Ryan's softness and care always seemed to pierce through my heart, and tonight was no exception. He gently coaxed me into returning to the bar with him, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to my turbulent emotions. As we got seated, Stephanie sitting with us, I couldn't help but wear my angry look like a mask. But despite my reservations, I decided to stay put, if only for Ryan's sake. He had always been there for me, and I didn't want to ruin the celebration for him.
Stephanie, seemingly oblivious to the tension, congratulated me on my promotion at the office, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Ryan told me about your promotion, Gabriel! Congratulations! That's amazing news! You must be so thrilled!"
I nodded curtly, my expression unchanging. I knew that all this was just a facade, a thinly veiled attempt to get back into my life. I wasn't buying it. Her words felt like a slap in the face, a reminder of everything that had gone wrong between us.
Ryan, sensing the awkwardness, tried to keep the conversation alive. "Yeah, Gabriel's been working hard for this. He deserves it. We should celebrate!"
Stephanie smiled, her eyes sparkling with insincerity. "Absolutely! You must be thrilled, Gabriel. This is such a big deal!"
I just sat there, the joy of the party gone, my mind numb and unresponsive. I was staring blankly at them, my eyes glazed over like a frozen lake. The music, the laughter, the celebration – everything seemed hollow and meaningless. I had lost all the mood for it.
"So, Gabriel, what are your plans now?" Stephanie asked, her voice grating on my nerves. "Are you going to take some time off to enjoy your success?"
I shrugged, my shoulders barely moving. "I don't know. Just take it one day at a time, I guess."
Ryan jumped in, trying to fill the awkward silence. "We should celebrate, though! Gabriel's promotion is a big deal. We should get some drinks, maybe some cake..."
But I just shook my head, my anger and hurt still simmering just below the surface. "Not tonight, Ryan. I'm not really in the mood."
The conversation limped on, a stilted and awkward affair, with me barely participating. I was just going through the motions, my heart heavy with emotion, my mind reeling with thoughts of betrayal and hurt. I couldn't believe that Stephanie had the nerve to show up here, to pretend like everything was okay. Didn't she know that I was still hurting? Didn't she care?, At least that's a draw for me showing up with Sarah at the engagement party.
Just as the night was coming to an end and everyone was preparing to go their separate ways, my phone suddenly began to ring, shattering the awkward silence that had settled over our table like a thick fog. I was glad for the interruption, as it gave me a perfect reason to excuse myself earlier than anticipated, to escape the stifling atmosphere that had been building up all evening. I glanced at the screen and saw that it was my Dad calling, his name flashing on the screen like a beacon of hope. I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me like a cool breeze on a hot summer day.
"Hey, Dad," I answered, trying to sound cheerful, trying to shake off the lingering emotions of the evening.
"Gabriel, congratulations on your promotion!" my Dad boomed on the other end of the line, his voice like a warm hug on a cold winter night. "I heard from Ryan. I couldn't believe you didn't tell me about it yourself!"
I chuckled, feeling a twinge of guilt, a pang of regret for not sharing the news with him sooner. "Hey, Dad, I didn't want to bother you with it. It's not a big deal, really," I said, trying to downplay the significance of the promotion, trying to brush it off like a minor accomplishment.
"Not a big deal?" my Dad repeated, his voice incredulous, his tone like a gentle scolding. "You're one of the youngest people to ever get promoted to that position! Of course, it's a big deal! You should be proud of yourself, Gabriel."
I shrugged, even though I knew he couldn't see me, feeling a sense of humility wash over me. "I don't know, Dad. I just didn't want to make a fuss about it. I didn't want to draw attention to myself."
"Well, you should be making a fuss about it," my Dad said, his voice stern, but with a hint of pride. "You should be proud of yourself. I'm proud of you, even if you're not proud of yourself."
I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest, feeling a sense of gratitude towards my Dad for always knowing how to make me feel better. "Thanks, Dad. That means a lot coming from you."
As I continued to talk to my Dad, I got up from my seat and began to make my way out of the bar, the noise and laughter of the crowd fading into the background as I walked away. Ryan caught my eye and raised an eyebrow, but I just shook my head and mouthed "Dad" to him. He nodded understandingly and went back to his conversation with Stephanie, who was watching me leave with a curious expression.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the office, Ryan," I called out as I left the bar, my phone still pressed to my ear, my Dad's voice still booming in my ear.
"Sounds good, man," Ryan replied, waving goodbye, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.
As I walked out into the cool night air, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was glad to be escaping the awkwardness of the bar, glad to be talking to my Dad, who always knew how to make me feel better, who always knew how to put things into perspective.