Chapter 199 Tequila shots

Chapter 199 Tequila shots
Chapter 199: Tequila shots 

The restaurant was quiet in a refined, late night way.

Golden sat across from Linda, her posture composed, her fingers wrapped around the stem of her glass. From the outside, she looked perfectly fine. Well put together.

Linda knew better.

She leaned back slightly in her chair, studying Golden with ease. 

“Funny how we’re both having dinner together,” Linda said, her tone light but pointed.

Golden gave a small, controlled smile. “I mean, we were never enemies…”

“You’re right,” Linda continued calmly, “It’s good to see you again, Gigi.”

Golden let out a short breath, almost like a quiet laugh, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Good to see you too,” she said.

Linda tilted her head slightly. “You’ve always been bad at pretending, Gigi. I know you’re not fine.”

Golden’s grip on her glass tightened. She looked away, her gaze drifting toward the window, watching the blurred movement of cars outside.

“I’m not pretending,” she replied.

Linda didn’t respond immediately. She simply reached for her drink, taking a slow sip, giving the silence space to stretch just enough to make Golden uncomfortable.

It worked.

Golden shifted slightly in her seat, exhaling.

“It’s just… a lot,” she admitted quietly.

Linda nodded once, like she had expected that.

“Work?” she asked.

Golden hesitated. “Work. Life. Everything.”

Linda leaned forward slightly now, her eyes locked on Golden’s face.

“And Allan?”

Golden froze.

It was subtle. Anyone else might have missed it. But Linda saw it clearly. The pause. The way Golden’s shoulders stiffened just slightly. The way her eyes flickered before she masked it again.

Linda didn’t smile this time.

“Do you still love him?”

The question landed heavily between them.

Golden didn’t answer.

She looked down at the table, her lashes lowering, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass slowly, like she needed something to anchor herself.

Linda didn’t push. She simply watched. Seconds passed.

Golden inhaled softly, then picked up her drink and took a sip, buying herself time she clearly needed.

When she set the glass down again, she still didn’t answer.

Linda leaned back again, nodding slightly.

“Thought so,” she murmured.

Golden looked up at her quickly. “That’s not an answer.”

Linda raised a brow. “Silence is an answer.”

Golden opened her mouth like she wanted to argue, but nothing came out. She closed it again, her jaw tightening slightly.

The waiter approached briefly, clearing their plates and replacing them with fresh glasses. Neither of them spoke until he left.

Linda reached for the small shot glass that had just been placed in front of her.

“Tequila?” she offered casually.

Golden stared at it for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“I guess.”

They lifted their glasses at the same time.

“To bad decisions,” Linda said.

Golden let out a soft breath. “That sounds about right.”

They drank.

The burn hit instantly, sharp and warm, settling in their chests.

Linda exhaled, setting her glass down. “Now we can actually talk.”

Golden shook her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite everything.

“You’ve always been like this,” she said. “Straight to the point.”

“Because dancing around things wastes time,” Linda replied easily.

Golden leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms lightly.

“Fine,” she said. “Ask.”

Linda didn’t hesitate.

“What’s going on between you and Alex?”

Golden blinked, clearly not expecting that shift.

“What?” she frowned. “Nothing is going on.”

Linda gave her a look.

“Really?”

Golden nodded. “We’re fine. Still best friends.”

Linda smiled, but there was something knowing in it.

“I don’t think so.”

Golden’s expression hardened slightly. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” Linda said calmly, “I’ve been watching. You two don’t talk the same anymore. There’s distance.”

Golden shook her head. “You’re reading too much into things.”

“Am I?” Linda asked quietly. “Alex hardly speaks to you at the office. What happened between you two?” 

Golden held her gaze for a moment, then looked away again.

“She’s just been busy,” Golden said. “Wedding plans. Life.”

Linda hummed softly, unconvinced.

“And you?” she asked. “You’ve been busy too?”

Golden didn’t respond.

Linda leaned forward again, resting her arms lightly on the table.

“Let me ask you something else,” she said. “Why are you so defensive about her?”

Golden frowned. “I’m not defensive.”

“You are,” Linda said simply. “And that usually means there’s something you don’t want to admit.”

Golden exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.

“This isn’t about Alex,” she said. “Don’t twist it.”

Linda held her gaze.

“Let’s talk about something else,” Golden said. “Why are you and Fabulous pretending like you don’t exist in the same world?”

Alex blinked, clearly thrown.

“You noticed that?” she asked quietly.

Golden nodded. “Same way you noticed me and Alex.”

Linda let out a soft laugh. “I guess it’s hard not to notice when people who used to be cool now act like strangers.”

Golden’s lips pressed together.

“Things change,” she said. “Don’t beat yourself over it.”

Linda raised a brow. “That’s vague.”

Golden shrugged slightly. “People grow. People move on.”

Linda studied her for a long moment.

“You’re defending it cos you’re guilty too,” she said finally. 

Golden looked at her without saying a word.

Linda picked up her glass again, swirling the liquid inside slowly.

“Alex was a really good friend to you, extend some grace towards her,” she said finally. “Don’t lose a good friend.”

Golden’s brows pulled together. “And I was the bad friend to her? I’ve been very patient with Alex. Girl just woke up one morning and stopped speaking to me! Wha…”