“Ermm, Patricia, can we start with the makeup now?” James asked, pushing her off him slowly.
“Ohh… yes. Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to..”
“It’s fine. Let’s just go straight to business. Time is fast spent already.”
Patricia moved away from him and reached for her large bag. She pulled out her large makeup box from it and placed it on the table.
She opened it and began to look for the shades to use for James. As she got prepared, Amelia walked in again.
She had two cups in her hands, one had coffee and the other had warm tea.
“Mr. James, I’m back.” She said with a large smile, and James looked at her and grinned.
“Welcome back.” He responded as Amelia stretched the cup of tea to him.
“Coffee?” He asked, and she shook her head and chuckled.
“I know you don’t drink coffee, okay? I wanted to say tea, but coffee fell out of my mouth instead.”
James giggled and took a sip from the cup. He closed his eyes and a wide smile curved up his lips.
“I love it! Thank you.”
Amelia nodded and leaned closer. She planted a kiss on his cheek and looked up to see the makeup artist staring at them.
“Ohh… I’m sorry. I’ll let you work now.” Amelia said and stepped aside.
She found another chair in the room and picked it up. She moved closer to where James sat and sat next to him. She began to watch and sip her coffee at the same time.
Patricia pulled her chair closer to James and started off by cleaning his face with a dry wiper.
As she cleaned his face, she took glances at Amelia. She wondered who she was to James.
After a few minutes, the room became too silent and this made Patricia super uncomfortable. She wanted to know more about her first love.
“Tell me James, how have you been?” She began a conversation.
“I have been surviving. And you?” He asked, and she chuckled.
“Been surviving too. Since I left Alabama. My life has changed drastically. I wish I never left.” She muttered sadly.
‘Do they know each other?’ Amelia furrowed their brows as she listened to their conversation.
“Mr. James, do you know her?” Amelia asked, and James looked at her.
“Yes. She is an old friend of mine. We went to high school and college together. But she left Alabama in her second year.”
“Oh really? That’s nice.”
“Yes. I am Patricia.” Patricia said with a smile.
“Mrs. Parker.” Amelia responded.
The smile on Patricia’s face slowly faded away after hearing Amelia’s response. She bounced her head and looked at James’ finger to confirm.
Then she found the ring on his finger. She looked at Amelia’s left fingers and also found the ring.
‘He is married!!’ She yelled in her head.
“Wow. You got married.” Patricia uttered, and James bounced his head.
“Yes, I got married. And you?”
“Errmm…” She lowered her head and heaved a sigh. She raised her head with a feeble smile and looked at James’ face again.
“Divorced.” She mumbled.
“I’m sorry.” James replied, and she shook her head.
“It’s okay. You had no idea about it.”
They stared at each other, and James gulped hard. He looked away and caught Amelia staring at them.
‘Why do I feel these two aren’t just friends? Why are they staring at themselves like that?’ She thought.
She saw James staring at her and shot him a deadly glare. James swallowed and slowly smiled.
He looked away uncomfortably, understanding fully why Amelia glared at him.
*
Patricia finished James’ makeover and they headed to the studio for the photo shoot.
While it was on, Patricia had to constantly rearrange his air while her hand. As she did this, they both laughed as they looked at each other.
Amelie who watched from the background began to grow very angry.
‘Why does he look like he is enjoying the way she is touching him? I feel there is more to the story.’
Patricia left the stage and walked to where Amelia stood.
“Hi Amelia, do you think we should change his hairstyle after this shoot? Mullet would look very cool on him, what do you think?” She asked, locking her eyes on James.
“Mullet would be nice on him.” Amelia responded and looked ar Patricia.
“Great. I’ll do that.”
After their short conversation, silence set in. Amelia kept staring at Patricia, she thought of the best way to ask what was going on between James and her.
“Patricia, you are an old friend of James, right? How was he in high school?”
Patricia looked at Amelia and chuckled. “Ahh…” She exhaled.
She gave him the phone and he imputed his Line ID. He gave her back the phone and held Amelia again.
“I’ll text you. Please reply, okay?”
“Sure. Bye for now.” James replied and waved at her.
They walked out of the studio and headed to where the car was parked. James noticed Amelia was awkwardly silent and he became worried.
“Amelia, are you okay?” He asked when they got to the car.
She exhaled loudly and sat in the car after he opened the door for her. James rushed to the other side and sat in the car too.
“Amelia, please talk to me. What’s going on in your mind? You are too silent.” He spoke with worry and went ahead to hold her hand.
“Was Patricia just a friend to you in high school and college?” Amelia asked.
James heaved a sigh and looked out of the window. He saw the questions coming.
“She wasn’t just a friend…” He replied and ignited the engine.
“We were a thingg…”
“Your first love, right?” Amelia interrupted him, and he nodded.
“Yes. But it was nothing serious. We were both young. We didn’t know what we were doing.” He muttered.
“Hmm… She said she left. After she left, did you fall in love with another woman?” Amelia further asked.
“No, I couldn’t.”
“That was something serious. Because she left, you couldn’t give your heart to someone else. Should I be worried she is back now?”
“Hey, Amelia…” He slowed down and looked at her. He picked her hand and caressed it.
“There is nothing to worried about. Nothing can ever happen between us. She is my past, and you are my present. I want my present, okay? There is nothing to worry about. Trust me. I love you.”
“I love you too, James. I won’t lie I wasn’t scared when she asked for your Line ID.”
James chuckled and kept driving at the normal pace.
“It’s cute to see you get all jealous and possessive of me. I won’t let you down. No one is coming between us ever again. It’s a promise.”
Amelia’s lips curved up in a smile, she moved closer to James and kissed his cheek.
“You looked cute during the shoot though. I can’t wait to get the pictures.”
“And what will you do with them?”
“Post them and tell the whole world you are my husband.” She said, and they broke into laughter.
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