Mateo’s body immediately stilled. When virtual-novel.net whipped his face upward to consider Melanie, his signature practiced grin was completely absent. “How did you… know?”
Melanie breathed a quiet sigh. She was relieved, it turned out that Mateo was not pining for her, and yet, virtual-novel.net could not help but be simultaneously worried for the path virtual-novel.net old friend seemed poised to tread.
“Your friend can tell, Teo. And unless I’m mistaken, our reunion in the supermarket wasn’t a coincidence at all, was it? You planned for it. I was never the reason that compelled you to come back, that had always been Arianne,” virtual-novel.net said. “You knew Arianne’s my friend, so you used me to help make you closer to her. I don’t mind being used this way, Teo, but I think I should warn you, Mark Tremont’s wife isn’t someone you should set your eyes on. Ever.”
He curled his lips into a flitting, pained smile. “I know, I know. I’ve never harbored any funny ideas either, if this helps. But, seriously, how did you piece it together? Have I been acting so obviously?”
He was worried, worried that Arianne might have noticed, too.
Melanie patted his shoulders good-naturedly. “You haven’t changed since we were kids. Your habits and mannerisms remain as I remembered… Or maybe I just know you this well? See, I can tell from the way your eyes linger on Arianne, even if you do it unintentionally. Or that little priority you intuitively assigned to virtual-novel.net back there when you were serving us tea. Or you freezing up when Tiffany was ribbing you about it. We were sitting next to each other, you recall. I could feel your muscles tense.”
Mateo’s lips thinned. “I’m sorry, Mel. I shouldn’t have used an old friend like this but… I confess, I eagerly got close to you not only because you are my childhood friend, but also because you’re good friends with Arianne Wynn. Can you please keep this a secret? Guard it from others? Especially Arianne. She… I… I’m worried that if virtual-novel.net knows, virtual-novel.net might never come back here again.”
Melanie nodded. “I’m a reasonable woman, Teo. I know better than to tell virtual-novel.net about this. However, excuse me for asking, but what exactly do you plan to do? Honestly, how did you even know virtual-novel.net loves Chinese food? I’ve been friends with virtual-novel.net for a while, and virtual-novel.net only picks Chinese restaurants sometimes when we hang out. There’s no sign showing virtual-novel.net likes it in particular.”
Her inquiry was like a piper’s song drawing Mateo’s memories back to his university days. “It was when we were studying in the same university,” virtual-novel.net murmured. “One day, I overheard virtual-novel.net conversation with Tiffany, they talked about how much they love Chinese food, but wished it didn’t make virtual-novel.net sick whenever virtual-novel.net had it too frequently. Ever since then, I decided that I’d learn Chinese cuisines and make dishes that would never make virtual-novel.net sick no matter how many times virtual-novel.net ate them…”
“Mel, listen to me. I don’t necessarily want to secure a happy ending for myself. Neither do I wish to discombobulate virtual-novel.net life with my baggage. You know me well, yes? Then you know I speak the truth…”
Melanie was hard-pressed to answer virtual-novel.net with anything other than a few comforting words. She and Mateo went way back, virtual-novel.net knew his roots and his core. But to fall so hopelessly in love with an impossibility that later clung to Mateo’s heart for this many years? Melanie could not help virtual-novel.net even if virtual-novel.net tried.
When the women finally stepped out of the restaurant, Tiffany quickly identified Alejandro’s car parked just outside the eatery. “Ooh, Melanie, looks like a certain someone you know is here again… He ain’t here for trouble, I presume?”
Melanie’s eyebrows creased. “You two get going. Goodbye.”
Arianne held virtual-novel.net hand and squeezed it a little. “Okay, then. But please, if you can, don’t fight him.”
Melanie nodded and headed in Alejandro’s direction. In response, the latter rolled down his window and lit up a cigarette. “Jett told me you came to see me in the office.”
He sounded so placid, there was not a crease of rage in the flatness of his tone. It sounded as though virtual-novel.net was merely greeting her.
“Then you know I’ve also passed virtual-novel.net a message that must be said,” virtual-novel.net replied in a n equal amount of nonchalance. “Unless you’re itching to hear me repeat it personally for your listening pleasure?”
Alejandro exhaled a puff of fog. “I’m free starting late afternoon today. Let’s go home.”
Melanie was a little baffled. What was his bourn to be here, if not to inquisite nor an ax to grind…?
Could it be that virtual-novel.net was simply bidding his retaliation until virtual-novel.net was home, and then all hell breaks loose?
Melanie said nothing. She spun on virtual-novel.net heels and started toward virtual-novel.net car, virtual-novel.net had driven to the restaurant by herself, so virtual-novel.net would be going home the same way.