Chapter 26

Jade

“I hate seeing you like this.” Bells said while we were seated on the outdoor patio of a bakery café a couple streets down from my neighborhood.

“Like what?” I acted clueless, taking a small sip of my peach iced tea.

“Faking it in front of me. A complete stranger could clock the sadness in your eyes from a mile away.”

“That sucks then.” I shrugged. “Thought I was a better actress.”

“You also ordered a giant chocolate chip cookie. Your sweet tooth tends to get out of hand when you’re trying to comfort yourself.”

“Ugh.” I dropped the crumb I was nibbling on and ground the heels of my palms into my eye sockets. “I really don’t wanna cry in public, Bells. So could we talk about something else, please?”

She scoffed and looked away, simmering in annoyance on my behalf.

I on the other hand picked up my piece of cookie and kept nibbling, content to just sit in silence and distract myself with watching people stroll past and cars weave through the steady afternoon traffic.

I could have stayed cooped up in the house because Hazel wasn’t bad company, but I just needed to get out and clear my head and since she wasn’t interested in accompanying me, I had called Bells instead and here we both were now.

“Hello, ladies.”

I glanced up to see a nice-looking man smiling down at us. His face didn’t spark any ounce of recognition within me so I knew he was a stranger.

“Nice afternoon out, isn’t it?” he asked, trying to strike a casual conversation.

It was obvious he was a local, his strong accent giving that fact away.

Bells grinned at him, perking up for some reason. “It is.”

My attention was back on my cookie since I wasn’t in the mood for socializing but Bells’ nudge startled me into looking back up.

“I’m Felix.” The man introduced, his interested gaze focused squarely on me now. “I couldn’t help myself when I spotted you from across the road. You have to be a model.”

I scrunched my face. “Um… that’s flattering, but no. I’m not.”

“Wow. That’s shocking.” His reaction was dramatic. “You just have the kind of ethereal beauty that angels sing about.”

I blinked, my mind not catching up with his words quick enough.

He didn’t seem to mind as he continued, his smile kicking up more, “I would love to have your number, if that isn’t a hassle.”

Finally, it clicked in my head that he was flirting.

I immediately lifted my left hand, the huge diamond sparkling in the summer sun and making me wonder how he had missed it. “I’m engaged. So I’m going to have to turn you down.” I said gently, cringing on the inside a little.

“Oh.” He chuckled awkwardly. “Of course, I should have known you wouldn’t be single. It was worth a shot though.” He turned to acknowledge Bells then, already backing away. “Hope you both have a great day.”