Chapter 15


    Evie


    After Aria texted me that she was there with her “surprise“, I finished up thest of the dishes and


    made my way to the front of the restaurant. I spotted Aria by the front door, waving to someone


    outside. When she noticed me approaching, she smiled wide.


    “Guess who’s back?” said Aria, and I hardly had time to guess before a man entered. the doorway. I


    could hardly believe my eyes. It was like looking at a ghost from the


    past.


    “Lucas!” I blinked wildly, thinking that he was simply a trick of the light. He had been a close friend


    of Aria and I in college. While he had a more upper–ss background, being from an elite family, he


    didn’t have the attitude of someone. from that sector.


    Maybe him being gay meant he knew what it was like to be knocked down by society. He had been


    rather rxed about it when he told me, but I could see in his eyes that it had caused some tension


    in his life. I was thankful that he feltfortableing to me about it, however.


    “What are you doing here? I mean…” I chuckled at myself, hardly able to get the words out, “Not


    that I’m not d that you’re back. It’s just been so long.”


    “I felt like a visit to two of my favorite people was in order!” Lucas walked up and wrapped me in a


    warm hug. It was only when he pulled away that I realized I needed some friendly affection. That


    interaction with Ste was still weighing me down from an already depressing day.


    “Well, I’m d you came,” I said, tugging a strand of hair behind needed the excitement. Good


    excitement, that is.”


    ov ears s


    “Ah, well, what I’m about to say may or may not be more good excitement. I dide with an


    ulterior motive,” Lucas said, hanging his head.


    “Oh?” I tilted my head to the side in question, looking between him and Aria. “And what would th


    “You know, I’m slightly parched, Evie.” Lucas faked a cough and started rubbing his throat for effect.


    I rolled her eyes, almost forgetting that he was theatrical by


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    nature. “Perhaps a ss of wine could loosen my tongue a little.”


    Iughed. “Alright. You two go find some seats. I’m pretty much done with my shift so I can join in.”


    52


    “Sweet!” Aria cheered,tching on to Lucas‘ arm. “There’s a booth over there. Bring us your best


    bottle of wine, Evie.”


    “Of course.” As they walked toward the booth, I made my way to the kitchen. Timothy was still at the


    bar. He had his head rested in one hand while he swirled an amber drink around with his other.


    I felt a weight in my chest, catching only a glimpse of his eyes as they red at the countertop. I


    was able to slip in and out of the backroom unnoticed with the restaurant’s best bottle of red wine.


    Aria and Lucas waved me over to their booth.


    I set the bottle on the table along with three wine sses before sliding into the booth beside Lucas.


    The two cheered as I popped the cork on the bottle and began filling their sses with rich, red


    wine.


    “So,” I began, cing the bottle off the side, “What was this ulterior motive for your arrival?”


    Lucas picked up his ss and took a long sip. “Well, I figured I would let you know now before you


    spotted me wandering the streets. I hear you’ve be quite busy yourself with younding an


    important client, Miss Lawyer.”


    I looked down, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. I wondered how much Aria had told him, or if he’d


    gotten some context clues from Timothy’s televised apology. “Ah, I’m barely awyer yet.”


    “Nonsense.” Lucas squeezed my arm in assurance. “You always made a big deal. about me being


    able to buy the world but look at what you’ve done for yourself. Pretty soon, we’ll both be running


    the world.”


    Aria could barely contain her smile as she swirled the wine around in her ss, releasing its rich,


    fruitful aroma. I was verging between excited and nervous, trying my hardest to remain optimistic.


    “But I wanted to tell you in person that I n on sticking around here for a while,” Lucas continued.


    “I needed the change and I figured that there was no better ce. for me than here. And you guys


    are here, which made the decision even easier!”


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    “Oh, my gosh!” I nearly tossed my wine ss down as I rushed to hug Lucas. Heughed, carefully


    setting his own ss aside to return the embrace. “I can’t believe it! That’s amazing!”


    Lucasughed and pulled away, a twinkle of mischievousness in his eye. “Also, I wouldn’t mind if


    you could show me around a little. I’m sure you’ve got a few single, preferably non–straight guys in


    your arsenal that would find themselves fascinated with an attractive man like me.”


    1 gave him a yful punch to the arm. Naturally, Lucas wanted me to introduce him to a man. It


    was part of his charm.


    As Lucas and Ariaughed over his next attempt at romance, I couldn’t help but drift my attention


    back to the one man I knew that caused a stir in my own heart. Timothy was still at the bar, downing


    yet another drink before a woman took the stool beside him. Her skirt was short and her top dipped


    frighteningly low, exposing her cleavage.


    I cringed as the woman ced her hand on Timothy’s arm and began squeezing. his biceps.


    Timothy hardly looked in her direction, acknowledging her with a short nod. She seemed intent on


    speaking to him either way.


    My grip on my wine ss tightened and I took another swig, hoping the alcohol would release the


    tension in my muscles. Timothy wouldn’t fall for her advances. He’s so cold and distant that even


    that woman wouldn’t be interested too long.


    To my surprise, Timothy nced behind him. His look was so intense, I feared that he could sense


    my presence. I hid my face behind the wine ss, which unfortunately grabbed Lucas‘ attention.


    He quirked an eyebrow. “Hiding from someone?”


    “Hm?” I turned back around, noticing Lucas‘ curious expression. “Oh, nobody.”


    Lucas grinned, his focus drawn to the bar area where I had been previously looking. Iughed


    nervously, still obscuring my face with the ss. I didn’t want to heighten his interest by telling him,


    but Lucas was staring way too hard for my liking.


    To my dismay, Lucas shooed Aria out of the booth so he could slip out. He walked casually over the


    DJ in the corner. The young man was on his phone, letting casual music y in the background.


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    Chapter 15:


    Lucas leaned over him, keeping his voice low as he pointed at the music yer beside him. He


    winked at the young man as he nodded and paused the music. I gulped as Lucas walked back over


    and crawled back into the booth.


    “What was that?” I asked desperately. The DJ was looking at me, giving me a thumbs up. “What did


    you do?”


    “I just told him to dedicate a little song to a special someone,” Lucas simpered before taking a gulp


    of his wine. “Figured I’d get their attention.


    52%


    I snuck another weary nce at Timothy. The woman was still clinging to him, but her body


    language was far from suggestive. Her back was stiff, and her lips were drawn into a frown.


    “Hey, everybody,” the DJ said into his microphone. His voice echoed across the room, drawing


    everyone’s attention. I wanted to crawl under the table and never leave. “This one was requested of


    me in dedication to a special someone. You know who


    He fl


    you are.”


    flipped a few controls on his machine and a new song came humming through the stereo. A


    woman’s voice emerged amongst a sea of sad violins as she sang about a love she had lost. The


    lyrics clung to me like a weighted nket, sinking me back into the emotions I’d kept at bay.


    I decided it would be thest time I looked at him. Thest time I would fall victim to his


    overwhelming presence. However, my stare didn’t go unnoticed this time. around.


    Timothy met my gaze across the floor, his lips parted. His eyes seemed to switch. between me and


    something beside her, growing progressively darker as some sort of realization settled over his


    face. I shivered, hoping that he wasn’t thinking I had dedicated the song to him.


    “I knew it.” Lucas leaned close to me, nudging my arm. “Figured you had someone on your mind.


    Who is he? An ex?”


    “No!” I spat.


    Aria covered her mouth, barely containing herughter. “That’s actually Timothy, her client.”


    Lucas lifted his chin, eyeing Timothy carefully. “Okay, but you definitely like him


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    13:01 Wed, 20 Mar S


    too. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so bothered when I asked.”


    “I am not into him,” I said. I drank from my ss and squinted as the bitter liquid. slid down my


    throat. I don’t know if it was the shame or annoyance that was giving my drink an odd taste.


    Lucas really knew how to push when he could.


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