TWISTED AFFECTION

Chapter 6 - Dinner

“Come with me, Tathaira,” Maverick said, grabbing my hand and walking out of the café.

“Wait—I’m still working,” I muttered, but he didn’t stop. His grip wasn’t rough, but it made me follow him without question. I looked at my manager but she just gave me nod.

Huh?

We reached his car, and he opened the passenger door. “Get in.”

I looked at him, unsure. “I can just treat it inside. It’s nothing.”

He gave me a look. “Just get in.”

I exhaled quietly and did what he said. The car was silent when he got in beside me, the air conditioner humming softly. He reached for the compartment and pulled out a small first aid kit.

“Give me your hand,” he said.

I hesitated. “It’s really fine—”

“Just give it.”

I slowly held it out. My wrist looked red under the light. He opened a band aid and wrapped it gently around my skin. His touch was careful, almost too careful, and it made my chest feel tight.

We didn’t talk. The silence made it worse.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said quietly, breaking the silence.

He didn’t look at me.

My stomach turned a little. I bit the inside of my cheek and tried not to overthink. It’s just a band aid, Tali. Nothing else.

“There,” he said, pulling his hand away. “It’ll bruise later, so put ice on it when you get home.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled. My voice sounded small.

He nodded and started putting things back into the kit, but I noticed the small cut on his lip.

“You’re bleeding,” I said.

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not,” I said before thinking. I reached for the ointment and a small cotton pad. My hand hesitated midway. “Can I?”

He just looked at me, then nodded slightly.

I leaned closer and pressed the cotton gently against his lip. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn’t look up. My hands were shaking a little.

“This might sting,” I whispered.

He didn’t flinch, just stayed still. I looked at him briefly, and our eyes met. My stomach flipped.

I pulled back fast, tossing the cotton aside. “There. Done.”

He smirked faintly. “Thanks.”

The air between us felt heavier now. I wanted to say something, but everything in my head sounded stupid. Four years ago, I confessed to him. He didn’t feel the same. That should’ve been enough for me to move on.

But here I was again, heart beating too fast because he was sitting next to me.

He leaned back on his seat. “You should take the rest of the day off. I’ll talk to your manager.”

“You don’t have to. I can handle it.”

“I said I’ll handle it.”

I turned to him, frustrated. “I want to work here.”

He glanced at me. “Then, I’ll be hanging around here.”

“Huh?”

He smiled at me, and got more… confused.

“Let me talk to your manager.”

My brows furrowed. What? What kind of power does he has to do that anyway?

I followed him inside the shop. I saw my manager glance at me while she was talking with Maverick.

“You want a day off, Thaira?” she asked.

Maverick glanced at me. I glared at him.

“I can work for a half shift.”

I saw Maverick looking at me but I didn’t glance him again. And since I didn’t notice him, he went to the counter and ordered something to Lacy. I grabbed another apron and helped Lacy in the counter

“He’s hot. Who’s that?”

“Just a schoolmate.”

She looked at me grinning. That made my cheeks burned.

“I don’t believe it. You want to know what he’s ordered?”

I tried to peek to it and my eyes widened. It’s a lot! I mean, quite a lot that he can stay here for hours!

“This kind of action doesn’t seem to be just friendly or just a ‘schoolmate’ thing to me—”

“ We’re really just schoolmate—”

I couldn’t continue since another customer came. My eyes landed to Maverick and he just raise his brows to me.

This guy!

I quickly focused on taking the customer’s order, trying to ignore the way my chest felt like it was flipping every time I glanced at Maverick. He was leaning casually against the counter, scrolling on his phone, but his presence made it impossible to concentrate.

Lacy nudged me. “Thaira… I thought he’s just a schoolmate? Why are staring at him like you’re undressing him in your mind?”

I flushed, shoving a smile at her. “I’m… not.”

She just grinned knowingly. “Uh-huh. Sure.”

I muttered something under my breath and busied myself with clearing some tables, but my eyes kept drifting back. Maverick was now chatting with my manager, laughing at something I couldn’t hear. His smile… it still had that way of making my heart skip. Why does he have to be so infuriatingly… him?

Minutes felt like hours. Every time I reached for something, I caught him glancing at me, those sharp eyes softening just enough to make me wonder if he could see exactly how nervous I was.

By the time my shift ended, I was exhausted—not from the work, but from the intensity of simply existing in the same space as him. I quickly cleaned my station, tossing the rag into the laundry bin, and grabbed my bag.

Maverick was waiting by the door, leaning casually against the frame. “Done?” he asked.

I nodded, trying to act casual, though my heart was still racing. “Yeah… finally.”

He smirked, holding the door open for me. “Good. Let’s get you out of here before someone else tries to overwork you.”

I followed him to his car, my heart still thudding from the shift and the constant pull of his presence. He slid into the driver’s seat and glanced at me.

“Dinner. My treat. You’ve earned it.”

I blinked at him. “Dinner?”

“Yes. And don’t argue. I’m not taking no for an answer.” His tone was calm, but there was that subtle firmness that made me hesitate before even thinking about protesting.

I sighed, realizing this was one of those moments where arguing was pointless.

“Fine,” I muttered, cheeks heating slightly.

The ride to the restaurant was quiet. I kept my hands folded in my lap, sneaking glances at him every so often. He wasn’t talking much either, but there was a comforting weight to his silence.

“Have you…” I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Have you read the letter I wrote you… all those years ago?”

“Yes…” he said, his voice calm.

My eyes widened. “You did?”

“Of course, Tathaira.”

I let out a nervous laugh, sheepishly grinning. “And… to all your other admirers too, I bet. Don’t worry—I don’t like you anymore.”

He glanced at me briefly, his hand still on the wheel, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

“Good thing this isn’t awkward for you, huh?” I looked down, fidgeting with my hands. “Being in a car… with someone who was crazy about you years ago…”

“I don’t mind,” he said easily.

Curiosity got the better of me. “How many women have ever ridden in your car?”

He shook his head. “No one else.”

He parked the car to the nearest restaurant. My lips twisted at his answer.

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s a lie! Women like you… they’re everywhere!”

He chuckled softly. “I know. Including you.”

I looked away, cheeks warming. “I told you… not anymore.”

He leaned back, that familiar smirk appearing again. “Good. So tonight… this is just dinner.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my smile. “Yes, of course.”

He led me to a table near the window, sliding out my chair like he owned the place. I caught a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Don’t sit too far from me. I might get bored.”

I huffed softly, setting my bag down. “Bored of what? Me?”

“Exactly,” he said, mock-serious. “You talking, sighing, complaining… it’s oddly entertaining.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet you agreed to come with me,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Clearly, I still have some power over you.”

I crossed my arms, pretending to glare. “You don’t. I just… didn’t feel like arguing after my shift.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Hmm… convenient excuse. I like it.”

My cheeks burned hotter. s**t.