Chapter 19
754 Words
Kingsley Salvatore
I pulled into the parking lot of the little café on 7th around eight-thirty, the same place I always stopped when I wanted to bring Mariah something decent to eat.
She lived in that small apartment above the old bakery on Maple, the kind of place with creaky stairs and thin walls, and no matter how many times I offered to pay her rent or buy her groceries, she’d give me that look....the one that said she still had her pride and her dignity and she wasn’t about to let me take them from her.
So I stopped trying to pay her bills. Instead I brought food. Good food. Warm food. Things she could heat up when she got home late from the mansion and didn’t have energy to cook.
Tonight I was thinking pasta from the Italian place two streets over, the one with the creamy mushroom sauce she liked, plus garlic bread and tiramisu because she always pretended she didn’t have a sweet tooth but ate every bite anyway.
I parked near the entrance, cut the engine, and was about to get out when I saw her.
Sara was sitting at a corner booth near the window, fairy lights catching in her blonde hair, laughing at something her friend was saying.
The pink top from earlier looked softer in the warm light, and she had my jacket still draped over her shoulders like she’d forgotten to take it off. Or maybe she didn’t want to. The thought made something shift in my chest...something warm, something possessive.
Her friend. dark hair, bright lipstick, expensive-looking earrings..was leaning forward, talking fast, hands moving. Sara laughed again, small and real, the kind of laugh I hadn’t heard from her yet. It looked good on her. Too good.
I should’ve left her alone. She was with a friend. She was having a moment that didn’t include me.
But my feet moved anyway.
I walked inside. The bell above the door chimed softly.
Sara looked up first.
Our eyes met across the room.
Her smile froze for half a second. Then her cheeks flushed pink...deep, sudden and impossible to hide. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, nervous, and looked down at her coffee like it had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world.
Her friend noticed. Turned then saw me. Her eyes widened and she nearly gasped, hand flying to her mouth.
Sara shot her a look. “Shut up,” she whispered, fast and low, cheeks burning even brighter.
I smiled despite myself. Walked over.
“Hi,” I said when I reached their table.
Sara looked up again, still flushed. “Kingsley. Hi.”
Her friend...Ruby, I remembered from earlier conversations with Sara...was staring at me like she’d just seen a celebrity. Then she looked at Sara, then back at me, eyes huge.
I nodded to both of them. “Didn’t mean to interrupt. Just picking up food for my aunt.”
Sara’s blush deepened. “Your aunt?”
I could tell she wanted to ask more questions, but didn't. I doubt if she knew Mariah was my aunt. She had always poke about protecting Sara. Their history is so complicated even for me
“Yeah.” I glanced at their table..coffee cups, half-eaten pastries, a few crumbs scattered around. “You two look like you’re having a good time.”
Ruby grinned, recovering fast. “We are. And now it’s even better. I’m Ruby, by the way. Sara’s told me… well, not much, but enough.”
Sara elbowed her under the table. “Ruby.”
I laughed quietly. “Nice to meet you, Ruby.”
I turned to the waiter who was passing by. “Whatever these two are having—add it to my bill. And throw in two more coffees. Whatever they want.”
Sara’s eyes widened. “Kingsley, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” I said simply. “Enjoy your night.”
Ruby beamed. “Thank you! You’re officially my new favorite person.”
Sara looked at me...really looked...eyes soft, grateful, a little scared. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
I nodded once.
Then I walked to the counter to order Mariah’s food.
But all the way there, I could feel Sara’s eyes on my back.
And I knew she could feel mine on her.
Even when I wasn’t looking. I was not supposed to feel this way for a married woman. I had to snap out of it.
- Writer
