AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We were barely seated before Julian ordered a bottle of wine. I was still trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. He smiled at me so sweetly from across the table, and it reminded me of how wonderful he had always treated me each time we had gone out. I had no reason to suspect tonight would be any different.
“This place is gorgeous.”
“It pales in comparison to you.”
“Have I mentioned how much I like you?”
“Please don’t forget that.”
He made the oddest comments sometimes. “What do you—”
“Julian,” the most grating voice in Texas interrupted me. “What a coincidence. I didn’t know you would be here.” The wicked witch landed at our table with her flying monkey, a.k.a. Brooks.
Holy crow, I’d thought Julian rocked a suit and tie, but he had nothing on the broody Brooks, dressed to kill in his charcoal tailored suit. I wanted to kick myself for being so drawn to him. It was the tousled hair, I kept telling myself. I had a thing for it. And him, let’s be honest. Unfortunately, I couldn’t forget the boy who lived inside the man. Too bad Morgan looked like a goddess in her red evening gown that showed off all her curves and highlighted that voluptuous chest of hers.
I looked at Julian to gauge his reaction, and while his pinched features said he was miffed, he didn’t look all that surprised.
“How are you, Grace?” Brooks grabbed my attention.
My name on his tongue warmed me in ways it shouldn’t. Especially since I didn’t particularly like him. Plus, I was on a date and so was he. How awkward was that? I turned to find his soulful brown eyes zeroed in on me. “I’m well.” My tone was cool and steady.
Morgan didn’t seem to care for the way Brooks kept staring at me. She yanked his arm to pull him closer, but if I wasn’t mistaken, he didn’t budge. Was there trouble in paradise, or should I say hell?
Morgan spat out a fake laugh. “Isn’t this fortuitous?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” I kept it real.
“You were always such a joker.” Morgan gave me a razor-like smile that said she would love to cut my throat.
“We’re sorry to interrupt,” Brooks spoke up. I could tell he, too, felt awkward about the situation.
“Brooks, I think it would be nice if we all dined together,” Morgan suggested out of the blue. Was she high? “Weren’t you just saying how you needed to talk to Gracie? Now here’s your chance.” It was like she was daring him.
Her voice was so freaking intimidating it gave me the chills while I contemplated why Brooks wanted to talk to me.
“Not tonight, Morgan.” Brooks held his ground.
Morgan wasn’t deterred. She looked to her big brother. “Don’t you think we should all eat together?”
Julian looked between Morgan and me, his shoulders slumping and a heavy breath escaping him. My eyes begged him to refuse, but he paid them no heed. “Yes,” he said half-heartedly.
Uh. Didn’t I get a say in this? Before I knew it, Julian was moving next to me on my side of the table, and Morgan slid into his seat with a smile, like she was stealing home plate. Brooks stood, unsure what to do.
“Brooks, you’re making a scene,” Morgan admonished him.
Brooks resigned himself to his fate and took the seat across from Julian.
Julian squeezed my knee under the table, as if to say he was sorry. Oh, he better be. Honestly, if he hadn’t had such a rough day, I would have pushed his hand off and left.
Morgan smiled toothily with her capped teeth. “Isn’t this nice?”
I was going with no. I supposed the men felt the same way, since they didn’t answer either. Thankfully, the waiter showed up with our menus and some goblets of sparkling water, making it so we didn’t have to talk to each other for a few minutes. The tension around the table was palpable. Julian’s wine showed up too, and he wasted no time downing the glass that was poured for him.
I buried my head in my menu and tried to comprehend the names of the food. I was tempted to get my phone out and type the items into Google Translate. I got distracted, though, when Cruella de Vil started in on Brooks about what he should order.
“I think you should get the tabbouleh.”
I wanted to say, Bless you. It sounded like she’d sneezed the name. What I should have said was, Oh my crap! He’s a grown freaking man. He can order for himself. I peeked over my menu to look at Brooks, willing him with my eyes to grow a backbone around this chick.
“Bulgur has a lot of fiber in it,” Morgan droned on while Brooks stretch his neck from side to side.
Not sure what bulgur was, but it sounded disgusting. I knocked that off my list of items to order.
