Here I was grumbling about a boy while living mine — and jeopardising it.
I shook my head, tsking to myself and pulled the thread free, holding it between my finger and thumb, looking at my miniature destruction. One tug, and everything fell apart.
Luca tapped my trainer with his, and I looked up to his raised brows.
I shrugged, answering his silent question.
Because I didn’t know if I was okay.
Our starters came, and Luca asked for Ever’s food to be kept warm while we waited for her arrival.
At least while we ate, there wasn’t pressure to talk. Luca avoided the truth easily, protective of my secrets.Because I hadn’t told my dad much lately.
Dad filled the silence while I chewed every mouthful a hundred times. He had never been much of a talker before, but retiring and going on adventures with Mum had relaxed him. He had lots of stories to tell.
“When you’re back for my birthday, we’ll have to get a day on the track booked in,” he said. “That way Ryder can show you how he’s improved, Fia.”
I nodded and dipped my final ring into the spicy garlic aioli, only to freeze.
Somehow, I knew.
The door directly opposite us, past ten or so tables, opened. And in walked three figures. The restaurant was dark, mostly lit by low-hanging light fixtures and candles. I only needed his silhouette to know he was there. Of course, he was. Even without seeing his eyes, I could feel them locked on mine.
And I couldn’t look away.
They stepped forward. Zolt lingered in the shadows, but the waiter talked to Imre, and I breathed in deeply, remembering to fill my lungs.
Dad didn’t know Imre worked here. Dad knew nothing of the last few weeks.
Because I was havingthe best time everat my new job, it was everything I’dever wanted it to be.
But when the waiter gestured for them to follow, Imre looked up at me, waved a dismissive hand at the waiter, and made a beeline for our table.
Shit.
In my head, I scrambled to stand and usher them away before Dad could see, but my body remained frozen, the calamari still in my hand, half dipped into the pot.
And they were still coming, Zolt trudging behind his brother and stepfather.
Dad’s throat cleared. The napkin hit the plate with a soft thud.
And I knew this wasn’t about to go down well.
Luca looked over his shoulder at them and sighed, shaking his head. “Good thing Ever’s not here.”
Because she’d unleash holy hell.
Dad gave me a sympathetic look, placing his hand on mine over the table.
When I should be looking at him with sympathy.
“Hello, Zsófia,” Imre said in English and offered me an awkward smile. “I heard you were out for dinner.”
“Yes.” I dropped the calamari and wiped my hands on my napkin, like that might undo the mess I’d made.
“What are you doing here?” Dad asked, eyeing Zoltán and Benedek, but it was clear who he was talking to.
“It was meant to be a family dinner. But Zsófia already had plans,” Imre said.
