This must be a new one. I thought, as I looked at the sign that was placed on the restaurant’s top.
“Do they cook as nice as they look?” Diana asked, and I held back a chuckle. Naomi couldn’t though.
“Of course,” She managed to say whilst chuckling. She held the free hand of Diana-typical Noami-to the surprise of the little one, and led us into the restaurant.
It was bustling already, the bustle easing when they took note of us. There were a few from the mage community, but most were of the werewolf’s clan and they couldn’t understand what a masked girl was doing in their eatery.
The party was over for god sake. They must be thinking.
“Don’t mind their stares. It’s not everyday that a masked beauty pays them a visit.” Naomi said, and I nodded, willing myself not to smile sheepishly at the title.
Masked beauty? I might get used to that.
We found a table that was close to the door. Diana had picked that one. I was not sure if it was because of its closeness to the door.
“Let me book our orders.” Naomi mentioned as soon as we took our seats.
And just as I was settling in, taking in the view, ignoring the looks, I sensed a shift in the atmosphere. Adam.
I closed my eyes, willing them not to turn and look at him. What was he doing here?
I knew it was him because I scented his heady fragrance. What was this? Shouldn’t my anger be thick enough to stamp out the scent of him?
I curled my left fingers on the table, when I sensed that he was approaching this way.
Had he been following us? I wondered, tempted to turn, yet choosing to clasp my thigh instead with my right hand, the pain reminding me of the night they had almost beaten me to death.
A sign of relief flew past my mouth when he and his clique walked past me, and sat at the next table.
Why didn’t they choose a far-er table though?
A furrow outlined my forehead, when the queen’s last son, who had been with them, turned around at the last moment, and sat with us.
What the heck, dude?! What are you doing?
“Hey Dora, hey Diana, sorry for intruding. I just want some peace and quiet, and you two look like it.” He said, as he sat down, picking a book from his pocket.
A book of spells. Well, studious much?
“I hope you don’t mind.” He added, peering up at me, instead of Diana, whom I thought he had come for.
If I don’t know any better, I would think that he was making a statement, making a pass, that he sees me.
Well, to hell with him and his sight.
“Of course not, Raul. You are absolutely welcome. I am surprised that you lasted this long.” Diana said, and I held back a scoff. She was smiling like she had seen her favorite candy. This wasn’t good.
Was she aware that the dude was older than her by more than ten years? I watched him smile, take his eyes away from me, and ruffle her hair.
Diana though wasn’t happy about this. “I am not a kid. Stop that.”
I mused, and looked away. Laura wouldn’t like this. Should I ask him to leave? I wondered, watching Noami saunter back to us. Or should I engage him in a conversation? That way, I might get a feel of who he actually is.
“So Dora, I haven’t really seen you around…how long have you been in the community?”
Oh, look! He engages me first.
“A couple of weeks.” I answered, watching Naomi settle in the next seat after Raul’s.
“Really? Where have you been then? Were you in the last meeting ?”
“Yeah, I was. I think you were probably busy reading that you hadn’t been able to raise your head then. I didn’t catch you though.” I answered, a stiff smile on my face when he started laughing.
What was so funny about what I said? He should be embarrassed. That was why I had said it. To gauge his reaction when pushed to a corner.
He was laughing? I was not sure if that is a good sign.
“You seem to have me all figured out. Diana, you didn’t tell me that your cousin is an observant genius, a psychologist… Wait, is that part of her magic?”
Diana laughed with him, and I took a minute to wonder if the dude was pulling my legs or insulting me.
The meditative thought vanished when my eyes crashed with Adam’s. He had taken a seat on the next table at a position where he could literally be seeing all of me, without really stressing about it.
I wanted to look away. I really wanted to, but my anger then was fuel enough to keep the stare, without feeling the tumults of a breakdown.
As always, he was cool as a cucumber, his emotions all hidden.
“You like him already?” Raul was speaking, drawing my attention away from Adam. “Well, you will have to up your game. You have a lot of competition.”
“I don’t like him.” I responded swiftly, and sharper than I would have liked. I sounded defensive.
“And why is that? He seems to have all the girls at attention.” Raul pointed out, picking a chip from Diana’s plate.
I laughed, noticing for the second time the beauty of the young man in front of me. He could be on the same level with the triplets.
Why was he talking like he wasn’t aware of that?
“Then I would have to admit that you are blind then, if you can’t see that you are the one arresting the whole attention-so much so, that you should watch out-they might want to stone you for stealing that spot from them.” I replied with a chuckle.
Raul smiled, his eyes twinkling as he stared at me, his book forgotten, making me wonder if I had done a good deed by placing him in the spotlight.
“And who could be the ‘them’ that you are talking about?” A cold voice asked, sending chills down my spine.