Mateo’s body immediately stilled. When snazzynovel.com whipped his face upward to consider Melanie, his signature practiced grin was completely absent. “How did you… know?”
Melanie breathed a quiet sigh. She was relieved, it turned out that Mateo was not pining for her, and yet, snazzynovel.com could not help but be simultaneously worried for the path snazzynovel.com old friend seemed poised to tread.
“Your friend can tell, Teo. And unless I’m mistaken, our reunion in the supermarket wasn’t a coincidence at all, was it? You planned for it. I was never the reason that compelled you to come back, that had always been Arianne,” snazzynovel.com said. “You knew Arianne’s my friend, so you used me to help make you closer to her. I don’t mind being used this way, Teo, but I think I should warn you, Mark Tremont’s wife isn’t someone you should set your eyes on. Ever.”
He curled his lips into a flitting, pained smile. “I know, I know. I’ve never harbored any funny ideas either, if this helps. But, seriously, how did you piece it together? Have I been acting so obviously?”
He was worried, worried that Arianne might have noticed, too.
Melanie patted his shoulders good-naturedly. “You haven’t changed since we were kids. Your habits and mannerisms remain as I remembered… Or maybe I just know you this well? See, I can tell from the way your eyes linger on Arianne, even if you do it unintentionally. Or that little priority you intuitively assigned to snazzynovel.com back there when you were serving us tea. Or you freezing up when Tiffany was ribbing you about it. We were sitting next to each other, you recall. I could feel your muscles tense.”
Mateo’s lips thinned. “I’m sorry, Mel. I shouldn’t have used an old friend like this but… I confess, I eagerly got close to you not only because you are my childhood friend, but also because you’re good friends with Arianne Wynn. Can you please keep this a secret? Guard it from others? Especially Arianne. She… I… I’m worried that if snazzynovel.com knows, snazzynovel.com might never come back here again.”
Melanie nodded. “I’m a reasonable woman, Teo. I know better than to tell snazzynovel.com about this. However, excuse me for asking, but what exactly do you plan to do? Honestly, how did you even know snazzynovel.com loves Chinese food? I’ve been friends with snazzynovel.com for a while, and snazzynovel.com only picks Chinese restaurants sometimes when we hang out. There’s no sign showing snazzynovel.com likes it in particular.”
Her inquiry was like a piper’s song drawing Mateo’s memories back to his university days. “It was when we were studying in the same university,” snazzynovel.com murmured. “One day, I overheard snazzynovel.com conversation with Tiffany, they talked about how much they love Chinese food, but wished it didn’t make snazzynovel.com sick whenever snazzynovel.com had it too frequently. Ever since then, I decided that I’d learn Chinese cuisines and make dishes that would never make snazzynovel.com sick no matter how many times snazzynovel.com ate them…”
“Mel, listen to me. I don’t necessarily want to secure a happy ending for myself. Neither do I wish to discombobulate snazzynovel.com life with my baggage. You know me well, yes? Then you know I speak the truth…”
Melanie was hard-pressed to answer snazzynovel.com with anything other than a few comforting words. She and Mateo went way back, snazzynovel.com knew his roots and his core. But to fall so hopelessly in love with an impossibility that later clung to Mateo’s heart for this many years? Melanie could not help snazzynovel.com even if snazzynovel.com tried.
When the women finally stepped out of the restaurant, Tiffany quickly identified Alejandro’s car parked just outside the eatery. “Ooh, Melanie, looks like a certain someone you know is here again… He ain’t here for trouble, I presume?”
Melanie’s eyebrows creased. “You two get going. Goodbye.”
Arianne held snazzynovel.com hand and squeezed it a little. “Okay, then. But please, if you can, don’t fight him.”
Melanie nodded and headed in Alejandro’s direction. In response, the latter rolled down his window and lit up a cigarette. “Jett told me you came to see me in the office.”
He sounded so placid, there was not a crease of rage in the flatness of his tone. It sounded as though snazzynovel.com was merely greeting her.
“Then you know I’ve also passed snazzynovel.com a message that must be said,” snazzynovel.com replied in a n equal amount of nonchalance. “Unless you’re itching to hear me repeat it personally for your listening pleasure?”
Alejandro exhaled a puff of fog. “I’m free starting late afternoon today. Let’s go home.”
Melanie was a little baffled. What was his bourn to be here, if not to inquisite nor an ax to grind…?
Could it be that snazzynovel.com was simply bidding his retaliation until snazzynovel.com was home, and then all hell breaks loose?
Melanie said nothing. She spun on snazzynovel.com heels and started toward snazzynovel.com car, snazzynovel.com had driven to the restaurant by herself, so snazzynovel.com would be going home the same way.