Chapter 50
Chapter 50:
FOUR MONTHS LATER
“Sandra, it’s been twenty minutes already. Are we not there yet?” I groan, looking out the window as Sandra’s car speeds past houses and roadside shops.
I turn my eyes back to her. “I hope this new boutique you’re taking us to is worth dragging me out of my house p>
She glances at me with a smile. “Come on, babe. Relax p>
When Sandra came to my house this morning saying she needed my help picking up some fashion pieces from a boutique she claimed was new in town, I agreed. But I didn’t know the drive to this so-called boutique would take this long.
And I’m getting tired.
“Are you sure we haven’t passed it?” I ask, shifting in my seat.
“No.” She shakes her head, her fingers tapping the steering wheel in rhythm with the hip-hop music blasting from the radio.
“It feels like we’ve been driving around in circles,” I complain.
She laughs. “We’re almost there. Come on, Isla. a few more minutes p>
“Alright,” I groan, leaning back against the seat. Sandra’s the driver. I hope she knows where she’s taking us.
I’m about to shut my eyes when her voice cuts through the air. “We’re here p>
I wince. “Babe, your voice is loud p>
“Whatever p>
I ignore her and glance out the window. My eyes widen in shock. This does not look like a boutique.
It’s a Chicken Grill Spot on the corner of the street!
I snap my head back toward her. “Sandra, what are we doing here p>
“Well, we have to meet someone important here first p>
God, I can’t believe my ears. “Here? At the corner of the street p>
“Yes. And we can even enjoy some of that tantalizing grilled chicken over there,” she says, pointing at the plump chicken legs sizzling in the open oven.
My mouth waters a little.
“Isla, come on. We won’t take long p>
I tilt my head at her. “Did you say ‘we p>
“Yes, Isla, you are coming with me to meet the person. That’s why I asked you to dress up nicely p>
I roll my eyes. “What if I don’t want to go with you p>
“You don’t have a choice. And that chicken is waiting for you. Come on,” she nags, pulling me by the arm.
“Alright,” I give in, rolling my eyes again.
She winks at me and turns to open her side of the car. I take a breath and push my own door open, stepping out.
I’m dressed in a short black sleeveless V-neck gown that stops mid-thigh. I had planned to wear silver heels, but since I thought we were only going to a boutique, I settled for a pair of wedged heeled boots to feel more comfortable.
Never did I know this little witch wanted to bring me to a chicken grill spot on the corner of the street. Which, on second thought, doesn’t make me angry.
I follow her to an empty table with three chairs. A few of the other tables are occupied, mostly by couples laughing together and digging into their meals of grilled chicken and spicy tomato sauce.
“How long will it take this ‘important’ person to show up?” I ask, trying to ignore the tempting aroma of grilled chicken hovering in the air.
“Let’s wait a little bit. He’ll be here any min p>
Just then, a black BMW pulls up in front of us, catching Sandra’s attention. The luxury car catches mine too, and my eyes widen when I recognize the plate number.
I look back at Sandra. “What is Asher’s car doing here p>
She shrugs, looking as surprised as I am. “I don’t know p>
And then the culprit himself steps out of the car, looking as dashing as ever. Since the day we officially announced our relationship to Sandra and Ethan, everything between us has been…. Wonderful. stunning. Even during those times we got into silly, stupid fights.
Aunt Caroline nearly hugged the life out of me the day she found out Asher and I were dating. She coaxed me into joining her for a spa treatment—which, of course, Asher had to pay for as part of his punishment for cursing.
Just thinking about it now makes me laugh.
“Hey, Sandra,” Asher greets as he reaches us. “Hey, babe,” he says to me, kissing my lips.
He settles into the third empty chair at our table.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Well…” he starts, glancing over at Sandra. “Let’s order some grilled chicken first p>
As he turns to signal the waiter clearing plates from the nearby table, I grip Sandra’s hand, staring squarely at her. “When is the person we’re waiting for going to arrive?” I whisper.
“Uhm… he’s here already p>
My ears twitch first, then my eyes snap to Asher. Thirdly, I snap back to Sandra.
“What do you mean by ‘he is here p>
She tilts her head toward Asher. “The person is Asher. Your boyfriend p>
What!
I shake my head, lowering my voice. “You must be kidding, right p>
“No, I’m not.” She shrugs. “Actually, it was all Asher’s idea. In fact, I’m already talking too much p>
She shifts her attention to Asher, tapping her hand on the table. “Hey Asher, my work here is done, but I’m staying for the grilled chicken p>
Asher places his phone on the table, smiles at her, then turns to me. I stare at him, then at Sandra, then back at him again.
“You both better have a reasonable explanation for dragging me all the way here from my house,” I warn, folding my arms and leaning back in my seat.
God, I can’t believe these two ganged up on me.
“Well, uhm… don’t take it out on Sandra. Like she said, it was all my idea. I wanted us to have that street food date we talked about p>
“But you could have told me about it,” I counter.
“I thought having Sandra bring you here instead of me would make it more interesting p>
I scoff. “You both are really… in fact, I don’t even know what to say to you p>
Just then, the waiter from earlier brings our order—or technically, Asher’s order for the three of us. He sets it down on the table and leaves.
“Well,” I say, grabbing the grilled chicken wrapped in shiny foil. “I’ll dig into the meal and fill myself up before I have the strength to slaughter you both p>
As I raise the chicken toward my mouth, Asher’s hand grips mine, stopping me.
“Wait first,” he mutters, lowering the chicken back onto the plate. “I need to ask you something p>