Chapter 20 #2
I walk alongside Nora, with Kai and Royce hanging back as we’re greeted by the ma?tre d’. He looks over me and locks eyes with Royce, giving a solid nod before we’re led to a small private area. My skin prickles.
“Is it just me or is this weird?”
“A little,” she whispers.
We take our seats, Nora to my left, Royce to my right, Kai slightly opposite. The menus are placed in front of us and Royce orders water for him and Kai and a bottle of champagne for me and Nora.
I wouldn’t have chosen champagne, but I suppose I can’t be fussy when he has invited us out.
“Are we celebrating?” A nervous laugh bubbles out of me.
“Not celebrating, no.” Royce shakes his head, a smile plastered on his face.
“Oh,” I say as the waiter turns up with the champagne, showing Royce the bottle before popping it and filling mine and Nora’s glass.
“I just wanted a nice dinner with you.” He looks dead at me. “And Nora and Kai, of course.”
“Of course.” I purse my lips as I take a mouthful, the bubbles dissolving on my tongue.
Royce leans into me, his voice quiet so only I can hear. “I do want to speak to you after dinner though… just me and you.”
I swallow. “Okay,” I say, rolling my lips.
He sits back up then focuses his attention on the menu. I side eye Nora and she excuses us from the table and to the restroom.
Panic claws at my throat as I pace the floor.
“What?” She glances at me, eyes bouncing between mine.
“I think Royce is going to ask me back out again,” I rush out and her eyes widen. “Did he say anything to you today that may have given you an inkling of what this chat may revolve around?”
She shakes her head.“No, nothing. Just that he wanted to apologise for the way he was. What would you say if he did ask you out? Would you say yes?”
I should answer straight away. But I find myself thinking about Creed.
“Ana?s?” She catches me off guard.
“What?”
“Welcome back.” She smirks. “Would you?”
“Would I what?” My brows dig in.
“Say yes.”
My eyes volley between hers as I hang off her words. I sigh.
“What are you not saying?” She tilts her head to the side.
Nibbling on my bottom lip, I cover my eyes, the words on the tip of my tongue.
“I kissed Creed,” I rush them out as if they’re poison.
“What?” she shrieks.
“Again,” I wail.
Her fingers curl around my small wrists as she pulls my hands away. There’s a stupid look on her face, a wide smile pressed against her lips.
“You went for his daddy.” She giggles. She is fucking loving this.
“I didn’t go for him.” I pull my hands from hers and stand in front of the mirror as I look back at the person staring at me.
“He kissed me, I think… I dunno. I kissed him back though, that’s all that matters.”
“Well.” She pushes her tongue into her cheek. “I never.”
“It’s not a big deal. We both agreed it was a mistake and should never happened.”
I mean, we didn’t… but I have decided to stay away from him.
“It is a huge deal.” She holds her hands up and I shake my head
“Please don’t make this into something it’s not.”
“When… how…”
“The other day…” I trail off and she can tell by my face exactly when it was.
“When he asked me if you were in the bathroom?”
I nod, swallowing down the lump.
“Fuck.”
“Yup.”
“What you gonna do?”
“Me and Royce getting back together is not right…”
“Agreed.”
“He dumped me for his career. What has changed now?”
She shrugs.
“Oh, how awkward.” I sigh, leaning against the wall.
“This thing with Creed,” she starts, and I hold my hand up silencing her.
“There is no thing with Creed.”
“Sure.” She snickers.
“I am being serious. It was a moment of weakness… it shouldn’t have happened.”
“Okay.” She nods and steps towards me. “You keep telling yourself that, let’s see what happens.” She winks and walks past me, pulling on the door that leads back to the restaurant.
I roll my eyes and follow her back to the table.
Royce smiles at me as I take a seat. “All okay?” he asks as I curl my fingers around the stem of my flute glass.
“Yup. Just girl things.” I wave my hand and Nora clears her throat.
“Okay, did you know what you wanted to eat? I’ve sent the waiter back twice.” He laughs slightly and Kai groans.
“Yeah, we’re starving…” He wears a thunderous glare.
“Give me two secs,” I mutter, glancing over the menu and Kai drains his water.
The waiter re appears and me and Nora share the T Bone steak and have the risotto to start.
Conversation is pleasant, Kai and Royce spend most of the time talking about the upcoming race. Me and Nora chirp in where we can, but it’s more their conversation.
My phone buzzes and I slip my hand down to reach my bag. It’s Rue.
She has been away with her parents for two weeks, so I haven’t really heard from her. She promised she will try and catch me before the next race, but who knows. She is super busy and can’t just up and leave.
Rue:
Miss you. Landed late last night after being in England. Maybe we can catch up next week and pencil a date in xo
I reply back and that’s when I notice an unread message from Creed.
Has Royce done the social media post you wanted him to?
Tapping a response, I can feel Royce’s eyes burning into me.
Not yet, will most likely do it tomorrow now. Just out for dinner with him at the moment.
Placing my phone back in my bag, I apologise and go back to listening to them speak and suddenly, I am desperate to get home.
Royce pays for dinner, and once all is done, he pulls my chair out for me, and I thank him. Nora hangs beside me and my heart drums in my chest, my stomach flipping with anticipation. Walking towards the waiting car, I go to slide in when Royce reaches for my elbow, tugging me back.
“Can you give us a minute?” He directs his question to Nora, and she looks at me, waiting for me to give her the answer. I nod subtly.
“Of course.” She forces a smile on her lips as she climbs into the back of the car next to Kai.
I finally lift my eyes from the car, looking at Royce. I see that giddy look in his eyes that used to drive me wild. But now? There is nothing. No little stomach tremors, no skipping beats of my heart. I feel almost numb.
“I’ve got something I want to talk about.” His voice is hushed and I swallow, nerves biting at the base of my neck.
“Yeah?” I try and sound surprised whilst on the inside I feel my stomach coil.
I watch him. His eyes dart down, his hand runs around the back of his neck. He is nervous. I know him too well.
Letting my head tilt slightly, I narrow my gaze on him.
“I fucked up,” he rushes out, his hand dropping as he swipes mine into his.
“Royce,” I say softly.
“No, let me finish.” His eyes are wild. “I fucked up Ana?s, I shouldn’t have broken it off with you. At the time I thought it was what I needed, but now you’re working alongside me… this works. It’ll work better than it did before.”
I blink, my smile curling the corners of my lips as I slip my hand from his and place it on his cheek. “We broke up for a reason, Royce… It didn’t work. We were good back then, I followed you around, it’s no different to what it would be now.”
He silently begs with me and that’s when I see Creed glance over from the distance, he is with a younger man who I have yet to meet, his jaw clenched.
My lips part and just as I am about to ignore him and go back to Royce, his hands are either side of my face as he slants his lips over mine, kissing me, his tongue pushing into my mouth and I am frozen.
It takes my brain a minute to kick in before I am pushing him away from me.
“No.” I shake my head, and I know I have crushed him but all I can do is let my eyes drift to where Creed was just standing but he is no longer there.
“Let me have one last night with you,” he begs, and my heart is in my throat.
I shake my head. “We’re in a good place, let’s not ruin that now,” I whisper, slowly stepping back and his head drops.
Taking his hand in mine, I lead him to the car and once he is sat, I slide in the front. I want the ground to swallow me whole.
My phone is buzzing, and I don’t even have to look to see who it was.
This is what happens when you play with fire—eventually, you get burned.