Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
It was hard for me to say anything because I was floored by his reaction, by the way I was instantly attracted to him even though I’d been married for a month. He’d ripped me apart in my office, so I should hate him…but I didn’t. “It’s nice to see you too. And thank you.” I took off my coat and hung it over the back of the chair before I sat down. I was committed to Liam, so I had to turn off these feelings, especially for my own sake. I didn’t want my heart on my sleeve, for it to be obvious there was still a longing deep inside me. I was done embarrassing myself.
Hades did the same for Sofia before he sat across from her.
That meant I was stuck looking at Damien.
Ugh.
I grabbed my menu and buried my nose in it.
It was quiet at the table, the awkwardness setting in for all of us. Hades hadn’t known I was coming either, so he probably exchanged a few glances with Sofia to show his regret for not asking if I had come along.
I didn’t want it to be tense, so I smashed the silence. “You guys wanna get an appetizer? The arancini? I’m starving.”
Sofia went with it. “I’m in.”
“I think I’m gonna get some wine too,” I said to her. “Unless you’re going to write me up or something?”
She chuckled. “I’d be drinking too if I could.”
I lifted my gaze and looked Damien straight in the eye. “If I got a bottle, would you want any?” I then turned my gaze to Hades, so he knew I was addressing him too.
Hades answered. “That’s a great idea.”
Damien stared at me with a focused expression, as if he knew exactly what I was doing. “I’ll have a glass. You pick the wine.”
When the waitress came over, we ordered, and soon after, we were eating the appetizer and drinking wine. Despite my attempts to make everything feel normal, it grew tense again.
So I spoke to Damien directly. “How have you been?”
He stilled slightly at the question, but he covered the tension in his shoulders by taking a sip of wine. “Busy with work.” He didn’t give me much detail and didn’t ask me anything in return.
“How’s your father?” I’d never met him, but I knew he was important to Damien.
He was surprised by the second question. “I’m in the process of moving him in with me.”
“Aww…that’s sweet.” And just like that, I thought Damien was the perfect man again.
“He’s a stubborn son of a bitch, so I think this is gonna be an ordeal.” He swirled his wine as he stared at the glass.
“Like father, like son,” I teased.
He lifted his gaze to look at me, surprised I’d spoken to him so casually.
When I felt like I’d proved my point, that I was over him, I talked to the entire table. The conversation was stiff at first, as if no one understood what was an appropriate thing to say in the situation, but like a train leaving the station, it picked up speed.
Sofia picked up her phone. “It’s my mother.”
Hades chewed his food before he responded. “Great…”
She answered. “Hey, Ma. What’s up?” She listened to the line before her face started to turn pale.
Hades picked up on her reaction, his eyes narrowing. “What is it?”
“I’ll meet you at the doctor’s office.” She hung up. “She said Andrew has been coughing all morning, and it’s getting worse. She thinks he might have a rash or an allergic reaction. She’s taking him to the pediatrician now.” She got to her feet and grabbed her coat.
Hades turned to Damien. “Can you—”
“I got it.” Damien pulled out his chair as he stood up. “Go.”
Hades and Sofia left in a rush, abandoning their untouched food and dashing out the door.
Now it was just us…alone.
Our plates were still full because we’d only just gotten our lunch, so it would be weird to box it up and leave because we couldn’t stand being together. Neither one of us would cave and blow our pride like that.
Damien pushed in Hades’s chair and grabbed his fork to continue eating. He’d ordered a garden salad with extra chicken, avoiding the basket of bread in the center and only allowing himself a single glass of wine.
It was no surprise he was in such great shape when he was so diligent about his diet. No carbs. No fat. Just pure protein with vegetables. It reminded me of the times we got pizza together and he acted like he’d lost all control.
I’d ordered spaghetti because I didn’t give a damn about the scale. As long as I was healthy and still getting laid, it didn’t matter to me. Why waste time stressing about your body like it was your finances?
Silence continued.
Heavy, painful silence.
I tried to think of something to say, but I was drawing a blank. We didn’t have any mutual hobbies, any mutual friends. It wasn’t like we both played golf, and saying nothing was better than talking about the weather.