Chapter 137 Dinner
Friday came quicker than Rebecca expected. All through the day, she tried to stay busy with meetings, calls, emails and anything to keep her mind from drifting.
But it still drifted to the dinner. By the time she got home and stood in front of her mirror, she couldn’t avoid it anymore.
She adjusted her dress, then adjusted it again, even though there was nothing wrong with it.
Her reflection stared back at her. She looked fine even morre than fine. She looked gorgeous. But that wasn’t what bothered her.
It was the feeling underneath that quiet awareness that she was going to dinner with a man her best friend didn't like yet, she was still entertaining him.
Rebecca exhaled softly and picked up her bag.
“It’s just dinner,” she told herself. “Maybe after this, she'd stop entertaining him.”
She told herself and the left before she could change her mind.
By the time she got stepped out of her car in front of the restaurant Adrian had chosen, Adrian was already there.
Standing like he had been there long before she arrived, looking calm and patient.
His eyes found her almost immediately, and a smile appeared on his face. Although it wasn't a big smile but I was just enough to show on his face.
Rebecca walked up to him. “Good evening,” she said, returning his smile.
“Good evening,” Adrian replied, his smile still in place.
He looked at her for a second, then said, “You changed your mind twice before leaving the house.”
Rebecca froze, caught off guard by his words. “…Excuse me?”
“You almost wore something else,” he added.
She stared at him, amused by his comment now. “And how do you know that?” she asked, raising her brows.
“I just... guessed,” he said with a shrug.
“That’s not a guess,” she said. “That’s witchcraft.”
Adrian laughed quietly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Rebecca shook her head, but a smile slipped out anyway. “You’re strange.”
“Thank God it didn't stop you from coming,” he said and she rolled her eyes lightly.
“Let’s go inside before I change my mind again,” she said, and Adrian laughed as they both walked in.
The restaurant was soft and quiet. Rebecca looked around as they walked in.
The place looked nice and had this calm feeling around it.
“I like it,” she said after sometime.
“I hoped you would,” he said, looking at her.
“You didn’t pick this randomly, did you?” she asked, raising a questioning brow.
“No,” he said, and she looked at him.
“So you put a lot of thought into this.”
“I did.”
Rebecca gave a small nod.
“Hmm.”
“What?” he asked curiously.
“Nothing. You said this was just dinner and nothing complicating,” she said, and he nodded.
“Yeah. It is just dinner but because it's just dinner doesn't mean I won't put a lot of thought into it. You're not just anyone, after all. A woman of your calibre and elegance deserves more than just casual,” he said, making Rebecca’s heart skip a beat.
But then she quickly masked it with a smile. “You didn't have to do too much.”
They sat down. Adrian pulled her chair out slightly before sitting across from her.
“You’re very polite,” she said.
“I can be.”
“That sounds like you’re not always.”
“I’m not.”
She smiled. “I believe that.”
They ordered quickly. Neither of them spent too much time thinking about it. The real conversation started after.
Adrian looked at her. “So tell me something.”
Rebecca raised a brow. “That sounds serious. I hope it's nothing serious, otherwise, I won't say anything,” she joked, making Adrian chuckle lightly.
“It’s not. I can guarantee that,” he said, looking at her.
After a moment, she nodded. “Go ahead then.”
He leaned back slightly and then tilted his head to the side. “Tell me, what do you do when you’re not working?” he asked, making Rebecca pause.
Then without meaning too, she burst into a laughter. “That’s your question?” she asked in amusement.
“Yes. Why? Weren't expecting that?” he asked, and she shook her head.
“No! That question is so boring,” she said still sounding amused.
“I know but I’d like you to answer it anyway.”
She rested her chin lightly on her hand and then shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said and then squinted her eyes like she was in thoughts. “I watch movies sometimes.”
“What kind?” he asked curiously.
“Anything that doesn’t stress me,” she said with a shrug.
Adrian nodded. “So no sad endings.”
“Absolutely not,” she said quickly. “If I cry, I’ll be angry if it doesn't end the way I'd hoped.”
Adrian smiled slightly. “So you don’t like pain,” he said, more like a conclusion.
“I don’t like unnecessary pain,” she corrected.
“That’s fair.”
She looked at him and even though a part of her didn't want to ask any questions or keep the conversation going, she still opened her mouth to speak.
“What about you?” she asked, a part of her curious to know.
“Well, I read,” Adrian said casually.
Rebecca blinked, surprised. “That’s it?”
“That’s not ‘it,’” he said, using his hand to make a quote.
She laughed, and when he just kept looking at her, she shook her head. “No, it is. That’s very serious. You are boring.”
“I also travel,” Adrian said, tilting his head to the side.
“Better,” she said. “Now you sound human.”
Adrian shook his head slightly. “I’ve always sounded human.”
“Debatable,” she said, and he chuckled.
Their food came, but neither of them rushed to eat. They kept talking. The conversation easy and light.
“You seem like someone who was very serious as a child,” Rebecca said suddenly.
Adrian raised a brow. “That’s random.”
“Answer it,” Rebecca challenged.
“I wasn’t.”
“Really? Why don’t I seem to believe you?” she asked, raising a brow.
“It’s true.”
Rebecca leaned forward slightly. “So you’re telling me you were playful?”
“I don't know but I was like every other
normal kid out there,” Adrian said, a small smile on his face.