Love Untangled - Chapter 121

“Do you approve?” Saphira asked as she wrapped her arm around my neck.

I narrowed my eyes at her and let my hand glide to her waist, guiding her on the dancefloor. Some memories of me teaching her how to dance on her families beach past my mind. So much had changed. I had never wanted to hurt her. At that time I would be very content to live my life with her….

“Well?” Saphira asked. Her eyes were sparkling. “Do I approve?” I repeater her. The music grew swoony and she rested her chin on my shoulder. “No one will ever be good enough for you.” I admitted.

Saphira sighed. “You were more than enough.” She mused. I swallowed. “I was far from enough for you. You deserve so much more than I could ever give you.” I said and buried my nose in her hair.

“Are you happy with her?” Saphira suddenly asked me.

“Happy…” I said and Saphira turned to look at me. I thought about that. I opened my mouth and then I closed it again. “It is different with her.” I said. “It’s like… when you and I were together… it felt serene…. Peaceful, like everything was at balance.” I tightened my eyes.

“You are like a breeze, while I am the storm…” I laughed. “We were like the perfect harmony.” Saph said as she made a funny face. I laughed at that. “That was witty.” I said as I touched the tip of her nose.

We swayed around the room for a while. “And you and Jasmine?” Saph prompted. I had almost forgot that she asked me a question. “She and I could be happy.” I said trying to be honest.

“What do you mean?” She asked. “Mhh… Evangeline…” I sighed.

“It does not matter if I approve or not.” I said looking her straight in the eyes. Another song started while I tilted her chin. “Yes it does.” She contradicted me.

“Do you really want me to be with anyone else than you.” Saphira asked me? “Saph…” I said looking around the room. Jazz was starring me down. Her eyes were blazing. I winked at her and smiled when her eyes grew big.

“We can’t be.” I said in all seriousness. “We can’t, or you won’t be with me.” Her tone was becoming sharper by the minute.

“Both.” I said pleadingly. “Don’t be angry… you know far well that I cannot live without you in my life, but it can’t be as it was.” I tried to get through to her.

“Benjamin?” Saphira’s said in a small voice. I spun her around and she breathlessly fell into my arms. “Yes…” I smiled at her. “You are distracting me.” She accused me.

I darkly laughed. She bit her lip and seemed to think. “So… you would not mind if Zachary would kiss me.” She tried to provoke me. A strange sound escaped me lips.

“Don’t do this to me.” I said holding her blue eyes. “Admit it then.” She said not giving up. “Admit what?” I asked confused. “That you love me and you don’t want me to be with anyone else than you.” Her voice cracked.

We were quiet for a while. “Evangeline, you know that I love my wife.” I shook my head. “I know. Still, that was not what I asked.” She said raising her shoulders.

I closed my eyes. When I opened them, Saphira was smiling at me. “Fine, I don’t particularly enjoy the idea of you and Zachary together.” I said sourly. Saphira’s smile grew wider. “There you have it.” I said narrowing my eyes at her.

“But, for that matter, I would not particularly like any man to kiss you either. So if it has to be anyone else than me, let it be Zachary.” I said and pouted my lips at her.

“So you do approve?” Saph teased me.

“Awghrr…” I groaned and rolled my eyes at her. “I will, on one condition.” I said grinning.

Saphira suspiciously narrowed her eyes at me. I snickered, she looked so goofy. “Please don’t kiss anyone until you are married.” I whispered.

“This is no Saudi-Arabia Ben.” She murmured. “I still can’t believe you are a king now… ” She said shaking her head. “Or that you were a prince to begin with.” She looked at me, disapprovingly.

“I’m sorry… ” I said tightening my grip on her. The music started to fade and I saw Jasmine approaching us from the corner of my eye.

“Duty calls.” I smiled at Saph. She sighed heavily, not willing to let me go.

“Can I borrow my husband from you.” Jasmine said making clear I was hers. I got a little annoyed by her attitude. I would never cheat on her, so she had no right to behave like this.

“Saph.” I smiled at Saphira and nodded at her. Saphira hesitated, but then let me go. Jasmine stood before me. My eyes glided over her body.  She was beautiful and while Saph had always been my peace, she was like a… “Storm in a glass.” I blurted out.

“What?!” Jazz asked confused. “Nothing Habibie.” I said shaking my head.

Jasmine came closer and placed her hands on my chest. She was a lot smaller than Saphira and although she was pregnant and her hips and breast had become increasingly full, she always seemed more fragile.

Still…. I knew she only appeared that way. She needed no one to be happy… not even me. Although her appearance seemed fragile… within she was like.. fire… or a storm… She was like an ocean filled with sturdy waves inside a glass.

We quietly danced around the dancing area. Neither of us spoke a single word. I did not really know what to say at the moment and I guessed, she did not know either.

“Let’s go back to our seats.” I said after the dance was over. Jasmine seemed out of it. Like she was disappointed or something.

Jasmine

Why could he not look at me, the way I just saw him looking at her? I felt nauseous. I did not like him sitting next to her, so I quickly scooped in at the table next to her. Now I sat next to her and he could only sit next to me on the round table.

I saw that Ben frowned at me. “Here you go.” I said handing him his glass of whiskey that was in front me.

“It is such a wonderful band, don’t you think?” I said addressing myself towards Saphira. She seemed stunned, for what ever reason. “Ahmm.. Y-yes… I guess so.” She said.

“I don’t think they are all that good though.” Benjamin said raising his eyebrow. I smiled. It was working…

“Why not.” I said trying to hide my delight about the fact that he was trying to pick a fight with me. “I think Saphira and I could do a better job.” He said and I almost suffocated in my drink. I glanced at Zachary.

I was not going to let him get to me. or at least, I was not going to give him the satisfaction by showing it. “Maybe you can entertain us then?” I said and nodded at one of the waiters.

The waiter immediately approached us. “My husband and my friend are both very musical and they were wondering if they could serenade to their spouses.” I said waving at the space between Zachary and I, making clear they were not an item.

Benjamin shot me a look. I knew that look. He was warning me. I did not really care. “Oh.. well… ” Saphira swallowed and quickly looked at Zach. “For me?” Zach smiled.

Yes… he was playing along with me. I liked that Zach dude already. Benjamin stood up and held out a hand for Saphira. I hated this. Benjamin did not look at me when he followed the waiter to the stage. The waiter discussed something with the lead singer and then Saphira and Benjamin went on.

Benjamin sat behind the grand piano and Saphira stood next to him.

“I know.” Zachary said. My eyes darted to him. His green eyes were friendly. “I know.” He said again. I made a face. “Were they always like this?” I asked him.

“They were much worse.” He said with a hand gesture as if to gage. I laughed at that. “But… you could say anything of that guy… but I do think he is loyal.” Zachary said defending Ben.

“I mean… ” Zach sighed. “Well, you know what I mean.”

“I have a bad feeling about them.” I said not really knowing how to explain. “It’s just like… they…” I said trailing off when I heard Benjamin playing on the piano.

His hands swiftly glided across the keys. There was always something serene about the sight of him on the piano. Ben opened the song with an incredible high pitch and the crows cheered. He smiled and looked at Saphira.

She seemed nervous.