Was it a good idea I invited them?
I shrug my shoulders, looking around the softly-lit restaurant. Soft-spoken conversations are happening all around us. I hope our conversations stay as soft as everyone else’s.
Zayn tilts his chin up, directing behind me. “They’re here.”
I look over my shoulder, eyes wide at Rya’s skintight red dress and black stiletto heels as she struts toward us.
“Hi guys,” she says, flipping her blonde hair back.
She’s dressed up as if we’re going clubbing.
“Hey,” I say.
She pulls the chair next to me out and takes a seat.
“Sorry we’re late,” Ezra says as he makes his way over across from Rya next to Zay. “Rya took forever to get ready.”
Rya tilts her head. “Do you have to start?” she whispers.
Ezra ignores her, grabs a menu off the table, and looks over it.
I look between Rya and Ezra. She crosses her arms over her chest, her gaze fixed on Ez while he ignores her, reading over the menu.
What’s going on with them? I’m glad it’s not me and Zayn this time. Did I speak too soon about soft conversations? This better not escalate. I don’t want another scene like the one in the coffee shop.
Zayn glances over to Ezra and says, “Hey man, sorry about the other day.”
“It’s fine. No need to apologize,” Ez says, avoiding eye contact with all of us as he looks over at the menu.
Zay looks back over at me with his brows raised and a slight shrug to his shoulders. I hope he’s sincere about being fine with what Zay accused us of. I can’t help but wonder if there is something else going on with him. Is it because of how late Rya made them? I hope it’s as simple as that, but if it was, I don’t think Ez would be this upset about it. Does he not forgive Zay, and did Rya force him to come?
“What are you apologizing for anyway, Zayn?” Rya asks, as if she’s clueless.
He looks up at her, brows furrowed in confusion because I’m sure he thinks Ez or I would have already told her. Which I did. So, I’m confused too.
“Oh, right.” She giggles. “You thought Vi and Ez were sleeping together.” She slaps her hand down on her leg and giggles some more.
All three of us look over at her, wide-eyed.
She looks between us three, staring at her. “What?”
Ezra shakes his head and then looks back over the menu, followed by Zay ignoring her.
“Is everything okay, Rya?” I ask. The way she said,Oh right, you thought Vi and Ez were sleeping togethersounded as if she was trying to make a point to something.
A point to what?
She grabs her menu. “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
I decide to stay quiet. I don’t want this to escalate even more. More of what? I don’t know. But it seems as if she’s on one today. Ezra and Zayn are both ignoring her, staring down at their menus. The energy between us all shifted quickly. It feels like there’s something unspoken going on. I sip from my glass of wine, hoping it eases my nerves. Was it not a good idea to invite them? Was it too soon?
“Okay, so what’s everyone ordering?” I say, trying to shift the mood.
Zayn says, “Mmm, I think I’m going with the steak.” He lifts his head, glancing at me.
“I think I’ll have the same,” Rya says, closing her menu.
Ezra’s gaze remains on the menu like he’s in a daze, ignoring my question.
