"Do you want to order now?" Michael asked politely, catching my attention.
I nodded since, with the exception of Kate's, I usually order the same thing at every diner I visit. "I'd like a club sandwich and an iced tea, please."
"I'll have burgers and an iced drink," Adam remarked as he placed the menu down. His gaze was fixed on Lara.
Michael nodded, writing down our orders on a piece of paper, and turned to face Lara, who smiled at him.
"We'll get the same one we usually get," Lara replied softly.
"You're a regular here?" Adam questioned, echoing my thoughts.
Lara glanced at me before turning to face Adam and saying, "Yes, Traian and I usually eat here, which is why Michael had memorized our favorite dish here."
When a pang of jealousy slips into my heart, I discreetly take a deep breath and glance around. Stop, there's no reason for me to feel that way. I tried to look elsewhere, anything to divert my attention, but it was futile when Adam asked a direct question once more.
"What are you and that man?"
Lara looked around at the customers for a bit before answering with a proud smile on her lips; she was a stunning woman with blonde hair and petite features. She almost resembles a doll.
"We were very close, he was my best friend and my man," Lara stated.
"Really?" Adam asked, smirking, "but it doesn't seem like it."
Lara arched her brow, her soft, gentle look gone. Her hand, which was propped up on the table, was clenched. "What exactly is your problem?"
"Nothing," Adam shrugged, "maybe because you claim men around you as yours, like what you called me that night."
I looked shocked between the two. My gaze returned to Adam, who was behaving casually, and Lara, who was now boiling and red with rage. What the hell is going on?
"Shut up!" Lara shouted, leaping to her feet and banging her fist on the table, creating a loud rumbling that drew everyone's attention.
I gasped, backing away as the table cracked.
"You're nothing to me," Lara hissed, staring daggers at Adam.
"That's not what you said while I was banging you that night," Adam responded smugly, and Lara flushed with rage.
"Is that why you're screwing this harlot now?” Lara yelled, pointing at me.
I gaze at her, dumbfounded at how this event had escalated to this point. She may have tried so hard to mask her expressions before, but pulling it off in such a short period of time was not very appealing. I'm not sure what was going on, but I was suddenly feeling bad for Lara since everyone in the diner was glaring at her. Are they.....are they siding with me right now?
Michael arrived with our food on a tray, slapped it down on the table, and turned to face Lara.
"Calm down, Lara; you will not like it if Traian hears you." Michael's words and tone were tense and foreboding.
“Are you really siding her over me, Michael? " Lara asked, shocked. "She's nothing!"
Adam sprang to his feet, grabbing Lara's arm. His gaze was filled with fury. "Don't talk to her like that."
Maybe it's time to leave. I stood up after placing money on the table for my order.
"I think I should go now—" I couldn't complete my sentence as Lara jerked her arm away from Adam and dumped an iced drink on my face. She moved so quickly that I had no time to respond.
I gasped and closed my eyes, feeling the cold water soaking my shirt and dripping from my face. I took a deep breath and lifted my hand to wipe my face.
Confrontation was never something I enjoyed. I'm renowned for being tolerant, but this is an exception.
"I don't know what your problem is since it has not been quite 24 hours since I saw you and we hardly talked for 20 minutes, but your insecurities about me were sleeping all over you," I said calmly.
Lara's eyes widened, and the next thing I knew, she was snarling and about to grab me, but Adam shoved me back, blocking me, while Traian held Lara's arm. When did he arrive?
Everyone in the room stopped breathing as his voice roared.
"What do you think you're doing, Lara?"
Lara appeared to tremble beneath his grip, and tears began to well up in her eyes. Her head dropped.
"Nothing. I...she...." She glanced at Traian as if she was about to say something, but instead she yanked her hand away and rushed outside.
"What a stubborn woman," Adam mused. He grinned at me and squeezed my hand for a second before sprinting after Lara, leaving me bewildered in my place and trying to process everything.
Does Adam know Lara?
I looked around at the people who were suddenly staring at me. I bit my lower lip, picked up my coat, and was going to walk out because I couldn't bear the embarrassment and stares from them when the heaviness of the coat and the masculine perfume that I unknowingly liked so much draped over my shoulders. The nearness of someone was so perceptible on my side. My heart was racing and my skin crawled with delight.
"Avert your gaze," Traian said firmly and authoritatively behind me.
I watched all of the people in the diner do it in an instant out of the corner of my eye. Some even left the restaurant, while Michael just bowed to Traian and walked away.
I tried to take off his coat, but he merely slipped his arm around my shoulders.
"I have my own," I explained.
"I know, Kitten, but mine looks better on you," he replied, and I couldn't help but blush a little. I looked away at him, hiding my face.
Why does he always say things like that?!
The next thing I knew, he had my head buried in his chest as she took me outside through what I assumed was the backdoor. As I staggered forward to meet his movements, my cheek rested on his broad chest. My free hand clutched his shirt for support. I can smell his enticing perfume and feel his muscles tense against me.
We kept walking down the road, and I just followed him since I didn't want to see anyone right now. I accept his protection and care for the time being since I don't trust myself not to run from here, and I have no clue where to go because I don't know the way to my cabin right now. He was the one I only knew at this moment and on this road.
I have no choice. Right, I just don't have a choice, that's why I'm letting him.
Who was I lying to?