Chasing Beautiful (Chasing 1)

Entering the hotel’s foyer, it was hard not to miss Kyle, standing idly on the corner. His face lit up when he saw me past the glass doors. He was wearing black head to toe. Black dress shirt, jeans, and dress shoes.

He immediately sauntered towards where I stood. “Sienna”

“Hello, Kyle!” greeted him as he gave me a light hug, pulled back and inspected me, quite thoroughly to my liking.

He looked like he lost a lot of weight since I last saw him. He had dark rings under his eyes and looked a little pale under his tan. He still looked handsome, but his usual luster missing from him. I felt a jab of guilt looking at him. Deep down, I know it isn’t my fault that he’s having such a rough time, he did it to himself and he should know better. But the fact that somehow I’m a major factor made it quite difficult for me to not feel remorse.

“Mom’s already seated inside. Just wanted to wait out and meet you out here. You know, just making sure you were coming”

“I said I was. I wasn’t planning on canceling on the last dot”

He nodded and led the way to where his mother was located.

His mother looked beautiful in her usual Oscar de la Renta suit in light pink, as she greeted me warmly and sat next to Kyle. I sat across them and Marie took the uneasiness of the situation away. She never once discussed about Kyle’s problems, but directed the conversation towards her charity work and other subjects that deemed safe throughout the entire meal.

Sipping the excellent red wine, I was a little guarded with Marie’s inquisition, in her gentle manner, of course.

“So, dear, tell me about your life here? Is it what you dreamed it to be?”

Smiling, “I really love it here. I’ve made my own friends and I’m very comfortable now. School’s great, actually! I’m loving where my professor is going with our Art History class. So, I guess, I’m happy, if that’s what you wanted to know.” I took another lungful sip of my wine and took a chance to glance at Kyle, but he seemed a little aloof and engrossed in his phone messages.

“Anyone special, dear?” she lightly inquired. Even in her gentle voice, I knew she was dying to know this. Kyle even managed to pause his tapping on his phone, though he never looked up, I could tell he was waiting for my answer as well.

Great, this is just what I need. Since, I’m not seeing Blake that way anymore—I guess there’s nothing to tell them. Shaking my head, “no, none at the moment”

“That’s excellent!” she said with a huge smile. Excellent? Yeah, right.

Marie suddenly stood up and announced that she was off to bed. Her flight was early tomorrow morning and needed all the rest that she can summon. She thanked me and kissed me goodnight and did the same with Kyle.

Now, it’s just us, great.

I fished for my phone and saw that Luce texted me. Going out dancing tonight! Want to join us in Mahiki? Toby wants to take his friend from work. Say you’ll come!

Oh, definitely! Yep! Meet you there in an hour or so!

I immediately invited Chad to meet us as well if he didn’t have plans already. But knowing him, he’ll probably drag his date to come party with us.

“What’s making you smile like that?” I looked up and clashed with his golden hazel eyes. Didn’t realize he was done texting his friends and paid all his attention to me.

Brooke, perhaps?

“My flatmate Luce just texted me if I wanted to go clubbing with them” putting my phone down next to my glass, I took another copious sip. “Going to join your friends?”

“Quite possibly, yes”

“Can I invite myself as well? If you go?” he picked up my phone and toyed with it. He’s acting like the old Kyle I knew. I was relieved that he’s still there, somewhere.

“Shouldn’t you be resting? You just barely got here. And besides, after the crap that you pulled off with your binge drinking and drugs, going out to party should be in the least of your worries, no?” quirking up a brow. I’m furious that he placed himself in harm’s way. He could’ve easily overdosed and died. What the heck was he thinking?

“I’m off that, Sienna. It was a deal I had with my parents. I know it’s stupid but I needed to numb the pain I was feeling—I didn’t want to deal with it. I took the coward’s way out. But now I’m here and I can see you again—not somewhere so far away from me—I’m not going to rebel and act out”

Holding out my phone back to me, “you have a message”

It was from Chad saying he’ll be on his way soon and can’t wait to see the gang. Chad started hanging out with us the moment Luce and I became friends as well. I was glad that everybody got on, even Toby and Blake like him. The guys didn’t seem to mind that Chad’s g*y and I adored them for it.

“You’re not really seeing anyone baby?” why does he keep studying me? Can’t he look away just for a second? It’s making me nervous.

“I’m not your baby to call, not anymore” I shot him a hateful glare.

“We’ll see, baby”

Huh! Confident are we? If he thinks I’m just going to fall back and be with him again, after he cheated, because he’s here in London—he can think again!

The big question is, should I invite him to go to Mahiki and meet my friends? He’s eager to go, but what if Blake will be there? Nah—he’s busy with that Marbella project, remember? Hopefully, Lucy and Chad wouldn’t be bothered, surely? They might not like him but I know they wouldn’t be hostile either.

Draining the rest of my wine, I glanced at him. His eyes were staring at my boobs. I rolled my eyes. I know the tight dress emphasized my small waist, but it pushed my br**sts—and it looked insane. I suppose that’s why I chose it. Just so I can dig it and rub it in Kyle’s face what he threw away. Kyle’s a boob man and he loved these suckers. Too bad he wouldn’t be doing much with them other that stare at them longingly, so I just ignored his blatant mishap.

“Still want to come and meet my friends?”

“Definitely do”

“Kay, I’m going to just refresh my make-up. Lobby in five minutes?”

He nodded as I walked away from our table.

Twenty

I was thankful when the cab finally stopped outside the club. The silence in the cab was deafening. Awkward much? Why was he acting so weird, anyhow?

As instructed by Luce, all I have to do was mention ‘Toby Watson’ to get in right away. I’m sure Toby made reservations before coming here. Count him to be always prepared and when it comes to his ladylove, he doesn’t think twice to give her anything.