Never and Always

by Khardine Gray

  "I was told his name was Gus by the friend that set us up," Trina began. It was Gertrude at the hospital. She meant well but conveniently forgot to tell her that she'd picked Gus, Captain Chicken Feet, from a free dating site. "I got the complete shock of my life when this guy turned up for our date dressed as a pirate and introduced himself as Captain Chicken Feet."

  They all erupted with fits of deep laughter.

  "When you say dressed as a pirate, what do you mean?" Lizzie asked.

  "I mean, complete Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow wannabe, with the hat and feathers, eyeliner, gold teeth, full on leather and frills but with his own flair of a necklace which had a massive chicken foot hanging from it." By now they were laughing so much they were in tears. Even Jennifer, who already knew the story.

  "A friend did that to you?" Mandy asked when she could breathe again.

  "She's an acquaintance now." Trina huffed. She hadn't really spoken to Gertrude since.

  "Please tell me you left when you saw him," Lizzie stated with widened eyes.

  "From the minute he said oww aarrrrrrghhhh las." She tried her best to do a good impression, remembering how he seemed to put his back into it as he spoke.

  More laughter erupted. It was indeed hilarious, but on a serious note, Trina definitely seemed to be attracting the wrong kind of guy. Captain Chicken Feet was a complete blind date, but in general, she never seemed to happen upon anyone who would be remotely good for her. And, they seemed to get worse each year.

  Trina tossed her brown locks over her shoulder and rested her hands on the smooth silk of her beige skirt.

  "Let's do the bets before the guys get here," Jennifer smiled. Neil and his groomsmen were meeting them for dinner. It was the chance for everyone to meet properly. "Neil's best man is single and a complete hottie," Jennifer giggled.

  "Hottie?" Trina asked with narrowed eyes. "Can you even say that anymore?"

  "Yes, because my Neil knows I think he's the hottest of them all. Anyway, I've known his friend for years, and I always thought he'd be nice for one of you two. I don't know the other guys that well but this guy has the full package."

  Trina rolled her eyes. "Mandy can have him. I bet twenty she'll be the wedding hook up."

  "Me?" Mandy pointed to herself. "I bet thirty it's you."

  "Okay. I'll go with Mandy,” Lizzie said. “And Jennifer, you can have Trina,"

  "I'm going in big for a hundred," Jennifer jumped in.

  Trina shook her head. Jennifer always went in big. It was sad that this time she would lose a hundred bucks. That was a decent pair of shoes or a nice top in Nordstrom. It was so silly to waste so much on a bet.

  "Oh you would wouldn't you," Lizzie grumbled. "I bet one fifty on Mandy then."

  "Oh look. They're here, and there he is." Jennifer beamed. They looked across the restaurant, over the crowded tables to the entrance where more people were coming in to start their evening.

  Trina saw Neil first. He'd had his black hair cut into a neat style that allowed him to keep his locks. Dressed in a white cotton button down shirt and dark trousers he looked elegant and carried his tall, muscular stature with grace. Trina thought he moved as if he were floating towards them.

  No, Neil wasn’t floating towards them.

  He floated towards Jennifer and had the look of love all over him. Jennifer smiled at him and blew a kiss which he made a show of catching and placing on his heart. Mandy and Lizzie both awed and cooed at the action. To Neil’s left were two dark haired guys that Trina didn't recognize. She guessed they must have been from work.

  "It's him, the guy coming up behind Neil now. The really tall, gorgeous blonde one with all the muscles." Jennifer giggled. "There." She pointed.

  Trina followed Jennifer's gaze and looked behind Neil. When her eyes landed on the man Jennifer was referring to, her whole body froze.

  Completely froze. She was sure her heart had stopped too because she couldn't feel it anymore. Trina drew in a sharp breath and choked back a cry as spasms of shock erupted within her.

  She felt faint and feverish both at the same time as she continued to look at him in an attempt to work out if her mind was playing tricks on her. Prolonging her stare confirmed it was not.

  She'd recognize him anywhere.

  Yes, he was tall - six feet four to be exact - and still gorgeous with his Hollywood good looks, muscular physique and shiny blonde hair. But this guy was deadly.

  He had the ability to crush your heart and kill everything inside you that had meaning.

  Trina had first-hand knowledge of that experience and while she might not have seen him in well over ten years she remembered exactly what it felt like. She recalled in full details the last time she saw him – Brad Henderson – and her blood boiled at the memory.

  The shocking truth that Brad was in Hawaii too slammed into her full force, and it became too much for her soul to bear.

  Neil said something that made Brad look ahead and that was when he saw Trina too. She watched him stop so abruptly in his tracks that the person behind him bumped into him. Then he stood there and watched her. The shadow of alarm washing over his face.

  "Trina, are you okay?" Mandy asked.

  Trina opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. She looked at Mandy, who could now see something was definitely wrong with her.

  Find out what happens next ….