She whispered the words that caught Suzie’s attention as she looked at her mistress.
Suzie opened her mouth to express her concern, but then Brianna asked with disdain,
"If she’s your maid, why is she eating at the sa table as us?"
Brianna was well-versed in the etiquette of being served by others after years of experience. Her cold gaze remained on Suzie, who squird in her seat, lowering her head and twisting one of her pigtails to curb her nervousness. However, Suzie’s orders only ca from Shelby, and she listened to no one else. That was part of her role as Shelby’s handmaiden.
"I don’t think that’s your place to comnt on, Brianna."
"She’s at the sa table with , and I do not eat with people beneath !"
"Brianna...."
Shelby said in resignnt, massaging her temple. "I don’t want to do this now. Suzie ca on my orders, and she will stay in her seat to assist the kids when needed."
"You settled into your role as wife really fast, huh?" Brianna scoffed.
Ava glared at Brianna as if to say, ’Didn’t you want to make up? Why this now?’
She turned to Shelby with a worried, inquiring gaze instead,
"You’re not eating? Is it not to your taste, Shelby?"
"It’s nothing, Ava. I just feel a bit full, but I tasted it, and it’s aweso!"
"Miss S-"
Shelby sent a glare towards Suzie before she ran her mouth. She placed her fork down and watched them eat, occasionally cleaning up Gabriel when he made too much of a ss.
"Can I have a glass of water instead, Ava?"
"You sure? I can get you a light snack instead."
"It’s okay. How about you pack so of this for to go instead?"
Ava bead and signalled for a glass of water for Shelby.
Shelby only took a sip and placed it back down. She started fanning herself and stood up montarily, taking off her coat. She was about to hang it behind her chair when she felt that sothing was wrong. The whole restaurant was quiet, all eyes trained on her. Brianna’s fork fell with a clutter, breaking the stalemate.
"Miss!" Suzie hissed.
"OMG, I forgot!" She whispered when she felt the cool air pass through the dress, and she coloured. Shelby frantically tried to put the coat back on, but the damage was already done. The heated gazes of the people in the restaurant were still trained on her.
"Look at you! Looking all sexy and gorgeous!" Ava gushed!
"That dress is gorgeous, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for this place. You know what I an?" She laughed teasingly, knowing full well why Shelby had that on.
"It’s good you had a foresight for the overcoat, though, because the eyes of so of the n in here want to dig a big hole into you!"
Ava’s insistent teasing was interrupted by Brianna’s sarcastic remark, "Why would you even co out in this?"
All at the table turned to look at Brianna. Her indifferent face as she reached for a new fork to eat her al was irritating to look at, but no one said anything to her, and neither did she get an answer to her ridiculous question.
"Since you’re feeling warm and cannot remove your coat, let’s go out for so fresh air!"
"Sure, Ava!"
"Suzie, keep them company. I’ll be just outside. And also, send a plate to Albert so that he’s not left out."
Suzie nodded, and Shelby ruffled Gabriel’s hair, smiling at Ingrid as well. This ti, Gabriel did not make any fuss and continued to enjoy his al.
Shelby stepped out amidst the lusty gazes of all and a few whistles.
"Hey, you! Co oooonnnn, couldn’t you have done a little better than a see-through dress? We’re not at a beach! You should know yourself! n lust after you even when you are covered from head to toe or even in sackcloth!"
"This was the most decent one I found out of the lot Ava,"
"Well, your mother-in-law is really ready for a grandchild. I don’t know what man can resist this! Whoosh!"
The two burst out laughing just as Brianna joined them.
"Couldn’t you have waited for to finish eating?" She said as she munched on a few bites she had in a paper napkin.
"I’ll pack sothing for you to send ho."
"You better!"
The three walked around awhile and stopped at an empty street hotdog stall crowded with many girls in school uniforms. Their excited chatter stread over to the three, drawing their attention.
"Why did we stop?"
"You’ll see," Ava responded mysteriously. It didn’t take long for them to realize why she had said that. The stall owner ca back out from his stall truck, and the girls let out deafening screams.
"Aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!"
"That’s -!" Shelby whispered in astonishnt, just as Ava smiled in triumph.
"Yep! He ca back!"
Brianna rolled her eyes, but her gaze was still glued to the young man who was in a low-hanging jean and just an apron. His muscles flexed with each skilful movent he made preparing the hot dog for the custor. His smile was unwavering, and he gave equal attention to each custor. However, they all just lingered on the side after being served. With such an eye candy like that, the hot dog tasted even better!
Shelby stood stunned! This was the one man she had had a crush on in all her life! They had t a few years prior in their high school days, and she had been smitten to bits. She never thought she would see him again. He was the only man in all her years who had made her feel special because even though his eyes had always longed after her like all the others, he had never acted on it like them.
She felt her insides tremble as the familiar, almost forgotten emotions surged up. As if sensing her gaze, his eyes scanned the crowd until it rested on her and the world around him disappeared. Their eyes t in that special mont.
He quickly served the last bun in his hand, wiped his hands with a napkin, and walked over to them with a wider smile on his face.
His gaze never left hers. It was as if they were the only two in the street as he ca to stand in front of her, towering over her. There was a ti when she would have been super happy with this attention, but for so reason, she only felt happy to see a friend and nothing more than that.
Ava pulled a reluctant Brianna back, and the two watched on. However, Brianna made no move to wipe the scrowl off her face.
"Why is she hoarding all the n!"
"Really? Brianna? Are we going there again?"
"Whatever! Isn’t she married? Why will she entertain him, too!" Ava’s silent glare shut her up.
"Hey!" He whispered when he got to her. "You look good!"
"Hey to you!"
They stood smiling awkwardly at each other, neither making any move to touch the other. It was as if he had never left. He had left initially because she was too young, and he did not trust himself to be a gentleman if he stayed close to her. However, when he had returned to her after her eighteenth birthday, he had been up for a rude shock!
That was the only ti he had tried to ’touch’ her but learned the hard way. It had taken a few more tis before he realized that he could never touch her, not as a friend and definitely not as the lover he so wished to be.
He had thought long and hard about this phenonon and never ca to any conclusions. He never believed in the world out of the ordinary, but after eting Shelby, he started to rethink his outlook on life. With such a surreal beauty, the gods would have done her bad if just anybody could touch her. He was just sad that he was part of the ’anybody list of people.’
He had set out to find answers only for his trip to be cut, shocked by her news.
"I heard you got married." A wave of overwhelming emotions washed over him, and he couldn’t help but lower his gaze.
"Yes," her voice went a notch lower. She felt all fuzzy over, but the familiar fluttering feeling in her stomach was no longer there. Shelby now saw him as a very familiar lost friend. She had no idea when her crush’s emotions had been wiped off her.
"Is he treating you well?"
Shelby nodded.
"That’s good. Let know if he doesn’t, and I’ll take good care of him for you."
"I-"
"Miss Shelby! We cannot find Ingrid!"
Shelby snapped out of the trance to et a panicked Suzie, who was holding onto Gabriel.
"I’m sorry, Royston, I have to leave...."
She turned to leave imdiately but then,
"Shelby, can I at least call you sotis ... please?"
He asked this because his calls had gone unanswered the few tis he had tried and Shelby had never initiated a call nor returned any. He learnt of her marriage in the news and verified it from Ava. That day had been the worst of the worst. He wondered how she was surviving in there considering that no man could touch her.
"...as a friend?" With a curious glance, she tilted her head to the side and asked.
*********
Thank you so much to all for your votes and comnts! I hope we can keep it up ^_^
Support the author by reading only on Webnovel :)
Reviews
All reviews (0)