Page 33 of Taking A Chance

“Do what, Petra?”

“I can’t… It was fun, it’s over. I don’t have time for you in my life anymore.”

“You can’t be serious? You don’t have time for a phone call, a text message?”

“Exactly. It’s a joke Cade, that’s not and never will be a relationship.” I’m sure I hear a crack in her voice. “The only thing that’s important in my life is here, here in Bratislava, so I’ll be staying over here.”

I’m a lawyer. I should be able to argue my side, put up a good fight, but I can’t seem to break down the barriers that are holding me back.

“Take care, Cade,” she chokes out when I don’t respond. I know that she’s crying.

“Petra…” I breathe, but the call has already ended. I immediately try to call her back, but all I get is an irritating computerised voice, telling me my call can’t be taken right now. I throw my phone across the room, and it smashes to the floor.

The words she spoke go around in my head.

‘I don’t have time for you in my life anymore’

‘It’s a joke,’

‘It’s over,’

It’s over.

Sam’s 1st birthday party

Isaac and Amy’s Bath Home.

Ican’t believe she’s here.

I watch her from the corner of my eye, stood at the other side of the room with Kat, talking to Ben. Awesome. Now Nessa has walked up to join them. It pisses me off that I’m excluded. Even with the hint of a dark shadow under her eyes, Petra is fucking stunning. Looking at her makes all the past year and God knows how many months seem to disintegrate. The hurt is still as poignant as the day she told me it was over.

I know I should talk to her, at least be civil, but I don’t. I end up sitting in the damn chair, sulking like an adolescent schoolboy.

“Hey, big man,” Amy says as she puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You okay? You seem a little distracted.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good,” I can’t help glancing in Petra’s direction, but I quickly return my attention to Amy, hoping she didn’t notice. “Just a bit of jet lag. How are you, Amy? Is my brother looking after you?”

“Your brother treats me like a China doll and you know it,” she laughs. “I think it’s time for the birthday cake. I’ll go get it from the kitchen.” And she scoots off again.

I get up out of my seat and walk towards the group, tapping Ben on the shoulder, my excuse to get closer to Petra.

“Excuse me,” Petra blurts. “I… I need to have a word with Amy.” Blatantly, she avoids eye contact with me and walks off towards the kitchen.

“What have you done?” Ben, the ever-tactful moron, blurts out.

“I have done nothing,” I snap back.

“Well, you must have done something. Woah! She was like… out of here.”

“I’ll go check on her.” Kat disappears into the kitchen, but it’s not long before they both come back out, their heads together as they chatter. Isaac walks past them and enters the kitchen.

“Damn, that kitchen is like grand central station with people coming and going,” Ben chortles.

Petra turns her back to us and carries on talking to Kat. I’m not sure if it’s my paranoia, but the way Kat keeps glancing over, I’m sure that it’s me that’s the hot topic of conversation.

“You can’t avoid him forever, Petra.” Kat blurts out.

“Who said I can’t,” I reply, my head bowed, looking up at her through my lashes.