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I feel like I’m putting on a show. All eyes are on us as I help Luna shed her coat and hang it on the back of her chair, as I pull out her chair for her, as she sits and immediately scoots closer to me.
“Sorry,” Eva croons a fake apology when I crook a brow at her staring. “This is just…”
“Weird,” Owen finishes for her, and any respect I had for the guy, any gratitude I had, disappears into thin air.
I hum a non-response as I slink an arm around Luna’s shoulder, my free hand reaching for the menu just as the girl across from me picks hers up. “Wow.” Bea fakes a gasp, gaping at her menu with an expression of shock that makes me pray this girl has no aspirations of becoming an actress. “This place is expensive.”
Eva follows her lead, just as lacking in thespian abilities as her friend. “Oh God, I didn’t realize.” She glances at Luna. “I'm so sorry, Lu. I can cover you, if you need it. You too, Jackson.”
“That won't be necessary.” We talked about this earlier. Luna wasn’t happy about it but somehow, I fucking knew something like this would happen. So, when I pull my wallet out, even though she looks less than pleased, Luna gives a confirmatory nod.
“Start a tab for the table, please,” I tell the waitress when she approaches, handing over my card. Turning back to the table, I take a moment to revel in the shocked expressions before adopting an easy smile. “Order whatever you want. It's on us.”
* * *
I didn’t think it possible but these people are worse than I thought.
Rude. Vapid. And God, annoying. So fucking annoying.
They're taking advantage of their free meal. It feels like they're testing me, ordering expensive shit and waiting for me to panic. Little do they know, I don't give a shit. For all I care, they can buy the whole damn restaurant if it gets me out of here any quicker.
By the time we make it to dessert, I’m at my wits end, and not because of their overspending or the incessant giggling or the flirty glances. No, it's the endless snarky comments shot at Luna that are testing my patience and the effect they have on my girl.
Every dig has her sinking further in her seat, like she's shrinking as they chip away at her. I try to help, to refute their comments, but they’re fucking relentless. Every ten minutes, I whisper offers of faking an illness so we can get the hell out of here, but Luna refuses. She doesn't want to give them the satisfaction. She'd rather just grin and bear it and I have to stomp down the urge to ignore her wishes, chuck her over my shoulder and sprint away, snatching my card at the bar and leaving them with the enormous tab.
They're in the midst of regaling me with some story about a random party their senior year when Eva turns her gaze to Luna, a subtly wicked smile on her lips. “Remember that night, Lu?”
Lu smiles tightly. “Not really.”
“Of course she doesn't,” Bea chimes in, slapping her friend on the arm. “She went home early that night.”
“Oh, yeah.” Eva cocks her head, tone thick with innuendo, her insinuation practically slapping me in the face. “Owen did too, if I remember correctly.”
It's not like they're implying something I don't already know; Owen and Luna used to hook up, Luna told me herself. But still, I sit a little straighter, tug Luna a little closer, appreciate the hand she rests on my thigh, the drumming of her fingers somewhat soothing.
When no one takes the bait, Eva's face twists in frustration. “You know they used to fuck, right?”
Despite everything, the blurted statement shocks me. It’s the most blatantly rude thing anyone’s said all night; every other insult was disguised as a joke or a seemingly innocent throwaway comment, moved on from quickly.
Luna's fingers pick up their pace, and I glance over to find her a mixture of cringing and seething. Linking my fingers with hers, I squeeze gently. “Yeah, I know.”
“Oh.” I daresay Eva looks slightly disappointed not to have caught me off guard with her little attempted bomb. “How about when-”
“You know what,” Luna interrupts, downing her drink and getting to her feet. “I think we’re done for the night.”
“Oh, Luna. We’re-”
Again, Luna doesn’t let her finish. She strides away without a goodbye, and I’m not far behind. I catch her just as she’s pushing outside, my hand gripping her elbow and pulling her to a stop. “Are you okay?”
“No.” Shaky hands tuck her hair behind her ears. “I’m fucking pissed.”
When I wrap my arms around her, she comes easily, burying her face in my chest. “I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“This was a terrible idea.”
Yeah, I’m not going to argue that.
