Chapter 0297


    But people are staring, and I feel like I’m making a fool of myself. So after a few pictures, I hand the


    phone back and step away.


    “There you go.”


    Meg takes a look at the photos I’ve taken and frowns. “Karl, these are terrible! I can’t post any of these.


    They make me look fat. Try again.”


    I’m taken aback once more, but in the spirit of giving people the benefit of the doubt, I do as she asks.


    We repeat the process several times, with Meg growing increasingly frustrated each time she reviews


    the photos.


    At one point, she even asks the waiter to take a few shots, but nothing seems to meet her standards.


    Finally, she snaps. “Karl, you’re supposed to make me look good! This is your job, you know.”


    “My job?” I scoff.


    She folds her arms across her chest. “You could at least try to take one good picture of me. It’s like you


    don’t even care.”


    By this point, I’ve had enough. We’ve been here for almost an hour, and we still haven’t even ordered


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    our drinks. I finally push my chair back and stand, grabbing my jacket.


    “Where are you going?” she asks, her eyes wide.


    “I’m leaving,” I reply. “If you wanted a photographer, you could have just said so.”


    Without waiting for a response, I leave the rooftop restaurant, ignoring her calls behind me.


    …


    Shana


    This is it: the third date. I’m standing outside a small Italian restaurant, a low-key ce that was much


    needed after the first two failures. The air smells like fresh bread and oregano, and I can hear the


    sound of ordion music ying inside.


    Shana, my third date, is a few minuteste. I’m checking my watch, wondering when she’ll arrive, when


    a sleek white car pulls up and out of the back steps a lovely looking woman with long red hair and


    freckles across her nose.


    I remember her from the luncheon, but she was quiet the whole time; we barely got to talk. Maybe


    that’s why I picked her as one of my top three—because she’s not loud and obnoxious.


    “Shana?” I say, stepping forward.


    “Karl,” she says as she approaches, her white dress swishing around her legs. “It’s nice to see you


    again.”


    “Likewise. Would you like to head inside?”


    We head inside and take our seats by the window. Shana is quiet, but I chalk it up to nervousness, and


    besides: the quiet is nice for a change.


    After we order our meals, I decide to break the ice. “So, Shana, what do you do for a living?”


    She chuckles softly, a hint of shyness in her eyes. “Well, to be honest, my father runs a sessful


    business, and I help him manage it. It’s not very interesting, I’m afraid.”


    I nod. “Business rarely is. What would you rather do, if you weren’t working for your father?”


    Shana’s light up at my question. “Well, I love to paint…”


    As the evening draws to a close, I decide to broach the subject that’s been on my mind. “Shana, there''s


    something I’d like to discuss with you.”


    She tilts her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. “What is it?” Content of Drаm??ovels.cоm


    I take a moment to choose my words carefully. It’s a decision that weighs heavily on my heart, but it’s


    one I’ve had to make nheless.


    “Would you like to attend the Alpha gathering with me? As my date?”


    Shana’s eyes widen in surprise, and she blushes slightly. “Karl, I would be honored to be your date.”