3

RIA'S POV

We stared at each other aggressively till the waitress dropped our breakfast on the table, making us break contact. I looked at the take and momentarily forgot about ‘Dom the dick’, and his stupid face. The only thing on my mind was the scent that invaded my senses. I bent low and took a long whiff of all the gooey goodness and sighed happily.

It really shouldn't be called breakfast but rather get-fat, because after eating all these you're seriously bound to “get fat!” Lol...

"Come on, eat up!" He clasped his hands together and gave a disapproving grunt as he looked me over. "We're gonna get you fat again," he grinned.

I laughed and received a perplexed look in return. Seems like we have the same thoughts exactly.

I took my fork and gently stabbed a piece of pancake and moaned as I slowly chewed, closing my eyes and savouring the taste.

"God, this tastes amazing," I said amist bites. I opened my eyes and took a piece of egg omelette and almost died in pleasure. I then made a sandwich with pancake and eggs and that was it for me. Note that as each piece entered my mouth, sweet, pleasurable groans, left it.

I really am a sucker for sweet stuff.

Zack laughed at my expression. "You're really acting like one who has been starved her whole life," he took up his mug and sipped his choco.

I paused eating and gave him a look, and shrugged. "I may as well have been. Rita doesn't like Dominic having fatty foods and since she insisted on us all eating together, I had to eat a hell lotta greens." I shuddered.

"I'm happy you left," he sympathized. He stabbed some pieces of pancakes on his plate and dropped them on mine with a small smile. "And remember, if they try to sue you or do something funny, I'm always here to help. You know I'm the best in what I do, right?" He remarked cockily.

"So much for modesty," I rolled my eyes and laughed. "But yeah, I'll keep that in mind, though they have no reason to want to sue."

He smiled and dug into his food.

Zack is a lawyer at one of the biggest firm in Greer, South Carolina and in this state, lawyers were kind of hard to come by. We met in highschool; the normal cliche girl bumping into guy stuff, where we lost contact. Then again in college, where he was a law major and I, an accounting major. Most of our classes clashed, so we saw more of each other. He had a good personality, and a great sense of humor so I thought letting him go would be a waste. Boy, am I glad I didn't.

We grew closer and became very good friends; the best, and we've been in contact all those years. We've both never liked each other romantically and that was fine because we just liked being friends. We even moved to that same state. I won't be wrong to call him my guardian angel.

The smell of honey, coffee, and fried eggs filled the air as we ate in silence. The incessant chatter of people made it feel like my bistro back at home.

Often times, I'd catch Dominic's stare anytime my eyes glanced that way and I'd glare at him. Why was he even here? And who was the leathering chick beside him? I guess it didn't take him time to replace me . . . Did he even love me at all?

I glanced at the girl beside him, in her leathery outfit looking so on fleek, then at myself and sighed. I guess I should have put more effort in dressing this morning. I look like a home trained hobo compared to leather girl in my ash slacks and red blowout jacket and a black hoodie which didn't hold my disheveled hair as I had hoped it would.

Well, she dressed to kill and I, well, I dressed to sleep, I think. But I'm comfy and that's all that counts, it's not like I have any reason to dress up now anyway. Hello, suffering from major heartbreak here...

I held my cup of choco with both hands and leaned into my chair. I blew softly on the content before taking a sip and sighed as the hot chocolatey goodness spread warmth round my body.

I looked to see Zack starring at me and I raised a questioning brow. "What?"

His eyes assessed me for some seconds as he carefully looked for how to phrase his words. "Are you really okay?" His blue eyes bore into mine as he asked with a warm tone.

I let out an uneven breath and looked at the mug as I gripped it tightly. After some seconds, I release my grip and stared at him with a sad smile. "I'm not gonna lie. It hurts so bad," as I spoke tears flowed from the corners of my eyes but I continued, "I have faith and I know it'll get better. I'll get better, I just need time that's all," I said with determination.

I dropped my mug on the table and wiped the stray tears from my face. Why am I suddenly crying?

Zack stretched out his, and gently cleaned the rest with his thumb. "I'm so sorry, sweeth–"

A sound of glass breaking was heard and everything else happened so fast. Dominic was by my side and the next thing, Zack was on the ground, clutching his cheek which now spotted a bruise, as blood oozed from the side of his mouth.

"WHAT THE–" I turned to see a furious Dominic who grabbed my wrist and pulled me away.

"Let's go!" He growled.

I ripped my hand away from him. "ARE YOU INSANE??! WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" I yelled, stepping away from him and towards Zack who now had an icepack to his cheek. I'm guessing a waitress must have given it to him.

"Are you okay?" I knelt to his level and gasped on seeing the bruise. "Shit!"

"I'm so sorry, I don't know what's come over him," leather girl bent and put a hand on my shoulder, which I ripped away from her touch.

"You better keep your boyfriend in check, miss!" I snarled.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." She pleaded continuously.

"GET THE FUCKING HELL AWAY FROM HIM, RIA!!" I heard leather girl gasp and give me a look as Dominic bellowed, and I flinched at the mentioned of my name and at how loud and angry he sounded. This wasn't the man I knew and loved. What happened to him?

A man in his sixties came and stood between the both of us, I'm guessing he's the manager with his all black suit attire.

He took a few steps towards Dominic. "Excuse me sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You can't be causing a scene at a public restaurant with children around."

I turned and saw the crowd that was huddled one side watching as the whole situation unfolded had turned into an audience, whispering to one another, parents clutching their kids closely, accessing the dangers first.

"Come on, let's go," leather girl pleaded and tried pulling him but he didn't budge a muscle. His hands formed fists and was shaking violently.

"Sir, please. Leave." The manager pointed at the door with a stern look on his face that said you don't want to cross me. "Don't make me call the cops on you," the manager threatened.

Dominic tore his gaze from my face to the manager then to Zack who was still on the ground. He gave me a hard glare, then smirked at Zack and walked away with leather girl in pursuit after throwing another apology our way.

I let out a shaky breath and felt hands patting my back in consolation. I turned to see Zack giving me a sympathetic look. I should be the one giving him that look, not the other way around...

"You okay?" I asked and helped him stand and we sat back on our seats.

"Yeah . . . Just peachy," he gave a bloody grin.

"Eww, that's gross," I chuckled lightly, then turned sober instantly. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault that you got punched. I really don't know what his problem was." I fiddled with my hands.

"How is it your fault? You weren't the one who punched me, were you? You have nothing to apologize for," he said with a berating tone. "Come on, let's head out," he stood.

The manager approached us as we neared the door and Zack turned to him. "Thanks for handling that. I didn't want to start a fight at one of my favourite places," he joked.

The man laughed and patted him on the back. "That's alright. You showed a lot of self restraint, so thank you too." He said and we left.

***

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, OW!" Zack cried. "Take it easy woman, will ya!" He ripped his face out of my hands giving me a stink eye.

"Sorry," I grimaced. "That's what you get for not standing up for yourself and fighting back. Favourite place, my ass," I scoffed. "We both know you could have taken him . . . at least I think you could." I paused and tilted my head to the side, "you could have taken him, right?"

"Wow, so glad to finally see the faith you have in me," he retorted sarcastically with a roll of his eyes and I stifled a laugh.

"Hold still," I pulled his face towards mine and rubbed the ointment on his cheek. I blew on it once I was done and let go of his cheek.

"All done!"

"Ugh, finally," he groaned and stretched. He left the kitchen and I followed too. We both made ourselves comfortable on a couch in the living room. "What a way to start a morning, eh?" Zack grinned, then swore in pain.

"It's not funny. What if you got really hurt because of me? What would I tell your mum??" We both shuddered at the mention of his mum.

Mama Zack, also known as Hope Osborn, was one hell of a lady. She was in her late fifties and was still as agile as a lady in her mid twenties. A short, plump lady with fiery brown eyes and short brownish-red bob, you wouldn't want to mess with. She and her husband; Clayton Osborn or Papa Zack as I liked to call him, owned Osborn's cakes and bakes, and were really making money from it. She had the medeaves touch; whatever she baked was delish.

While she had the medeves touch, her husband on the other hand had the green touch. Their family home in town was decorated with pretty flowers, trees, plants and shrubs all planted by him. He is a sixty two year old banking retiree who decided to spend time with his wife. His brown hair was now mixed with white but he didn't really care. He said and I quote, "ladies used to dig this in my days." They were a very nice couple, both warm hearted and they passed it on to their kids; one of whom Zack was.

He pressed a finger to my lips. "Don't bring my mum up," he whispered, eyes darting around frantically. "You know she senses when we talk about her, right?"

I groaned. "I can't believe you're still so superstitious. That's just coincidence, nothing more or less," I explained for the utempeth time.

Zack believed that anytime we talked about his mum or was about to do something stupid, she'd know and call to find out if he was alright. Just because it happened a few times doesn't mean she's psychic or something.

The sound of a phone ringing cut off the words about to escape my lips and Zack stiffened beside me. He turned and picked up his phone laying on the hand of the couch and gasped.

"What?"

He turned the screen to me and I gasped too. Well I'll be damned.

It really was his mum.