Don’t Let Her Get Away

He realized that she had seen him and he couldn’t let her get away. Maybe this was a good thing, he told himself as he hurried after her, knocking over a chair and scaring a small child in his hurry.

“Julia, wait,” he called, out of breath. He saw her stop and he caught up to her. She turned around and faced him.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed, looking angry and beautiful.

“I can explain, I can. Please. Just give me five minutes. Look, there’s a restaurant. Let me buy you a glass of wine. Please, Julia. I want to explain,” he looked at her plaintively but she only stared back. “I need to explain.”

“I’ll give you five minutes, and that wine had better be good,” she said as she led the way through the open air mall to the restaurant. He followed, thinking of what to say. What could he possibly say? She turned to him and he turned his worried expression into a smile. They found a table and sat across from each other. Neither said anything until they had ordered drinks.

Oh, Julia. She hadn’t changed at all. She looked around, and crossed her legs, propped an elbow on the table and rested her face against her hand. He had seen that move a thousand times. It meant she wanted to look serious but alluring. “Well, what is this explanation you want to give me?” Julia asked, her eyebrows up.

“You mean, why am I here? Like, now?” he stammered. This wasn’t going well.

She leaned forward. The drinks came and she picked up her glass. “Yes, why are you here, in San Diego, on the weekend of my wedding? Why, Michael? And why are you in this particular place, right by the hotel where my wedding is being held?”

“Well, you know I haven’t seen Rosalie in ages. And I knew she would be here with her fiancee. I wanted to meet him.”

“Do you even know his name?”

“Uh, oh, I can’t remember. Julia, she just got engaged, how am I supposed to remember? Rosalie just broke up with that other guy, what’s his name – Pete?”

“Okay, I’ll give you that one. Rosalie is particular.”

“Or fickle,” Michael said. Julia smiled and they both laughed. “How did we end up with such a prima donna for a daughter?”

“I blame you. You treated her like she was royalty.” Julie said, smiling. Michael nodded. “Okay, come clean. You didn’t come here to see Rosalie and her beau. What’s going on, Michael?”

Michael finished his bourbon in a gulp. “Julia, please don’t marry this guy. You know I still love you. I never stopped loving you. I want to give us another try.”

“Give us another try?” Julia snorted, “Now? After we’ve been divorced for five years? Just as I’m beginning a new life with someone that is crazy about me, you suddenly want to ‘give us another try’, Michael? I should slap your stupid face for that.”

Michael leaned forward, a fervent look on his face. Julia realized he was still handsome after all these years. Memories of their times together flashed across her mind like a ticker tape, quick flashes of happiness, joy and love. She smiled involuntarily. Then, just as quickly, flashes of fights and unhappiness filled her vision and she felt so drained, so unhappy. “What, Michael? What?”

“I am here, and by God, I am going to make you see that we are meant to be. I still over you, and I know you still love me. Your wedding is in two days. I have two days. I am going to be everywhere you turn, on the periphery of your day and in your dreams. I’m going to be with Rosalie, and if you want, I will be here for you, I will be with you. In a flash. I’m staying at your hotel. You have my number, all you have to do is call and I will come running. Please, Julia. Please give me a chance.”

Julia stood slowly. She picked up her glass and carefully splashed the contents onto Michael’s face. “Leave me alone, Michael,” she said and walked away. She didn’t look back.

Michael wiped his face with his sleeve and watched her go. He wasn’t giving up. He had some ideas. He was going to win Julia back.

Copyright ©2025 Lisa Paul

This week’s Story Starter teaser is:

He realized that she had seen him and he couldn’t let her get away.

Fandango’s Story Starter #221