Chapter 42 - I was now the best man.
"Life is just one damned thing after another." ~ Elbert Hubbard
***
Angelo Le roux.
Rejection, how exactly do you deal with that? This had been something, I had never ever experienced in my life. Remembering kindergarten when I first told a girl I liked her, she immediately gave me a small shy kiss on the cheek and ran away. Third grade, i kissed a girl for the first time and I loved it. Seventh grade, i didn't have to chase girls because they chased me. Sophomore year, girls practically threw themselves at me ; even at that age I still couldn't ask a girl out. As funny as it sounds, all I had to do was nod my head and say yes if I liked the girl back because they did all the talking apparently and I never listened. Senior year, i had already slept with half of the cheerleading squad. I didn't know if girls liked me because of my boyish charm, my reputation or my families reputation. Bottomline is rejection and I were never in the same sentence.
When she said no, I didn't expect it well I don't know what i expected. I just thought Raina was always in love with me so she would simply run back into my arms if I left Yasmine but boy was i wrong! Raina rejected me. On that day it didn't seem to sink in but as the week went by, i finally started to digest everything... she rejected me?! Wasn't she in love with me? what but why?
Brad had constantly told me that sometimes even if you love someone you need to be strong enough to put your pride first and let them go. This was a huge blow to my ego, i had never been hurt and for the first time in my life. I finally knew what heartbreak was. I don't know how many girls hearts, I had broken but all I knew was karma was a bitch.
The first few months were hard, i had never spent so much time away from Raina and the twins. I was so used to seeing them every week or so but now I was all alone with my whiskey bottle and office documents all over my mahogany desk, my tie pulled up to one side and seriously needing a shower. The arrogant part of me kept on telling me.. 'You know she always comes back, she will call you any second.' I was wrong because she never even called me or not even leave me a one word text. It infuriated me that I was this needy, ofcourse i was. I loved Raina and I realized it when it was too late.
I had to watch my parents talk to her on the phone all the time or on Skype hearing her voice and laugh from a distance made my heartbreak. She had moved on. I didn't know how we were going to deal with the fact that we have two beautiful kids together. Deep down, I hoped that would be another reason why she would call me or need me or just-
come back.
Brad suggested traveling as a remedy to heal my broken heart, i hesitated at first but then agreed. I loved being a tourist because no one knew me, no one judged me, they just saw me as the white American tourist not Angelo the male whore or notorious bachelor.
We went to India, Taj Mahal with all the honey moon couples all around and it was a constant slap in the face. I could have had that with Raina but I'm an idiot. Overall it was a beautiful place with marble craved in a floral patten decorated with semiprecious stones. It was designed by the mogul emperor Shah Jahan in the seventeenth century who, when devastated by the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz-i-Mahal, decide to build the beautiful monument in her memory. It wasn't my ideal place to visit but Brad swore that he had always wanted to visit this place so I just gave in. I couldn't wait to get away from the lovebirds that surrounded the whole area even though it was a graceful place to be.
We then visited the Great Wall of China, i couldn't finish it because I was worn out. That place was huge. Brad and I used the Jinshanling opening then ended up at the Pass Shanghaiguan. I couldn't keep up the distance was too much considering it is a apparently 6700km from the east to west of China. Overall I was impressed by the architectural design and history behind it.
That's ofcourse where Brad met his 'love' I mentally cringed because I was now the third wheel. Haydée Bouhier, the girl that my best friend dumped me for. This was suppose to be our trip but hey Haydeé was far more important. How could I forgot how they met, there is was sitting on the side of the Great Wall panting for my breath from how tired I was while Brad wasn't complaining. He just stood there taking pictures as other people passed us. He ran into someone and she fell on her butt, i couldn't help it... I laughed hysterically. Brad glared daggers at me until I cleared my throat. Some minutes later, the girl with grey somber eyes, shoulder length straight brown hair with bangs, a charming smile (Brad would say), with a short petite figure introduced herself as Haydeé Bouhier from France. The French girl is what I called her. Before I knew it she had hijacked our trip and bromance. I ate chinese food and watched their version of wipe out at the hotel alone while Brad and french girl went on dates in the city of beijing. I thought it was just a fling and it will hopefully go away sooner but eight months later there I was standing at yet another altar only the tables had turned because I was now the best man and Brad was the groom.
Their affection of love made me sick, so who would have guessed.. Brad was finally happily married. It surprised me how Brad had absolutely no stress about getting married, i guess when you are marrying the one it's always that way. Why didn't I take my problems with Yasmine as a sign...
I saw my kids every summer and that just made me happy. Ashley was constantly starting to look like the splitting image of her mother. I would ask them how she was? and they would tell me she was happy. For some reason I was glad. She deserved that atleast considering the pain I caused her.
Sometimes, i would grab my phone and dial her number only to press the red button. I would type her a long message only to delete it a few seconds later. We were still friends on Facebook so I could still see her glowing with her - how could I forget - boyfriend. I wondered when would they break up, clearly it wasn't happening anytime soon because in every picture they were together being a perfect family with my kids. Maybe that's why she couldn't say yes, she was inlove with someone else and I had been too self centered to see it.
Not to mention I was now an uncle and a proud godfather to a beautiful baby boy Nicky well his full name is Nicholas but everyone had grown accustomed to Nicky. Alma was constantly asking me about Raina and I honestly didn't know what she wanted me to say. She mentioned that their friendship had drifted because of the things that she did before. I thought maybe they were drifting because of me and Raina wanting to distance herself from me.
Everyone around me was either happily married or in a relationship and I was just there helping them celebrate their anniversaries, engagements, weddings and baby showers. I constantly had flashbacks about Raina, she haunted me in my dreams bringing me boners every morning resulting in constant cold showers.
I was in knew York for a business junction initially it got canceled. I decided to use this as a great opportunity to see my kids on their eighth birthday and see Raina after so long.
"Uhm- you are right on time. We were just about to cut the cake. Follow me." She said grasping the gifts I was holding, our hands grazed each other. Excitement shoot through my body it's as if my body knew I was right where I belonged. She looked so beautiful beyond beautiful. She didn't have any makeup just a summer dress that showed enough cleavage to awaken my other member down there. Maybe us being apart was for the best because she could finally smile without pain hidden behind her eyes...