You avoid me as if you hate every other man.
That single statement was playing inside Alexis's mind over and over. She couldn't stop thinking about it. The toast inside her toaster almost burned but her mind was totally occupied with her tangled thoughts.
Was he keeping tracks of her? It's true that she never thought about being into a relationship again. She hasn't even processed the idea of being in a relationship again, nurturing the prejudice of 'nothing lasts forever' deep inside her.
She couldn't grasp the idea of love anymore. Or maybe what she thought what is called love wasn't actually love at all?
Love meant forever to her. But to others, it was more like the present they live in.
She seeked things that will last forever, while others glorified how it can offer a new shade of color every time through each person they experience it with.
She didn't know if it was a crime to think this way or if she wasn't in the right time to interpret love this way. Because by time, things change, definitions change too. That's why she decided to stop trying, stop understanding.
What's the point of understanding something that is not in her language? And there's no way to learn the language. She wasn't interested in those anyway.
But what bugged her more is the thought that she let Stefan think she wasn't in any relationship after him just because of him. It was at some point partially true as he was the end call who made her stop believing in her definition of love. It's so twisted yet it wasn't completely wrong.
It wasn't just that, there were a few more things, and she kept thinking about them.
First, she saw Arthur Davenport for the second time at Ashfords' family home. Both encounters happened in two different marriages. She even found Rebecca all cozed up with Arthur but as far as she remembered they did not know each other a few years back.
Well, anything could happen. While she was not here, Rebecca all of a sudden fell in love with this guy she didn't know at all and then got married. And it felt like just yesterday Rebecca calling her constantly to tell her all the details about her new crush.
Everything aside, she was happy that she found her true love or someone she wants to spend her rest of the life with. While she doesn't fancy this type of fantasy anymore, she is genuinely happy for her best friend.
Lastly, Venessa not showing up on her sister-in-law's wedding was another throw off. Has their relationship gone sore by the time that she didn't even show up to her wedding? But Venessa adored Rebecca for all Alexis remembered.
Rebecca won't say anything to Alexis on her own as promised. And Alexis didn't feel comfortable asking about her too.
And so, she thought about dropping the topic. Well, she promised herself she won't be bothered by anything that related to Stefan Ashford anyway.
Alexis picked up her phone from the kitchen counter while stuffing the bread inside her mouth, finding a perfect option to divert her mind.
Why didn't she think about it all this time? Not even once in these six years.
She opened her mobile browser and searched for a name, although wasn't sure if something useful was going to show up.
She typed 'Arthur Davenport' and luckily there weren't that many Davenports on the suggested search bar anyway. The first few links directed to a restaurant and Wikipedia profile but no social media profile.
She felt like a complete idiot for being this gullible to the world around her. She basically swayed her hips around with a celebrity like it's everyday.
Is that lake from years back still there? She wants to go there and scream her heart out again.
Alexis picked up her phone and made a quick reservation at the restaurant she found from her browser and went up to go for her new lazy mission.
She didn't even have much to do in the city anyway. Her flight was a few days apart and she needed to kill her time anyway.
So, she got up and picked up a full sleeve white blouse pairing it with a denim skirt that covered her knees. Touching up her lips with a light shade of nude lipstick Alexis felt satisfied.
"Hmmm, not bad."
She looked at her almost D cups with another satisfied look and texted her mom on a whim.
"Thanks for your genes, mom."
The reply came almost instantly.
"I don't know what you mean but come visit me asap."
She chuckled at her mother's brute response while picking up her small digital camera and throwing it inside her bag.
***
"That's all I would like to have," Alexis replied at the waitress as she completed her order.
It was a high-end restaurant. Even though she didn't know how she got to reserve a seat just after 2 hours from her call, she felt grateful about it. The toast and butter wasn't doing any justice to her judging by how she left the wedding without getting much to eat.
The interior felt elegant yet somehow cozy. Even staring at the furniture and soft cushions gave her a homely feeling. Whoever set the interior did a great job, she nodded to herself.
"How much time will it take?"
"Approximately in 20 minutes," the waitress replied.
Alexis was a bit surprised as she knew there was only one chef in this restaurant. This is the sole reason they have only hand picked reservations 3 days of the week. Other times, it remains closed. To think the chef handles all the reservations alone and the order is delivered this fast; truly amazing.
"Thank you," she smiled at the waitress and thought about killing time with her camera. She took out her small digital camera and thought about capturing a good photo of the vase placed on her table with fresh flowers.
Nothing special, but she couldn't keep her mind off to capture it as the flowers stole her attention. Such a nice gesture, placing fresh flowers on the tables every workday.
And just as she was about to click the picture, she found the slightly displeased eyes of the waitress at her. Was it not for clicking pictures? But she checked the reviews of this place and a lot of people clicked pictures here, so she thought it was fine to do so.
Alexis felt a little subconscious by the gaze and put down her camera instantly. The stare was distracting for her to capture anything anyway.
The food came just after 20 minutes. No more, no less.
The smell of freshly cooked steak and sauteed vegetables watered her mouth. The smell and color was just perfect. She wanted to taste it as soon as possible but restrained herself from it.
She took out her phone and clicked a quick shot of the food. Perfect.
She put the first bite on her mouth and felt like melting her body on ecstasy of food. She didn't know she was able to romance food like this.
But she couldn't help it, as she never had something as simple as steak this perfect.
Who says eating with someone makes your food taste good? She can eat these all alone and will want to avoid the eyes of people from this if possible.
The dessert was soon delivered. It was a tiramisu cake, her new favorite.
As soon as she put the cream part on her mouth, she moaned softly. Damn, it was really good.
The waitress looked at her weirdly again. What was wrong with her?
After enjoying her food, Alexis finally focused on what she came to do here. She saw some reviews about how the chef of the restaurant didn't like public appearances but he does come out to take reviews or talk with his guests personally. That was the tradition of that place and that's what made the restaurant more popular.
The owner treasured their customers.
But Alexis already finished her food and there wasn't anyone that came to her for the review.
The waitress who was serving her asked if she wanted the bill to be delivered. She felt confused as she never experienced something like this in any high-end restaurants. They don't come to you asking for the bill just after you finish your meal but wait for you to ask for it yourself.
What was wrong with her?
There were a few more guests but the place wasn't exactly crowded. Other waiters were serving the customers. But it seems like she was the only one stuck with this one.
She finally looked at the waitress. A girl in her early twenties, just a few years younger than her. Round cute face and bright red lipstick a little contrasting to her work outfit.