mine first, and he smiled.

“Gosh, you’re fast.” He said, and I smiled.

“I am fast. If your friends aren’t here in fifteen minutes.

I’m afraid I’ll have to leave.“ I said, and turned on my phone to check the time, but then, it turned black. I couldn’t see the time.

“What’s wrong with my phone. It’s…” I looked at John, but he was black too. Nothing was wrong with my phone.

Something was wrong with my vision!

“What? You can’t see?” John asked, rather calmly, and I could hear the sound of him pouring water into his cocktail.

“John…” I said, in an almost whisper. “John did you…”

“I didn’t spike your drink.” He said, and my head felt like it was spinning out of control. All the noise mixed up together—the sound, the music, the laughter, conversations… there was a loud shrill in my ear.

“John… you…”