LOVE IN THE SHADOW

Chapter 10

As I walked into the restaurant, I spotted Ethan sitting at a cozy table by the window. He caught my eye and waved, flashing a warm smile. I smiled back and made my way over to him. He stood up as I approached and pulled out the chair for me. "You look stunning," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I felt a flutter in my chest and smiled, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Thanks, you look pretty great yourself," I replied, trying to play it cool.

We sat down, and Ethan called the waiter over to take our order. "What would you like to eat?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with interest. I scanned the menu, trying to decide between the pasta and the salad. "I'm not sure yet," I said, "what do you recommend?" Ethan leaned in, his voice low and smooth. "The pasta is amazing here, but the salad is also really good. What are you in the mood for?" I smiled, feeling a connection with him. "I think I'll go with the pasta," I said, and Ethan nodded, ordering for us both.

As we waited for our food to arrive, Ethan and I continued chatting, discussing everything from our favorite books to our childhood memories. When the pasta dishes arrived, we dug in, savoring the delicious flavors. "Mmm, this is so good!" I said, twirling my fork around the noodles. Ethan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I told you it was amazing here," he said, taking a bite of his own pasta.

We ate and chatted, enjoying each other's company. The conversation flowed easily, and I felt comfortable and at ease with Ethan. As we finished our meal, Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking satisfied. "I'm glad we could catch up," he said, smiling at me. I smiled back, feeling happy about the time we spent together. "Me too," I replied, glancing at my watch. "I should probably get going soon," I said, not wanting the evening to end. Ethan nodded understandingly. "Yeah, I have an early meeting tomorrow too." We lingered for a bit, enjoying the atmosphere and each other's company before deciding it was time to part ways.

After the dinner with Ethan, he walked me out of the restaurant and stood beside my car. "It was great catching up with you," he said, smiling. "Till we meet next time?" He extended his hand for a handshake. I smiled back and shook his hand. "I'd like that," I replied. He, opened the door for me, and waited as I got in. I waved at him through the window, and he waved back before heading to his own car. I drove home, feeling happy and content. When I arrived, I changed into something simple and comfortable. Then, I headed downstairs to my father's gigantic parlour. My father looked up at me and smiled. "Hey, kiddo! How was your day?" he asked. I sat down beside him, feeling relaxed. "It was good, Dad," I replied. Then, he said, "By the way, I've been thinking about your modeling career. Are you still willing to do it?" I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Dad, I love it still," I said. My father smiled, looking pleased. "Great! I have everything ready for you to start traveling for your modeling gigs. You'll get to go to some amazing places, but you'll be starting in..."paris"

I thanked my dad and hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much, Dad! I'll make sure to make it unforgettable." I smiled, feeling excited about the opportunity.

Just then, my little sister Lily burst into the room, a big smile on her face. "Hey, sis! Do you know that next tomorrow is my birthday?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I felt a pang of guilt for forgetting. "Oh, Lily, I'm so sorry! I've been so busy lately," I apologized.

Lily's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "It's okay, sis. But you have to get me a gift, okay?" she said, her voice filled with expectation.

I laughed and nodded. "Of course, I'll get you something special."

Just as I was about to leave, my father called out to me. "By the way, Ethan, my friend's son, will be escorting you to the USA. He's also part of the modeling agency there, so you'll be traveling together."

I felt a flutter in my chest at the mention of Ethan's name. "That's great, Dad! Thank you," I said, trying to sound casual. I hugged him again and left to start planning for Lily's birthday.

I called Rachel to help me pick out some gifts for Lily at the mall.