This should be fun.
I take a seat at the table while Rupert plucks a brown paper napkin from his water glass that I can only assume was taken from a to-go restaurant, given the texture and color.
It’s been folded into some sort of bird, and while Rupert attempts to unfold it, it tears in his hands.
“Here we are,” Kitty says as she steps into the dining room and sets down a bowl of mashed potatoes, a bowl of mashedpeas, and some biscuits. Renley follows behind with the chicken. “I’ll grab the drinks. Renley, why don’t you start plating?”
She already carved some pieces from the chicken, so she picks up her plate and starts serving portions. It’s quiet besides the light sound of instrumental music playing in the background and the clang of Renley’s serving spoon. The overhead lights are dimmed, there is a candle lit on the buffet table to the right, and the silence feels deafening.
“So Kitty still doesn’t know?” Rupert asks, breaking the silence.
Renley’s head snaps up. “No,” she whispers. “And please don’t say anything.”
“Kind of rude, don’t you think?” Rupert asks, his posture making it seem like he’s ready to start some trouble.
“Mate, don’t start,” I say in warning. “There’s reasoning.”
All he does is nod before he hands over his plate to Renley. She takes it with trepidation, pleading with her eyes to Rupert.
“Here we are,” Kitty says, bringing in a tray of water, wine, and…lemonade. “Thought we could have a little of each.”
Not sure about that pairing, but I’ll go with it.
“Let me help,” Rupert says, standing and grabbing the lemonade.
“Lemonade in the teacups, please,” Kitty announces before uncorking the wine.
Shit, it’s her homemade wine.
Note to self: don’t drink it.
While everyone busies around me, pouring drinks and dishing out portions of food, I watch Renley and focus on the worry in her brow and her tense movements. I want nothing more than to pull her down on my lap and tell her that everything is going to be okay.
But not only can I not touch her in front of Kitty, I can’t even be sure that everything is going to be okay. I can’t even offer herthat reassurance, because I truly don’t know, which makes me ache and feel uneasy.
Once everything is poured and served, everyone takes their seats and Kitty picks up her glass of red wine. “I would like to make a toast.” Her lips tilt up in a sad smile as she glances around the table. “To the friendships we never expected but formed through happenstance.”
“Yes, to friendships,” Rupert says loudly. “And only friendships, nothing else.”
I glare at him as I clink my glass with everyone else’s.
Clearing her throat, Renley says, “Um, the chicken?—”
“And relationships,” Kitty says with a smirk, making my heart sink to the floor.
“Yes, relationships,” Rupert says with a nod.
Renley glances at me. I glance at her.
Kitty lifts her glass again.
Rupert smirks.
And I stay there, stunned, because what is she talking about?
“Well, possible relationships in the future,” Kitty adds. “Never know what this life has in mind for us.”
“Never know,” Rupert continues as he picks up his fork. “Who knows what relationships we’ll have after this is all said and done?”
