Chapter 26 #2
Glancing back, I saw a caramel-skin nigga, with a curly tapered fade and tattoos peeking out of his shirt lift his hand with a big smile. He said a few parting words to the couple he was talking to before strolling over.
Devon stood to greet him. "Let me introduce you to my friends, frat." He threw his arm around the owner. "This is Bishop and his lovely wife Eva. This is Remy."
Remy smiled warmly and extended his hand towards me. "Good to meet you, man."
Smiling I shook it. "You too, bruh."
"Pleasure." He shook Eva's hand next.
"You as well." Eva smiled. "This is a beautiful restaurant and the food is incredible."
"Thank you so much." He clasped his hands together and bowed his head slightly. "Any friends of my frat brother are friends of mine. If there is anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Oh, Remy—" Shelby waved her fingers at him. "Please tell me I'll be able to get The Gianna tonight? Last time we came you ran out of lemon cake." She cut her eyes playfully at him.
My stomach dropped as I watched him, curious.
He chuckled. "My apologies. And yes—you'll be able to order it tonight. I've had to double up on inventory for it because it's so popular."
Wiping my mouth, I casually asked, "That's an odd name for a dessert, fam. How'd you come up with that?"
Remy rubbed the back of his head smiling. "It's actually named after my lady." He looked around the restaurant. "She's actually here tonight, helping me out."
"Oh my God, we would love to meet the woman who inspired my new favorite dessert." Shelby gushed.
"I'll do my best to bring her over here." Remy nodded. He tapped the table twice. "Enjoy your meal guys and thank you for coming." With a salute he walked off.
"He seems like a great guy," Eva commented with a smile
"One of the best." Devon smiled fondly.
My jaw tightened as I leaned back slightly in the booth, fingers curling around my glass as my mind started racing.
Gianna.
Out of all the names in the world, out of all the women in the world, this nigga just so happened to name a dessert after a woman named Gianna? I exhaled slowly through my nose, trying to keep my face neutral as Devon kept talking, Eva chiming in, Shelby laughing at something that was said.
I wasn’t hearing none of it. My eyes drifted across the restaurant, scanning without making it obvious. My gut was telling me exactly what it was though. We ordered dessert. After all that conversation of course we had to order the damn dessert.
But when it arrived and I took the first bite—it tasted exactly how she did. Sweet but with a slight tang. Rich. Decadent. And the cream—I wanted to put my face to the plate and lick it off the top like I did her.
"Shit—" I mumbled, swallowing thickly
"I know right. It's delicious," Eva replied.
She had no idea.
We finished up and were sipping our last cocktails for the evening while we waited for the bill.
“Oh… there he is,” Devon’s voice cut through everything.
My head turned before I could stop it. And that’s when I saw her. Remy was walking toward the table with his hand wrapped around hers.
Gianna.
My Gianna.
Her steps slowed just slightly but I caught it. Her eyes locked on me and went wide for a second before she recovered quickly. Too quick for anybody else to notice—but not me.
My breath hitched, chest tightening as my fingers clenched harder around my glass.
What the fuck? She looked…different. Not in how she looked but how she carried herself. Softer. More open.
Remy smiled, completely unaware, as he stepped up to the table. “Everyone, this is Gianna,” he introduced her proudly.
My eyes stayed locked on her. Trying to read everything in that split second.
She didn’t look at me again right away. “Hi,” she greeted warmly. “It’s so nice to meet you all.”
Her voice…that damn voice that had been haunting me. That calm, smooth tone that used to wrap around me while I was pushing inside her—
"Pleasure to meet you." Devon shook her hand warmly. "You've made a helluva impression on my frat brother, Gianna." He glanced up at Remy. "Treat him right. He's one of the good ones."
Gianna looked over at him with a smile, touching his arm. "Always."
Shelby leaned forward. “Girl, your dessert is life changing.”
Gianna laughed softly. “I’m glad you like it. Unfortunately, I can't take credit for it.” She rested her hand on his chest.
Remy rested his hand at the small of her back, smiling down at her. I could see it all over his face—she had him hooked. My jaw clenched involuntarily.
"And this is Bishop and his wife Eva," Remy introduced.
Gianna’s eyes flicked to mine again, briefly and controlled. Like we were strangers and my dick wasn't deep inside her only a few weeks ago.
"Nice to meet you, Gianna," Eva spoke first.
"You as well," she replied softly before her eyes glanced back at me quickly. "And…you too, Bishop,"
I smirked slightly. “Nice to meet you too." I held her gaze.
The tension sat there—thick—invisible to everybody else but loud as hell between us. After a few more words, they said their good-byes and walked off. I forced my eyes not to not trail behind her. To not settle on that body which I had memorized in my dreams.
That shit was weird. Out of all the places in the city—she ended up right here.
With me.
Almost like…fate.
I leaned back in my seat, dragging my tongue along the inside of my cheek as my eyes dropped to the table. I don't know…maybe this meant me and Gianna weren't done just yet.