“I’ll think about it, leave,” Tiffany finally said and Marlie exhaled.
“Will you give me the reply that I want?” She blinked her eyes twice.
“I don’t know,” Tiffany replied and moved towards the other side of the cabinet where the lady walked to.
“Do you have milkshake?” the lady asked.
“No,” replied Tiffany.
“Can I have the sweetest thing here then?” she asked with a smile.
“No problem.”
Marlie watched her half-sister attend to the customer and let out a sigh.
Even if her dad finally told the lady that he was her father, would she accept?
Tiffany doesn’t seem like the kind of person to jump at her father the moment she heard that he is her father.
She bet the lady would prefer attending to customers to acknowledging her dad.
Ooof! Guess there’s a lot of work ahead of her dad to do.
“I see you’re still waiting,” Tiffany groaned after she had answered the lady.
“Can I have your phone, please?”
“No, why?”
“In case you finally make up your mind to come, I want to give you the number you’ll call,” Marlie answered.
“Don’t stress it, I…”
“Come on, don’t be too uptight,” Marlie frowned.
“Do you have a problem with it?” Tiffany snapped with a glare.
“No, so, your phone?” Marlie forwarded her ” at her and Tiffany removed it from her apron pocket reluctantly.
“Please, decide quickly, okay?” She said and returned the phone to Tiffany.
“Don’t hesitate to…”
“Welcome!” Tiffany interrupted her as she moved to the other side, totally ignoring Marlie.
“Huh, so cold,” she pouted.
“I’ll get going, take care of yourself, sis!” Marlie waved her hand at Tiffany and then walked out of the shop.
Hmm!
Tiffany sighed.
She wondered if it was just about knowing about her mother, but if there was something else she didn’t know.
==
Night.
Tiffany was cleaning up the shop when the door opened and Aiden walked in.
“Hey, sweetie,” he walked closer, collected the towel in her hand, and hugged her.
“I missed you,” he said and kissed her forehead.
“I missed you too,” Tiffany smiled.
“You done for the day?” He raised the towel she was using to clean the chair and table.
“I just have to clean the tables, then I’m done,” she answered.
“Then I’ll do that. Sit down and watch me, you must be tired, right?”
“How do you know?” Tiffany slapped her cheeks with her palm gently.
“I can see through you, have you forgotten?” He winked at her.
“No, baby,” she shook her head and then collapsed on the chair.
“I’m so tired, I think my legs are going to come off,” she stretched lazily.
“Will you take a break from working, you’re working yourself too hard, do you know that? ” Aiden said, cleaning the table.
“There’s no way I’m taking a break from working,” she said and turned her neck which gave out a loud crack.
“Are you okay?” Aiden dropped the towel and hurried toward her.
“I’m fine,” she nodded her head.
“Should we go to my house?” He bent down and looked at her.
“And?”
“Then we’ll go to school together tomorrow,” he smiled.
“Hmm, yes. I’m in!” Tiffany snapped her fingers.
“Wait, for real?” Aiden widened his eyes in shock.
He wasn’t expecting her to say yes so easily.
He thought he was going to persuade her a little more.
“I’ve missed you so much, seeing you only at night and in school is so…”
“Unromantic, right?!”
“Exactly,” Tiffany shook her head and they both laughed.
“I’ll clean up the furniture fast then we leave, okay?” Aiden stood up.
“Yes, after we wait for my boss,” Tiffany tilted her head to the side.
“Ah, yes,” Aiden scratched his forehead and walked to the table to resume cleaning.
“Babe, you know Marlie, right?” Tiffany asked.
“Marlie, Declan’s sister?” Aiden creased his brows, still cleaning.
“Yes.”
“What’s up with her?”
“She came here today and begged me to see her dad,” she sucked her teeth.
“Seriously?” Aiden stopped cleaning and walked toward her again.
“Yes.”
“What did you say? Did you say yes?” he pulled a chair closer to her and sat down.
“At first, I refused, but she was really adamant, and besides, I’m really curious about who my mother is,” Tiffany sighed and Aiden exhaled.
“So, will you go?” Aiden raised a brow.
“I don’t know. I’ll give it more thought,” Tiffany answered.
“Give it a lot of thought now, there’s no room to think when you’re with me, you know that, right?” Aiden teased.
“Whatever,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
The door opened and Amelia strolled in lazily, “you’re always here on time. I can only imagine how much you love her,” she teased.
And they exchange pleasantries.
==
Aiden’s residence.
“I can’t seriously believe you think Cats are better than dogs, I mean… How?!” Tiffany protested as she entered the house then Aiden followed.
“Babe, Cats are the cutest thing on earth, I mean, everything about them, their innocent looks, their pouty mouth, everything about them is just so cute,” Aiden argued, walking behind her.
“You think they are cute because… Jesus!” Tiffany screamed as she felt something brush past her legs.
“What is that?” She widened her eyes as she stared at the kitten that jumped on the table.
“It’s a kitten,” Aiden smiled nervously.
“I thought it was suspicious, how the hell would you ask me all of a sudden if I prefer cats to dogs!” Tiffany screamed, clapping her hands.
“It’s not like that,” Aiden shook his head and took a step back.
“So, I saw this beautiful creature in front of my house when I… I swear, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Aiden said and brushed past her hurriedly before she reached where he was.
“You could have just said you adopted a kitten, why did you have to make us have arguments regarding dogs and cats,” Tiffany glared at him, and began to walk towards him.
“Who told you I am scared? Tsk, what is the name of the kitten that you rescued?” Tiffany asked and then began to walk towards the kitten that was on the table.
“Lily, cool, right?” Aiden chuckled.
Tiffany hissed and then bent over the kitten, as she tried to reach out to it, it ran away.
“Did it just run away?” Tiffany widened her eyes.
“It wouldn’t dare,” Aiden pressed his lips together trying to keep his laughter.
The look Tiffany had on her face at the moment was funny.
Come on, babe, it’s just a cat!
“Woah, I see it is discriminating. Woah, just Woah!” Tiffany clapped her hands at the kitten that wasn’t even looking at her.
“It’s just a kitten, you’re taking it too far,” Aiden chuckled.
“Shut up, what do you know? Do you have anything at home? I’m hungry,” she rubbed her hand against her stomach and then settled on the couch.
“Yes, ma’am,” Aiden bowed, dropped her bag beside her, and then walked to the kitchen.
After he had left, Tiffany felt something brush her legs and she looked down to see the kitten.
“So you could reach out first,” Tiffany crossed her hands across her chest.
“Aiden, your cat came to me finally!” She screamed and then reach out to the cat.
==
The next day, Western high school.
“Now, I’m jealous, see who came to school with her boyfriend today,” Tiffany heard the unmistakable voice of Zoey as she got down from Aiden’s bike.
“Oh, it’s Declan’s girlfriend!” Tiffany exclaimed and they both laughed.
“Hold on, my bag…”
“Do you love being with Aiden that much? I can’t believe how much you pull away from me ever since you start to date that guy,” Zoey sniffed.
“Come on, you know that’s not true,” Tiffany nudged her.
“What’s up with your face, you look like you got a short amount of sleep,” Zoey scrutinizes Tiffany’s face as they walk.
“Is it so evident? Gosh, I’m going to kîll Aiden.”
“Why?” Zoey chuckled.
“Aiden, I’m taking your babe. Bye!” she hurriedly lock her arm with Tiffany’s and pull her along.
“You know, I slept over at his house. That’s not even it, Aiden adopted a kitten and…”
“Really?! I’ve always wanted one,” Zoey jumped up in excitement.
“Tsk,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“So, is the kitten disturbing you?”
“We watched movies till one in the morning, and when it was time to sleep, Aiden snuck the kitten into the bedroom. It practically disturbed us all night. Whenever I try to take it out, it would just slip my hand like… Boom. It was annoying running after a kitten at the midnight,” Tiffany said in disgust.
“So, do you hàte it that much? I can come to take it away if you want,” Zoey blinked.
“Never!” Tiffany snapped.
“But, you did not…” She was still saying when she bumped into someone.
“You should watch where you’re going,” came the deep voice of Declan.
“Declan!” Zoey released Tiffany’s hand and then jumped on Declan who wrapped his hand around her waist.
“Did you miss me that much?” Declan mumbled in her ear.
“Yes. So much,” Zoey giggled and they broke the hug.
“I miss…” Declan was just saying when Tiffany grabbed Zoey’s wrist.
“Hey, Declan, I’m taking your babe,” she said and then pulled Zoey along.
“Hold on, let me just see him for a few more minutes,” Zoey pouted.
“You didn’t give me the chance to be with my guy also,” Tiffany hissed.
“Okay, I’m sorry. Will you go and meet him? I want to go back to my baby,” Zoey grumbled.
“No, I’m not going to meet him. Let’s go to the class. Come to think of it, I’ve missed the hell outta you,” Tiffany drawled, grinning at the frowning lady.
“I hàte you so much,” Zoey sniffed.
“Yeah, I love you too.”
===
Lunch break.
Aiden, Tiffany, Declan, and Zoey gathered at the table in the cafeteria exclusively for the Dax.
While Zoey and Declan settled for Spicy chicken and salad wrap while Aiden and Tiffany settled for salmon and salad bagel.
While they were eating, Zoey wouldn’t tear her eyes off her phone, and Aiden and Declan wouldn’t stop communicating with their eyes.
“God, what are you all murmuring about!” Tiffany snapped and dropped her fork on the tray.
“I’m waiting for my invite!” Zoey hissed.
“Which invite?” Declan turned to look at her.
“Aiden’s birthday party. Some students have received theirs,” Zoey answered.
“My birthday party invite?” Aiden raised a brow.
“I guess you didn’t know. Only the elite students are getting invited, I’m waiting for mine,” Zoey pouted.
“You mean there’s a birthday party on my behalf?” Aiden asked.
“You didn’t know? I got the invite already,” Declan mumbled through a mouthful.
“Seriously?” Tiffany whispered enough for Aiden that was beside her to hear and he shook his head.
Aiden knew of his mum’s plan, he just didn’t know it was extended to this level.
He thought it was just going to be a get-together party with media around to announce him as her heir.
But this?
Birthday party?
“I got it!” Zoey screamed as soon as her phone beeped.
“Why are you making a deal out of it?” Declan frowned as he glanced at the tons of eyes that turned to look in their direction.
“Leave me alone, you’re attending, right? Let’s go together?”
“Sure, I’ll make the entrance with you,” Declan winked at her.
“Tiffy, how about you? It’s your boyfriend’s birthday,” Zoey bore her eyes into Tiffany’s.
“Also her birthday,” Aiden rolled his eyes.
“What?!” Zoey screamed, drawing attention.
“What?” Tiffany frowned.
“It’s your birthday on Aiden’s? I mean, the two of you share the same birthday?” Zoey widened her eyes.
“Well,” Tiffany shrugged her shoulder off.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. We were only talking about Aiden’s birthday,” Zoey pouted.
“Come on, I have no problem with that,” Tiffany smiled and resumed eating.
“Happy birthday in advance, Tiffany,” Declan said, Tiffany raised her head slowly and then choked on her food.
“Easy,” Aiden patted her back and gave her a cup of water.
“What’s up with your boyfriend?” Tiffany raised a brow.
“Tiffany,” Declan called out and then gulped down water his throat.
“What?”
“I… I have something to tell you,” he stammered.
“Me? Oh, okay. Now?”
“My dad wants to meet you,” he said bluntly and Tiffany coughed again.
“Come on, take it easy,” Aiden patted her hair.
“Why?” Tiffany frowned.
Was there something else in this?
First, it was Marlie wanting her to meet their dad.
Now, Declan?
Declan?!
Woah.
Okay, now, she’s really curious.
“I don’t know but he really wants to meet you. I’ve never seen him so desperate to meet someone,” he bit his lower lips.
“Wait, why? Don’t tell me your dad wants you to marry Tiffany? You know all those movies that the… ”
“That’s not it. It’s something more… Personal,” Declan interrupted, and nod his head.
“I know we’re not on good terms, but can you just…”
“I will go,” Tiffany interrupted, and their eyes fell on her.
“For real?” Aiden’s lips tugged in a smile.
“Yes. I’m getting curious. I will go and you will come with me,” Tiffany said and then turned to face her food.
Zoey tilted her head stylishly, well, she knew nothing of what they were talking about.
Okay, let’s just resume eating.
Aiden and Declan stared at each other with a knowing smile.
Aiden tore his eyes away and then looked at his girlfriend.
This girl needed happiness.
He was glad she was finally going to meet her father.
Well, that’s if the lady welcomes him.
Oh, he fears for the senator already.
That man did not know what he was getting into.
*
TBC…