—Kayo

I could tell Everleigh was lost in her thoughts just based on the way she hadn't looked away from the passing scenery outside her window. She was so caught up in her own mind that she didn't realize we were parked outside a restaurant. I had first seen this place a few months ago and I always wanted to try it. They specialized in Italian food, and the restaurant was known to be quite luxurious.

I was never a big fan of fancy and overpriced ass restaurants unless it was a treat from my boss. However, it seemed like something Everleigh would enjoy, and my only proof was the growling of her empty stomach the entire drive.

I turned off the vehicle and went to open the door. Just as I saw Everleigh preparing to open up her door, I grabbed her arm.

"I got it," I told her. She raised a brow, but didn't dare lift another finger.

"When did you get so chivalrous?" she asked me.

"Chivalrous?" I questioned, not being familiar with that word. Suddenly, I was that little kid again, depending on Evie to teach me English. I found myself looking at my reflection in her brown eyes, seeing the little kid I once was.

"Yes, chivalrous. Like, a gentleman," she explained. For a split second, my imagination put me back in that place we were years ago. Every emotion I ever felt for her rushed back to my locked up heart with quickness. I could physically feel the extra thump of my heart.

"Right, chivalrous," I repeated, clearing my throat and tearing my gaze away from her. I quickly got out of the car and shut the door behind me. Without being in her intoxicating aroma, I was able to finally breathe. She was like a witch with the way she pulled me towards her without using her hands. It was like I was caught in some spell. All I needed were those damn eyes.

I walked around the car and opened the passenger door for her. She stepped out of the vehicle and looked at the restaurant. I could tell based on the way she gazed down at her attire that she didn't approve.

"What?" I questioned.

"I wish you would've given me an option to change or something. This place looks... boujee," she told me. I wasn't dressed either, but I also didn't give a single fuck.

Instead of listening to her protest, I placed my arm over her shoulders and led her into the building. The entire time, all I could focus on was the smell of her vanilla scent. It was everywhere—from her body to her hair. I never once thought too highly of vanilla, but it was growing on me.

"We can't go back to your place and change?" she whispered as the entrance doors were opened for us. There was nothing more that I wanted than to hear a woman with curves in all the right places to ask me to go back to my place, but I knew she didn't mean it in the way I wanted her to.

"Just relax," I whispered in her ear.

I could feel her shiver, but I wasn't sure if it was from the cool air or what I had said.

The moment we walked in, I could feel something was off. We were greeted almost immediately by the host. He seemed too eager and it threw up a lot of red flags for me.

"Mr. Sokolov and Miss Wilson..." the man smiled. Immediately, an alarm went off in my mind. There were lines of people waiting for their seat, and I never made reservations. The only person I could blame for the extra attention was my boss, Mr. Siciliano.

"Right this way," the man said, walking away. Everleigh, who had no clue in the world that she was apart of some dark business scheme, innocently strolled behind the host, leaving me there in complete shock. How did he know I would be there?

Everleigh must've realized my absence because she turned around with her brows squeezed together. "You coming?"

I shook off my nerves and followed behind her and the host. Despite the need to not show my concern in order to keep from alarming Everleigh, my heart was racing. Blame it on being a fucking normal human being, but I didn't like the idea of being watched constantly. Siciliano was only proving a point—that he meant his every word. Every time I looked around the restaurant, I could feel eyes on me and all I could do was wonder if they were Siciliano's men.

Once we were at our table which was far in the back of the restaurant and situated at a spot that was almost too private from the rest of the restaurant attendees. A smile came across Everleigh's face as the host pulled the chair out for her. I shakily pulled my own chair out, and to my dismay, Everleigh eyed my hand suspiciously.

I feared no one—except Siciliano when he threatened Everleigh. Even if she didn't mean as much to me now, she once meant everything to me.

"Your waitress will be right with you shortly," he told us after placing two menus down in front of us. Even the way he eyed me as he walked away made me squint my eyes at him. It was possible he could've been working for Siciliano, too. I wouldn't be surprised if Siciliano owned the whole damn restaurant. I wasn't sure if there was a single place on earth that he didn't at least have partial ownership of.

"Are you okay?" Everleigh asked.

"No..." Fuck. Wrong answer. "I mean, yeah." I took a deep breath. I noticed the way her brow rose. If she was still anything like her child-self, I didn't give her an acceptable enough answer. "There's just a lot on my mind right now."

Slowly, her face fell back into place as she leaned back into her seat. "I get that. Same here. Is it about Sophia?" she asked me. No. Sophia was nowhere near my damn mind, but it did beat having to tell her the actual truth.

"Yeah..." I sighed. Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree as she leaned forward on the table with her arms folded in front of her. I wasn't sure if she realized it but even with my shirt on her, I could still make out the curvature of her breast.

"Tell me about it," she said.

"There's nothing to tell, really. If you're expecting me to confess my feelings or some shit like that, then you've mistaken. I do find it ridiculous that she thought what she did today was okay," I explained. "She knows what time I'm there and on what days—"

"She caught feelings for you. I don't find it ridiculous," she told me. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Don't start," I said.

"Boy, don't tell me—"

"Hello, I am Emilia, and might I say that the two of you are such a beautiful couple," she gushed. She had the slightest hint of a southern accent.

I smirked at Everleigh, who I could tell was preparing to go on a rant about how we weren't together, but I beat her to it. "Thank you. My girlfriend is quite the looker isn't she?" I asked, mocking the girls accent.

Everleigh snorted in an attempt to cover her laugh, but it only made the situation more funnier.

"Yes, so gorgeous!" Emilia agreed.

"Thank you," Everleigh smiled. "You are very pretty, too."

Emilia smiled almost flirtatiously, and I couldn't help but narrow my eyes once I noticed the 'Lesbian Pride' pin on her side. "Anywho, enough about that... What can I get y'all to drink?"

"I'll take your best champagne, and for my girlfriend... she'll have grape wine. Whatever you recommend," I told her. Emilia gave a curt nod followed by a smile on her red-tinted lips before turning on her heel to prepare our drinks.

The moment she was gone, Everleigh burst out laughing. Her laugh was absolutely horrendous, but it was so damn contagious. Every single time she sucked in a loud breath just to laugh harder than before, I found myself laughing as well.

"I am... not... your girlfriend!" she exclaimed in between her laughter. A smile settled on my lips as I watched her wipe away imaginary tears.

"You will be," I muttered, jokingly.

Suddenly her laughter stopped. "What?"

"Nothing, little Evie... nothing at all," I said tauntingly. She narrowed her eyes at me, but there was still a small smile playing on her full lips.

"And you're not slick..." she said, rolling her eyes. I quickly noticed the shift in her attitude.

"I'm not?"

"Yeah, you're not. Don't think I'm one of these white girls like Sophia that you can just boss around when it's convenient for you. I don't need you to order for me, and I don't need you to tell me things like 'Don't start'," she explained.

I smiled. "Would you rather you boss me around? I'll let you order for me, tell me what you want, handcuff me to a bed, use me, make me eat you out like your own fucking sex toy... would that please you, Evie?"

There was nothing on her face but pure shock. I watched her full lips begin to move just as the host returned. Strolling behind him was no one other than Siciliano and his wife. My smile slowly fell.

"Here you are, sir," the host said, pointing toward our table.

—
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Hi babes! Here is another update for you all. If you'd like to add my personal instagram, I'll leave it up for a minute (@ashmarie.w) text me if you'd like to be besties but please don't go on that account and start bullying me for updates lmao.

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—A. Marie

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