Private or not
1095 Words
As I settle into my seat at the table, a whirlwind of emotions churns within me, leaving me feeling both excited and apprehensive about the unexpected turn of events. Andy and Emma exchange amused glances, clearly amused by my bewildered expression.
"So, spill the beans, you two," Emma says, her tone teasing as she eyes us both with curiosity. "How long have you been keeping this little secret from me?"
Andy chuckles, shooting me a knowing look before turning to address Emma. "Not long," he admits with a grin. "Liv and I have only recently reconnected."
Emma's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, her gaze flickering between the two of us. "Reconnected, huh?" she muses, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "And here I thought you two were just old friends catching up."
I glance at Andy, feeling a surge of anxiety knotting in my stomach. How much should we reveal to Emma? While I trust her implicitly, I can't help but feel a pang of uncertainty about laying our relationship bare for all to see.
"We wanted to take things slow," I offer tentatively, hoping to deflect Emma's probing questions without revealing too much. "You know, see where things go before making any big announcements."
Emma nods understandingly, though there's a hint of scepticism in her eyes. "Fair enough," she concedes with a shrug. "But I have to admit, I didn't expect to find you two sneaking around like a couple of teenagers."
Andy grins, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand reassuringly. "Can you blame us for wanting a little privacy?" he quips, his gaze warm as it meets mine.
I can't help but smile back, grateful for Andy's support in the face of Emma's relentless questioning. Despite the nerves still fluttering in my stomach, being here with him feels right, like I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
A second later, a waiter approaches our table with a warm smile, a pad of paper and pen in hand.
"Good evening, folks. Welcome to La Maison," he greets us. "May I start you off with something to drink?"
Andy glances at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement, before turning his attention back to the waiter. "Yes, please," he replies smoothly. "We will have a nice bottle of red wine, something rich and full-bodied." He speaks for both him and Emma.
The waiter nods, jotting down Andy's request before turning to me. "And for you, ma'am?"
I hesitate for a moment, scanning the menu before settling on a crisp glass of white wine. "I will have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, please," I say, offering the waiter a polite smile.
“Glass or bottle?” the waiter asks.
“Bottle.” Andy beats me to it.
I was going to have a glass or two not the whole bottle.
With our drink orders taken, the waiter nods and retreats, leaving us to peruse the menu in anticipation of the culinary delights that await us. As we wait for our drinks to arrive, Andy reaches across the table to take my hand, his touch sending a jolt of warmth coursing through me.
I swallow hard, feeling a flush of heat rise to my cheeks. Emma of course not missing gesture. I can surely wait to be grilled by her later.
The waiter returns with our drinks and, ready to take our food orders. Andy gestures for me to go first, a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
"I will have the grilled salmon with roasted vegetables, please," I say, offering the waiter a polite smile as I hand him the menu.
The waiter nods and turns to Andy, who looks up from his menu with a thoughtful expression. "I will have the ribeye steak, medium rare, with mash and the grilled veggies." he requests, his tone casual yet confident.
The waiter nods, jotting down our orders before turning to Emma. "And for you, miss?"
Emma considers the menu for a moment before settling on the pasta primavera. "That sounds delicious," she says with a smile.
The waiter nods, taking note of Emma's order before excusing himself to pass the orders to the kitchen. As he disappears into the bustling restaurant, I can't help but feel a sense of relief that the awkwardness of Emma's unexpected presence has dissipated.
"So, Liv," Emma begins, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Are you planning inviting anyone to the wedding or is Andy your plus one?”
Not this again.
I shoot Andy a pleading look, silently asking for his help in deflecting Emma's relentless questioning. He meets my gaze with a reassuring smile before turning to address Emma.
"Emm, Olivia and I are both part of the bridal shower and we have no plans on inviting anyone else. Didn’t you mention you want an intimate ceremony with close friends and family?" he says smoothly, his tone light and nonchalant.
I nod in agreement, grateful for Andy's quick thinking. "Exactly," I chime in, relieved to have a simple explanation to offer Emma.
Emma eyes us both sceptically, but thankfully, she doesn't press the issue further. Instead, she changes the subject, regaling us with tales of her latest adventures and escapades with Jay.
As we wait for our food to arrive, the conversation flows effortlessly, each of us sharing stories and laughter as we enjoy each other's company.
Top of Form
We settle into the rhythm of conversation, the tension eases, replaced by a sense of ease and camaraderie that comes from being in the company of good friends. With Emma's playful banter to distract us, the rest of the evening passes in a blur of laughter and shared memories.
But as we bid farewell to Emma and make our way back to the hotel, I can't shake the feeling of unease that lingers in the back of my mind. How much longer can we keep our relationship a secret? And more importantly, should we even be keeping it a secret at all?
I need to speak to Andy about this. Emma knows about it, she will probably share with Jay and Abby. Abby will obviously tell Dylan and the news will obviously spread amongst all our friends.
Darn it!
“My room or yours?” Andy’s words bring me back to earth.
I look outside the window and realize we are back at our hotel.
“Yours has a better view.” I respond.
It’s also easier for me to sneak out of I want to be away from him.
- Writer
