"Hank is a good man .... Hank is a good man ... Hank is a...." Sophia Ruben chorused in her mind but was interrupted by a loud crash behind her. She jumped totally forgetting about her environment, She looked back just in time to see the waitress struggling with broken pieces of a bottle of wine and wine glasses. The waitress looked up at her pleadingly and it dawned on her that it was the bottle of red wine she had ordered few minutes back.
"I am so sorry" the waitress pleaded. Sophia forced a smile not because she was mad at the waitress but because she was really tired, mentally and emotionally stressed out.
The waitress was still looking at her like she was waiting for some sort of assurance that Sophia was not upset.
"It's totally fine" She told the waitress. Just then someone that looks like the manager in charge of the restaurant walked up to them with dissatisfaction written over his face.
"We are sorry for the unprofessionalism" the older man smiled showing set of extremely white teeth.
"Veneers" Sophia thought.
"It was a mistake that could have happened to anyone" Sophia assured the man.
The man nodded " I am glad you understand". He turned to face the waitress " get someone to clean this mess".
She hurried away after heaving a sigh of relief.
"I will pay for the broken wine" Sophia said knowing fully well that the waitress' pay would be deducted.
The manager grinned widely " That is very kind of you madam". With that he left.
The man sure knows how to show off his veneers.
She looked towards the glass door wondering why Philip was not there yet. Will he stand her up?
Afterall the lunch date was his idea. Something to cheer her up.
She was trying to get her mind off Hank but she could not, he had been spending time away in their holiday home in Spain. Did he hate her that much?
"Hello pretty" a familiar cologne filled her nostrils. She looked up to see Phillip's handsome face.
"Hey" she whispered.
He took the seat beside her instead of sitting across her. The gesture made her heart fluster. He sure knows how to make her feel loved and wanted. Unlike her husband.
"How do you feel?" he took her hands and squeezed gently.
"Good" she shrugged.
"Just good?" he laughed softly.
"What else? I can't feel great about having a divorce, so yeah I feel good" She blinked.
Her heart felt heavy but she could not cry, she was tired of crying. She would cry if she could but the tears was nowhere to be found.
The waitress came back with another bottle of wine just as Philip pulled her in a warm embrace. Her body stiffened not knowing how to react to his affection. He poured her a glass and tried to lift it towards her lips.
"I can drink my own wine" She laughed heartily. "I'm not bedridden or something."
"He scoffed" I like the sound of your laughter, please laugh more".
She smiled , Philip has been making her smile more often. She felt grateful, grateful to have a friend like him in her corner.
Friend?
"I care about you Princess" he said as a matter of fact.
"I know you do" she blushed. And the truth of the matter is that she cares about him as much as he does for her.
Their lunch came and they ate in silence except for the few glances they exchanged.
Dilly rolled her eyes dramatically as she walked into the five star restaurant, it was her second time in this kind of restaurant and she had dressed her best hoping that Ryan would not get a funny idea. Her attempt to make him not notice her outfit failed because he had indeed teased her.
He led her to the table not far from the bar.
"Thank you" she said as he held the chair out for her to sit.
He just grinned scanning through the menu. A force was pulling at the hair at the back of his neck. It felt like there was another vampire very close to him. He looked around scanning through the guests in the restaurant, he was so sure that there is another vampire around. Whoever it is knows how to hide their identity so well.
"Well this isn't necessary" Dilly sighed jolting him out of his numerous thoughts. "We should have just had lunch at my place".
Ryan laughed amusement dancing in his eyes in spite of the unsettling atmosphere "Well I insist, I haven't had fine dining in a long ass while."
"It's expensive here" Dilly argued hoping that he wasn't breaking the bank just to please her.
"I have money" he shrugged.
"Then you should buy a house in an estate" Dilly thought.
"I might have to buy a house soon" he smirked. Dilly's eyes opened in surprise.
"Can you read minds now?" She eyed him.
"No but I can read yours" he teased earning a piercing gaze from her.
He was not joking around about buying a house though. He would eventually buy a house.
He smiled wondering what she would say if he asked her to live with him if he buys a mansion. He did not seem like someone who would buy a luxurious house but his net worth will have her wondering what he does for a living. That is the advantage of generational wealth. Vampires are known for their wide range of wealth and his was not an exception.
Dilly looked over at him wondering why he kept smiling, he was dressed in a navy blue long-sleeved polo with the same color of jeans to match. She hates to admit it but he looks really handsome.
"Why do you always wear clothes that cover most of your body?" She asked. She pouted almost like she regrets asking, curiosity got the best of her.
Ryan laughed "I just like to be modest".
Modest my foot.
Soft laughter from the table not too far from them caught Dilly's attention. She looked beside her to find a cute couple chatting away. They look happy but the woman's eyes has a hint of pain in them. Dilly gasped as the woman's eyes met with hers.
"Sophia?" She whispered.
Sophia Ruben looked away, her face did not show any kind of emotion but heat rose up to her face when her eyes lingered towards Ryan for a while making Dilly's mind flash back to the night Ryan had saved her from Sophia.
She didn't look scared this time around, she looked like she hasn't slept in months. The man she was chatting happily with did not look like Hank. Dilly looked away wondering why Sophia's mystery man was glaring towards their direction. He was looking at Ryan.