8- Won't Give Up On us (Book 2)

Questions started racing through my mind. What the hell was he doing here? Did he know I would be here? Was he still angry with me for leaving without saying anything? Not even a goodbye?

I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself, but my nerves were getting the best of me. I couldn't face Adonis, not after everything that had happened between us that night. After I left him without any explanation.

Slowly, I got up from the table and turned to face him. He was wearing a suit! A damn black suit and looked hotter than ever.

"Y...you people know each other?" I heard Justin's confused voice slicing through the air.

Before I could answer him, Adonis spoke up measuring me with a challenging smirk, "Very well. Right, Ms. Evelyne?"

My eyes snapped up to his face when I heard my name escaping his mouth. He was smiling but that smile didn't reach his eyes. It didn't belong to the man who used to be friendly and easygoing with me.

This one had this icy touch that was enough to chill my bones. Now again, what was he doing here? How did he know my name? How did he know Justin?

Ashley told me that the dinner was for Justin's business associate. Was it Adonis?

Now fate! Fuc*king fate, man!

Why it had to be him?

I swallowed hard when I felt several pairs of eyes on me. Aniya, Ashley, and Justin. They were looking at me ... at us... while I had zoned out.

I cleared my throat and tried to bring a small smile to my face, "I... yes... We ... have met!” I felt my cheeks heat up when I witnessed him clenching his jaw, "B... but not that well."Top of Form

Adonis raised a brow and kept looking at me while his eyes were shouting, ‘ Really? Not that well? We spent the night together! Without a shred of clothing!’

Gosh! That was an awkward situation.

Justin offered Adonis to sit beside him. Right in front of me. I could not avoid looking at him. I could not keep myself hidden from his eyes.

There was still some time in serving the dinner. The conversation flowed smoothly among Ashley, Justin, and Aniya. I was relieved that Adonis had not said another word about our past, but I couldn't help feeling his gaze on me from time to time.

After a few minutes when the dishes were served, Adonis spoke up," Evelyne, I remember you once mentioned how much you love seafood. You should try this dish, it's excellent."

Fu*cker. He was referring to the seafood pasta I last ate with him.

I thanked him politely for the suggestion and couldn't help but wonder if there was a hidden meaning behind his mentioning seafood. Was he trying to remind me of our romantic night?

I wanted to run away. I wanted to leave. But that only meant that my friends will not only follow me but will also grill me with questions.

They did have an idea that there was a man who I called Adonis. But they never asked me questions. I had a suspicion that my friends were privy to the cause of the recent bout of depression.

"So, Ms. Evelyne." Adonis called me from across the table, 'Tell me. Do you love to kayak?"

The question made me choke on the chicken piece in my mouth. Aniya sitting beside me started patting my back, "Are you alright?" she asked me with concern, and then her next remark was enough to bring me down on the earth, "It's been more than a week and she is still feeling weak from the illness."

My poor friend tried to protect me without knowing that she was sharing my details with the man who I wanted to stay away from.

"Oh," the concern flashed in his eyes, "What happened?" "A few days back on a weekend, she came home with a high fever. She couldn't go to her salon. You know, she owns it?" She asked him excitedly.

Urgh! I wanted to kill her. Sometimes she was an annoying chatterbox who didn't know how to control her tongue.

"So how are you feeling now, Ms. Long... I mean... Ms. Evelyne."

I nodded my head weakly and stretched my jaw for a forced smile, "I am good. Thanks." I could not afford to take his name.

Elijah was not possible. And calling him Adonis would certainly ring bells in my friends' heads. I was stuck.

God! I was stuck!

Adonis continued making subtle references to our history of seafood and kayaking, but I tried to keep the conversation light

leaned forward and whispered, "You know, Evelyne, I still have that necklace you left

mean what I

in the equation. My

tried to brush it off, ’Oh, that old thing? I'm sure I can

dog, Adonis. I want

on mine, 'Are you sure about that,

my cheeks flush as I realized the double meaning behind his words. I tried my best to keep my

You know where my salon is." I said while playing

They won't tell me your address. I wanted to return it to you myself." He wiped his mouth with a cotton

started forcing the food down my throat. If he thought, he could squeeze this information

was delivering this hidden message that

more personal. All of us shared stories of our past experiences with our jobs and schools. The funniest ones were from Ashley and Aniya, who used to prank everyone in the orphanage. Justin used to beam with pride whenever his wife started speaking and I couldn't help but notice this sudden tension between Adonis and

his

beat. Was he referring to our past or something

notice it and everyone followed him. I too raised my own glass, trying to keep

turned to me with questioning looks. "Who is he?" Ashley asked, her eyes scanning my face for any hints, "Like I know he is Justin's

Ash. Just an old friend. We go

see it in their eyes, "There's something more,

bit uncomfortable under their scrutiny. "What

leaned forward, her voice low. ’Don't play dumb with us, love.

flinched at the mention of his name. Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself.

the tea," Aniya urged, a mischievous

my head. "I really don't want

clearly annoyed. "Fine, be mysterious. But we're going to get to the

hoping to diffuse the

to my friends, but I also didn't want to reveal too much about my past with Adonis. "Listen. He's just someone I used to know," I said

"Used to know? So, you're

no. It's been ... a ... a long ... time." I tried to smile and attached the wine glass

voice low. "Come on, Eve, there's something more to this. You two do have a history, don't you? It's just

flustered under their scrutiny. "It's complicated, guys,"

weren't satisfied. "Complicated how?" Aniya

a corner. "Look, I don't really want to talk about it,

seemed clearly annoyed. "So, I guess

in my stomach as they continued to speculate about

the conversation turned to other things. But I couldn't shake the feeling that my devil friends had suspected that there was more to the story than

***

Why don’t you both stay here tonight? We have extra guestrooms." Ashley came up with the idea but as always, I didn't want

can't. Maybe on the weekend?" "You are

convincing, "I am feeling much better, Aniya. Besides it's

keep running away from Adonis. Sooner or later, I had to face him. Just because he knew where my

she didn't push the issue. 'Alright, if, you're sure. But you

grateful that she didn't seem too upset.

looked concerned, but she seemed to accept my explanation." Okay,

couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for not being entirely honest with them. But I knew I had my reasons for not wanting to stay over, and

arguing about something when I saw Justin coming towards us along with Adonis. I wanted to divert my attention but couldn't

a simple white shirt with its two buttons opened

his wife and we all stood up to see off the

for a handshake. After shaking Ashley's and Aniya's hands

where I live. I knew it was silly of me but not now. I wanted time to tackle all

him a tightlipped smile. He

can send your car tomorrow with a driver."

with concern, "He

who had been like a caring brother to me. Lately, both husband and wife had been trying to be

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