<b>Chapter </b><b>26 </b>
Addison
I have a lot of questions to ask, but I feel like it’s just best to leave those questions forter seeing as the two men who I could ask these questions looked pissed as fuck right now. And watching them lose it in the museum just now showed me a glimpse of just how much they hate each other, and right now, I realized that it was far deeper than I initially realized.
Right after we got thrown out of the museum, we went into the cafe right beside the museum, and that’s where we’re all presently in, around a table, while the two men scowled while nursing cups of
coffee.
Aisha was on her phone, and beside her, Marco was briefly running a towel through his hair. I was sitting beside Zade, mopping his hair with a towel while wishing that I could do this for Marco right
now as well.
“You had to go and ruin this day for us, didn’t you?” Zade finally broke the silence and as expected,
macro leveled him with a sharp re.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You punched me first. You brought up the past, which is just a make belief version of the story. It’s your fault from all angles.”
Marco scowled darkly at Zade and looked like he was seriously considering starting the fight once again, already rising from his seat.
“Marco, please…” I called out quietly, not wanting them to go at it again, cause thest one I just witnessed looked scary as hell.
Marco’s eyes met with mine for a moment, then he was sitting and pressing his towel against his face, while Aisha still remained on her phone. I wanted to ask Marco if he’s alright, if he wanted a hug, or anything else, but that would seem really inappropriate right now, seeing as I technically have a boyfriend<i>, </i>but my heart ached in my chest at the thought of Marco hurting.
I let out a sigh and turned <i>to </i>face Zade who was already staring at me and I blushed at being caught staring at Marco. Zade didn’t say a thing, he only arched a brow at me and I resumed mopping his hair while wondering if what Marco said about him was true or not. I stared closely at Zade’s face as I tried to figure that out, but I found that hard to click in my head.
Zade might seem like such a yboy, but I just couldn’t picture him purposely fucking his brother’s girlfriend,
11:53 Wed, 3 Sept
I mean, in our own case, I was the one who asked him to fuck me, not the other way around, so I seriously doubt that.
“Are you alright?” I asked him quietly and he was silent at first before slowly nodding while exhaling a long breath.
After that, Zade faced the other couple. Marco was staring at us when I nced back in his direction, a dark expression across his face and I didn’t know if he was mad at Zade, or at me forforting him.
“I think this is the part where we split up. Clearly, the double date isn’t going like any of us anticipated.” Zade spoke and I instantly expected everyone to agree. However, Aisha finally kept her phone on the table as she gasped in bewilderment.
“What? Why? Let’s not do that!”
Marco tensely nodded beside her. “I agree with Aisha, there’s no point in cutting it off halfway.”
Zade snorted beside me. “You look like you want to punch me again, and yet you’re still interested in
this date?”
He shrugged. “I can control myself, and besides, this is for my girlfriend,Addison and for us three to make some memories. It’s a shame that you’re also present.”
I felt my heart jump in my chest at those words, before it sank a little because I quickly reminded myself that those words didn’t mean anything, nor did it indicate that he still liked me or something.
“If you’re sure you can control yourself, then why not?” Zade finally sighed before ncing at me.
“You’re cool with this, right babe?”
My cheeks flushed at that nickname, that waspletely new.
“Uh<i>–</i>yeah, anything is fine with me.” I muttered, but I was d that we didn’t depart from Marco just yet. I still wanna keep staring at his handsome face every now and then even though he clearly belonged to someone else.
“Of course anything’s fine with you.” Aisha snickered as she rolled her eyes and I scoffed as I scowled
at her.
“Don’t you have a wedding to n?” I snapped and she rolled her eyes.
“A bunch of wedding nners, My mother and Marco’s mother are taking care of everything, if you must know. The only thing that’s left is the dance rehearsals of all the bridesmaids tonight, and I hope you can dance cause you’re a part.”
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My eyes widened in confusion. “What?”
She shrugged. “Marco said you’d be interested.”
I nced at Marco who nodded. “I forgot to tell you since, but a dress was made for you and all. I’d really like it if you’re present beside me at the wedding supporting me and this was the closest position I could find. Will you do it? It would make me really happy,<i>” </i>he looked earnest right now, his brown eyes pulling me.
It was at the tip of my tongue to say yes without questions, cause that’s what I’d have usually done, however, this time, I shook my head.
“I can’t do it, Marco, I’m sorry.”
He frowned. “Why?”
“You didn’t tell me beforehand…”
“I forgot, Addi. Please do it for me, you know I draw strength from your presence<i>.” </i>He continued and my heart fluttered and sank at those words. I was d he saw me as his strength, but sad that it’s the only thing he still sees me as, despite all the acts I’ve put in in the past two days.
“I can’t do it, Marco. I’ll just support you from the crowd, okay?”
I hated the wedding happening in two days and I’m still hoping that he’d cancel it, so no way would I agree to do that.
Marco didn’t respond, he just nced away, and I felt sick to my stomach, like I had hurt him and needed to apologize.
The air was tense around us, and I remained rigid, staring down at my coffee till Zade’s hand settled on my thigh, the grip firm and consuming. I let out a shaky breath as all my focus instantly transferred to that hand, then our eyes met. It felt like he was telling me that I just did a good job, and that thought was confirmed when he nodded once.
Weirdly, that made my heart flutter.
After we finally left the cafe, we resumed the double date.
I had thought that I’d bepletely entranced with Marco as usual and unable to think of anything but him, however I was quickly realizing how wrong I had been.
Something was happening to me. I didn’t realize when it started happening, but now, I was thinking
of Zade a lot.
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One moment, Marco was in my mind, then Zade’s fingers were burning into my waist through the thin material of my dress, and that was all I’d start thinking about at once.
It was confusing.
It was maddening.
it was even annoying.
The rest of the date was quite eventful. We did a lot of things, including attending a park and for the first time, after Zade pressured me and promised that I was gonna love it, I agreed to try one ride. And I clung to his strong hands in there while screaming my lungs off, while he keptughing his lungs off as the ride tilted up upside downpletely.
When we alighted, I was too weak to stand and he carried me whileughing. A lot of people were staring, but he didn’t seem to care, and that was what made me unable to tear my eyes away from his face, the way he just doesn’t care and just dies whatever he wants, that was so admirable and I hope
that one day I have grow into someone as sure and confident as him.
When we arrived at where Marco and Aisha were waiting, Marco gave us an unimpressed look.
“Really? She can’t walk? You just love attention, Zade. It’s like you’d die if you don’t try to get all the attention to yourself. It’s a shame that you keep indulging him, Addison, but this is embarrassing, soe down and stand on your own legs.” Marco snapped and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I instantly tried to hop down, my heart sinking with a heavy difort.
Throughout the rest of our dates, the times Marco has really directly spoken to me were of him. sounding like this: annoyed, disappointed, reminding me of the fact that I still owed him an apology for refusing to be a bridesmaid at his wedding, even though I feel like I didn’t have to apologize for that, especially seeing as he didn’t inform me beforehand.
Before I could do that, Zade’s grip around me was tightening and he held me firmly against his chest as he drawled. “We’re not doing anything bad, it’s a fucking park. Live a little, brother.”
With those words, Zade spinned me around and I screamed while clutching his shoulders tightly, my heart pounding hard as my hair kept whipping around in the wind.
After he received a phone call that he had to go answer, I was left alone with Marco and Aisha for the first time since the restart of our date.
Aisha’s left to use the restroom next, leaving me alone with Marco. I instantly tensed up, my heart instantly pounding cause I instantly felt his eyes on me. I want to nce at him, but I also want to
keep acting oblivious, with Zade’s suggestion in my mind, to not privately speak with him throughout
11:53 Wed, 3 Sept
this date so he’d be intrigued and…
G
“Addi?” He whispered, his voice sounding super close and when I nced sideways, he was mere inches away from my face and my eyes widened as my heart lurched into my throat.
Oh my god.
50%
His face was so close to mine. I want to run away cause I was weak, but I also want to kiss him right
now.
Does he want to kiss me?
My question was answered when he cupped my face and leaned even closer, making my heart pound hard against my ribs as I stared at him with bated breath.
After a few seconds, he let out a small sigh and pulled away, then nced down at his phone, and I’ve never felt as stupid as I felt right now.
I felt so stupid and hurt that I felt tears well in my eyes, threatening to spill over.
I’m really so pathetic…