Chapter 9

The rest of Lunch is spent with the two grown men throwing insults at themselves while we the ladies laugh to our heart's content, sometimes choking and spurting out food crumbles.

A smile remains on my face as warmth creeps into my bones as I watch the homely eating environment. Something churches at my heart but I brush it off as a result of experiencing such a scene for the first time. Being an orphan and growing up without a family does that to you.

Half the time my eyes are trained on Nicholas who has a carefree expression on his features during the meal. His behavior is a total contrast to the Nicholas in the city whom I've heard and caught a glimpse of.

Truth is, if I hadn't come all the way with him, I would think he had some twin and the person on my left was not him.

“Jazreal and I will be heading down to the study,” Nicholas announces, rising, his chair screeching backward and plate left with tiny crumbles. “Jazreal you done?”

“Yes yes,” he mumbles, the last spoonful of fo