After All This Time: Breaking Point

by Brown, Brittainy

“You didn’t want to hurt me because I was excited. So that was why you decide to leave me in the aisle so that the blow could be lesser?” he asked sarcastically. “That was the most painful part, Kate. You were so selfish and so self-centered and you were a cheat!”

  Kate breathed out sharply as those statements kicked in.

  “I know... I deserve all those names and this is why I am here, to apologize personally.”

  “I saw your wedding pictures. You both looked quite happy, so where is her?”

  She was sober again. “He was abusive, he was always beating me.” Her voice was breaking as she rubbed her left arm. Liam could see some scars which he hadn’t noticed before.

  “It started before the wedding but I went on with it because I was too ashamed to come back to you. After the marriage, the beating got worse and I just had to escape. It was while I was thinking of how to get out that I got your Facebook message.”

  Liam was quiet. For some reason, he felt he had been vindicated. That made him sober. For the first time, he actually believed in the power of Karma.

  “I’m sorry about what you had to go through...” he lied, but she smiled.

  “No, I am sorry for what you had to go through. You have been well vindicated and I have paid for what I did.”

  “Was it the same reason you blocked me on Facebook and all other social media?”

  “I wasn’t the one. He did. He had access to all my social media. “

  “Wow! Well, I forgave you times back. I should have forgiven you way ahead of that time but I was filled with selfpity and insecurity. It affected me a lot. I had already messed things up for myself before I realized what I needed to do.”

  They both sighed at the same time.

  “So where is he now?”

  “Back in Paris. We’re divorced,” she replied.

  “Wow!” came his reply.

  “So, I guess there’s nothing stopping us from being together now, is there?” she asked, coming closer.

  “Hey! Chill out, lady!” Liam said, backing away. “There is never going to be ‘us’ again. You had your chance and you blew it. I am with someone else now.”

  Kate was confused. “You’re with someone else? So why did you come here to meet me, why did I pay for our house?”

  “Hey. Hold up. I came here with someone else. I’ve been here for four days now,” he enjoyed the way the excitement vanished from her eyes. “Also, the reason why you decided to pay for the house, beats me. I mean, maybe you have enough money and all. Because we are not staying together.”

  “You didn’t say anything before I paid.”

  “Oh, I tried. But Taylor got you so excited you weren’t listening.” He replied.

  She sighed and looked disappointed. “Well… I guess I can have my refund since we won’t be using the house,” she said, standing up and turning to face the other way.

  Liam realized he must have been too harsh on her and he sort of felt bad for that. She had, after all, paid for all her crimes.

  “Wait...”

  She turned around.

  “I think you should stay. We can have a drink or two so you will know for sure that I have forgiven you. Besides, this place is a great place, you might meet someone better than I ever was to you.”

  Kate smiled. “That was really nice of you to say but, I think If I’m not doing anything here, I should just go… take care, Liam.” She said, coming closer to kiss him on the cheek before turning around again.

  “Wait. I think I might need your help.”

  She stopped one more time, there was a deep frown on her face as she faced him. “My help? Please, anything? Do you want the house for your girlfriend, it’s okay by me.”

  “No. That’s not it...”

  “Oh, I thought you were here with someone...”

  “Yes I am, but just listen, please. Damn! You talk too fast.”

  Kate chuckled. “Okay, what is it?”

  “When I heard about your marriage on Facebook, I became so jealous and so insecure that it affected my relationship.”

  Kate looked surprised. “What happened?”

  “Well, I started thinking she might also start behaving like you did. You know. Things were so right between you and I and you just bolted. The same happened with Emily and I and I just got scared. I started pulling away and she got tired and now, both of us are stuck here on this island and we are not talking.”

  “Wow. I am so sorry.”

  “Yea. You should be,” he teased, and they both laughed. “But seriously, since it was your fault to begin with, can you help me fix it.”

  “Okay, Liam. What would you like me to do?”

  “I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

  For a while, Kate was quiet and was looking at him as if he had lost his mind. Then she burst into laughter.

  “What? Liam? Look I know you are creative but not as twisted as that.”

  “Look, I need this. She is so adamant and so proud and doesn’t want to accept that she still has feelings for me and I need to win her back so we could both enjoy our vacation together. I am so tired of not being able to talk to her.”

  Kate was quietly studying him and smiling at the same time.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You are in love with her. I have seen that look so many times.”

  “Well, I am.”

  “So why don’t you just tell her?”

  “She knows. I have been trying to win her back since I got here but she wanted me not to talk to her and I had to respect that. I just don’t like how she’s pushing herself to get rid of me. The more she tries, the more I feel she is trying too hard. So I just want to know how she will react when she finally realizes that she has lost me, will she be happy or will she regret her actions?”

  “Wow! That is intense Liam.”

  “Yea.”

  “I wish someone would fight for me like that.”

  “Well...you...”

  “Yea, I know, I had that and I lost it..blah blah.”

  Liam smiled. “I’m glad we can joke about it. So are you in or not?”

  “So what, I act like a girlfriend, well, I think it should be interesting. What are the rules exactly? Are we allowed to… kiss?”

  “No!”

  Kate laughed. “You know you used to like kissing my lips.”

  “Yea, that was then, not anymore. So for real, Kate please I need you to do this for me.”

  “Well, since I was the cause, well, I think I’m cool with it. Besides, it might be fun to watch.”

  Liam sighed. “Thank you.”

  “So what are we to do?”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Liam replied, dialling Daisy’s number. “I have the master planner; she will come to join us soon.”

  “Oh… you have an ally already? Nice, who is she rooting for?”

  “Well, she’s Emily’s friend and she seems to be rooting for me, I think.”

  “You think? Are you not sure? What if she is trying to keep you two apart?”

  Before Liam could reply, Daisy picked up the call.

  “Liam, where are you?” She asked.

  “Well, I…urgh. I don’t even know how to describe this place...” Liam started, looking at Kate for help.

  “Just tell her the white house. I’m sure she will get it,” Kate quickly said.

  “The white house… ok… see you soon.” Liam ended the call. “Why would you ask if she is rooting for us or trying to bring us apart?”

  “Nothing, just saying. But since you trust her, there is no problem. Oh, is she the one coming from there?”

  Liam glanced towards where Kate was pointing and indeed it was Daisy. She kept admiring the house as she came closer.

  “Wait, let me guess, this was where you would have had your honeymoon?” she asked as she got closer to them.

  “Bingo!” Liam stated.

  “Wow! It’s really nice,” Daisy said before facing Kate. “So she is the sly one right, the he
artbreaker?”

  Liam was surprised at Daisy’s outburst and so was Kate.

  “You told her?” she asked, looking at Liam, looking a bit disappointed.

  “Well, yea. I did but...”

  “Ye he did and so what? You know, you are something else lady. You had to come over here, to show yourself here? You have some guts… Do you know how much you have messed up and...”

  Liam had to pull her aside.

  “Look, Daisy, you need to calm down. I and Kate have settled our differences.”

  “What? What differences? Don’t tell me you are friends with her because that will put me in a terrible position with the way I had attacked her like that.”

  Liam smiled. “It’s Okay. All you need to do is to apologize to her. I will tell her that you are just being a good friend. Besides, she has agreed to help in getting Emily back.”

  “What! Did you ask her? Why?”

  “Well, I thought it would make things simpler. You know, I don’t want to lead some innocent girl on, just because I want to use her to get me back on the same page with my girlfriend. It will be so unfair. So I just thought of, making her do it since I messed things up because I wasn’t quite over her and now, she is willing to do that.”

  Daisy was busy thinking. “I don’t trust her Liam, what if she tries to keep you two apart? You know she is here for one thing which is you and now, you want her to be your fake girlfriend?”

  Liam almost laughed out loud. What was wrong with these two anyway. The same thought Kate had concerning Daisy was the thing Daisy was letting concern her. “I don’t know what’s up with the both of you but I think I can work with her and I am not stupid. I’ve got an eye on just one woman, and that is Emily. So don’t worry. Besides, she just got divorced.”

  Daisy gasped. “Wow! Served her right.”

  “Oh come on, stop. I think it’s okay for us to say I have been well vindicated so we can forgive her and move on, right?”

  Daisy gasped and nodded. “Yea.”

  “By the way, what you did earlier, how you snapped at her, was uncalled for but it showed you care about me and Emily and I really appreciate that Daisy. You are a good friend.”

  She smiled. “Well, I suck most times but sometimes I make a lot of sense.”

  “Don’t be so full of yourself, now come on, let’s go apologise.”

  Reluctantly, Daisy turned around to face Kate who seemed unbothered.

  “Hi, I’m Daisy. I’m sorry for everything that I said earlier. You know I thought we hadn’t forgiven you yet but now that I know we have, I think we can be friends. ”

  For a while, Kate said nothing and just looked at Liam who winked at her to go ahead and be cool.

  “Well, I’m Kate and I forgive you, thanks for forgiving me too. As he had told you, I paid for it and since it affected his relationship. I am willing to make things right.” Kate continued.

  “Oh, come on, it is okay. I deserved it,” Kate said with a smile, and continued, “besides, if it offers any consolation, I had actually said something about you too.”

  Daisy gasped. “Really. Was it awful?”

  “Yea, I thought you were into Liam when he told me you are working together.”

  Daisy laughed at Kate’s honesty. “Well, I liked him before I knew my friend was dating him. Besides, I kinda like the bad boys, you know, basketball, loud music, six packs and devilish eyes,” she said with a wink.

  “Wow! Cool choice,” Kate replied.

  “Yea, until they break my heart. Then it becomes a bad choice. Maybe I will go for something serious this time. No more casual,” Daisy lamented.

  “Great, now we can all be friends and we can work on the plan., Liam started. “So, Daisy, what exactly is the plan?”

  Daisy stared at them both and then scoffed. “Look, Liam, something else just came up.”

  “What is it?”

  “She’s hooking up with someone pretty soon.”

  Liam gasped. “What? She isn’t supposed to do that. She is supposed to be hooking up with me.”

  “Well, you are pretty hooked up with a girl she saw you hugging earlier so...”

  Liam shook his head. “I need to up my game, find out everything about this dude. Is it a serious thing or a casual thing?”

  “Oh, she’s really tired of anything serious. She wants casual, something simple and not difficult. She doesn’t want to handle guilt or feelings or anything like that.”

  As Daisy talked, Liam began to remember some things. Emily had never been a casual person; she had always been the serious type. For some reason, he knew that whatever she wanted to do or was planning to do could be related to whatever plan she was having to get rid of him.

  “Look, we need to find out about this guy and thankfully, we have a plan on the ground. We all need to come together, Daisy, I need to meet this guy. Do something to make us all be together, maybe a dinner or something.”

  Daisy stood up. “Yea, I think that is a very grand plan. I will think of something. But what are you going to do with that?” she asked.

  “We can all get to meet each other,” Liam replied, showing off a mischievous grin and putting hands in his pocket. “You should know in every competition, you must get to meet your opponents.”

  Daisy smiled. “Wow. I think that makes a lot of sense.” Suddenly her phone rang. “I need to go, I think she’s the one calling me.”

  “Wait, let me see her picture, so I can know how best to get dressed once the game begins.”

  Daisy dipped a hand into her purse and brought out her phone, showing the screen to Kate. On it was Emily’s picture while she was in her pink bikini, the first time they had met. Kate could see someone with more body than she had, blonde hair and a pretty face.

  “Wow! She is really pretty, no wonder you are so hooked” she said to Liam.

  “She is a great person, inside and out,” Liam replied with a smile.

  “Ok, I think I might be jealous...” Kate said, passing the phone to Daisy.

  “You don’t get to be jealous, Kate. Tell her, Liam, this is for Emily, you had your chance.” With this, Daisy walked away.

  For a while, they both watched her leave.

  “So, what do you think of her? Still think she means to sabotage the whole plan?”

  Kate scoffed. “Please, as if my opinion counts… but for what’s worth, I think she is really cool and she has your best interest at heart.”

  “Thanks, maybe you really have changed after all.”

  Daisy Decides

  Daisy opened the door and was surprised to see a strange man in the living room. Spiky black hair, fitted blue shirt and devilish blue eyes which stopped her in her tracks. He looked like someone who often hit the gym, with shoulders as wide as a barn door. He was sitting comfortably, watching the T.V. He looked up as he sighted Daisy and for the first time since Daisy got to the beach, she regretted not spending enough time in front of the mirror. She suddenly became aware of the oversized pyjamas she has been wearing ever since Liam knocked on her door that early morning.

  So he was a cute man. What was he doing here and why did he take so long to come to her.

  “Oh my God! You are so gorgeous!” she uttered before she could control her lips.

  The man smiled. “Hi. I’m Nick. “He stood up, bringing his hand forward.

  Daisy drew closer, smiling stupidly as she placed her hand in his, while staring at a pair of the enticing eyes she has ever seen.

  She had no idea how long she kept holding his hand. His lips were moving but she couldn’t hear a single word, she was drowning in the spell his eyes had cast on her… and those muscles. Oh dear Lord! Where has this man been all her life...

  “Daisy, I see, you have met Nick. Nick, that’s Daisy.”

  Daisy pulled away quickly as she heard Emily’s voice while Nick returned to his seat.

  “Yea.. I just did. “Daisy replied, expecting an explanation.

  “We met last night at the part
y actually and we danced, how many times was that?” Emily asked, moving towards Nick, she sat beside him.

  “Well, I think it was four times. You were super excited last night. I never knew you would even remember me,” Nick replied, facing Emily, who never stopped smiling.

  Daisy calculated everything sharply. This devilishly handsome dude was the man her friend planned to use? Oh No! This one belonged to her.

  “Emily, your room, now!” She ordered and walked hurriedly to the room.

  *******...****

  “I will be right back, Nick. My friend can be so dramatic,” She said quickly.

  “It’s okay, I will be waiting right here.” Nick replied.

  Quickly, Emily followed Daisy and as she stepped into the room, Daisy closed the door.

  “What is it Daisy?” She demanded curiously.

  “That man… that fine man, is he the one you plan to use?”

  Emily scoffed. “This was why you had to bring me here? Well, yes, he is the one. He was the only decent guy I met at the club and I ran into him shortly after I left the shore. Is there any problem...”

  Daisy nodded. “He is so nice and so sexy Emily. Do you think he deserves this?”

  Emily frowned, wondering why her friend would ask such a dumb question.

  “Seriously? Why do you care? He’s not your brother, is he? Besides, he is perfect with his good looks, it will just make Liam more jealous.” She added with a chuckle. “Look, I got to go, I don’t want to keep him waiting for long. Besides, I think I like him and if he asks me out, I will say yes.”

  “What? Yes to what exactly? “Daisy asked.

  “To be his girlfriend of course, what else. Get yourself together Daisy, you are being weird. This is my plan, not yours. Once I get to know him very well, then I can walk on my plans.”

  Quickly, Emily left the room and went back to Nick who was still watching the T.V. He was so deeply immersed that he was unaware when Emily walked back in.

  For a while, Emily waited for him to say something but his full concentration was on the T.V. Shortly after, Daisy walked in.

  “Oh! You love basketball?” he asked him, as she sat on the next couch.

  Her question startled Nick who looked at Emily and said. “Wow! I didn’t know when you came in,” then he faced the other side where Emily sat. “Yea, I’m a great fan of Basketball, I play as well.”