From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 298

Chapter 298

As Riley scrambled to his feet, dusting off the dirt from his jeans, he quickly caught up with Sherman's stride. The two were greeted by a warm smile from Adah as they approached the dining area. "Finished your little competition, have you?" Adah chuckled. "Dinner's about ready. I was about to send someone to fetch you boys. Who won, by the way?"

"Sherman's too good!" Riley exclaimed, brushing a hand through his hair. "I mean, with these skinny arms and legs of mine, how could I ever match up to him?"

Sherman clapped Riley on the back with a hearty laugh. "Riley's just a greenhorn! Give him a few decades to practice, and maybe, just maybe, he'll have a shot at beating me." Riley's mouth twitched into a grimace. "Decades?"

The dinner table was a lively scene, with Karen strategically seating Riley next to Anthea. Five people gathered around the table, with Sherman sitting directly across from Riley.

"So, Riley," Karen began with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "you're what, 21 this year?"

"Yeah, that's right," Riley replied with a nod.

back at college?" Karen

shook his head. "Haven't found the right one

and served her a piece of fish

glanced at Sherman with a knowing

Cheeky boy!

were having a silent battle of

with Karen's

chicken feet. "Annie, these are spiced to perfection. You've got to try them. And wait till you see the crawfish coming up-they're your favorite." Riley joined in the conversation with an eager smile. "You like crawfish

meat, I'm usually a fan." In her past life, Anthea hadn't been one for indulgences. Often a nutrient shake was enough, and she'd go days

seizing the opportunity, asked Riley, "Can you

eyes lit up. "The spicier the better when it comes to

her comment laced with double meaning. Sherman, however, kept his eyes on his plate, his handsome

already on his feet, deftly cracking the