Chapter 83 Chapter Eighty Three: Not Just Friends

Chapter 83 Chapter Eighty Three: Not Just Friends
(Lior's POV)

I was halfway through finishing my work when Anne and Aiden showed up to pick me up for dinner.

Adrian didn't try to stop me. He only looked at me for a few seconds before saying, “Don't stay out too late.”

“I won't.”

He nodded.

Then, as I walked toward the elevator, my phone vibrated with a text from him.

“I MISS YOU ALREADY.”

I stopped, and looked back at Adrian. He was standing in his office doorway, watching me.

I shook my head and continued walking.

My phone vibrated again.

“YOU'RE MINE”

I rolled my eyes.

Another vibration.

“LIOR BELONGS TO ADRIAN.”

I typed back.

“I AM LITERALLY STILL IN THE BUILDING!!”

His reply came almost immediately:

“AND YET YOU'RE LEAVING ME.”

I laughed under my breath.

By the time I reached the lobby, another message came.

YOU'D HAVE MORE FUN IF YOU WENT OUT WITH ME.

I typed:

YOU'RE THE MOST DRAMATIC ALPHA I'VE EVER MET.

His reply:

AND YOU LOVE ME. ALSO, I DON'T LIKE THAT YOU'VE MET OTHER ALPHAS.

I stared at the message for a moment before putting my phone away.

I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of replying.

______

Dinner was pleasant, it's not like I expected anything less from the twins. Anne and Aiden were lovely to be around. They were constantly bickering, but neither of them seemed capable of staying annoyed with the other for more than a few seconds.

We had barely settled into our seats when Aiden picked up the menu.

“I know what I'm getting.”

Anne looked at him. “Of course you do, I'm not ordering for you, I'm not your mother.”

Aiden glared at her, “you can't be my mother, stone ass Alpha.”

Anne ignored him.

Aiden suddenly grinned as he looked at the menu. “This is my favorite soup.”

Anne immediately shook her head. “No, it's not your favorite. You just eat it because big brother hates it.”

Aiden laughed. “She caught me.” He turned to me. “She's right. Your boss hates this soup, so I requested it for every meal we had together.”

I stared at him. “You did? That's spiteful.”

“Every time.” Aiden shook his head, laughing. “And now I've grown to like it.”

The soup arrived a few minutes later.

Aiden pushed the bowl toward me. “You should try it. It's really good.”

I smiled politely. The aroma wasn't exactly appealing to me, but I didn't want to be rude.

“Okay.”

I picked up the spoon and tasted it. It wasn't bad, so I took another spoonful.

“It's not bad.” I said, pushing the bowl back toward him.

“Only two spoons?”

“That's enough.”

Aiden laughed. “You know, you don't have to be polite, you can tell me you don't like it. I promise I won't take it as an insult of my taste.”

“He will,” Anne chipped in, “the sensitive possum, he will take it as an insult of his taste.”

Aiden glared at her. “You talk too much. Nobody asked you for all that info.”

I couldn't help but laugh.

But just then, my stomach suddenly twisted. Something rose into my throat, and my mouth filled with saliva.

I barely had enough time to stand up before I felt my gut pushing up my mouth.

I rushed toward the sink nearby.

I leaned over it and threw up.

“Oh my God.”

Anne was immediately beside me.

She placed a hand on my back and gently rubbed it. “Are you okay?”

I coughed, wiped my mouth, and tried to breathe.

When I finally straightened, I felt humiliated. “I'm fine.”

Aiden looked concerned. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I guess my stomach didn't like your really good soup.”

I tried to laugh, but I couldn't, so I just said: “I'm so sorry.”

Anne smiled sympathetically. “You don't have to apologize.”

“I know. I'm just—”

I shook my head. “Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing,” she said.

They ordered something else for me. This time, they chose sauced fish, insisting that it was spicy enough to settle my stomach.

I wasn't convinced, but I ate it anyway.

Thankfully, I kept it down.

My phone continued vibrating throughout dinner.

I ignored it for as long as I could. Eventually, I pulled it out.

Another message from Adrian.

ARE YOU STILL EATING?

Another one arrived.

DID YOU DRINK WATER?

Then:

DON'T STAY OUT LATE.

And:

I MISS YOU.

I stared at the screen.

Then another vibration.

YOU'RE MINE.

I sighed and switched my phone to silent.

After we finished eating, Aiden looked at me. “Should we go shopping?”

I immediately shook my head. “No. It's almost nine.”

I picked up my bag. “I don't want to stay out late.”

Anne smiled. “We won't go on a spree.” She exchanged a look with Aiden. “We just wanted to buy a few things for you.”

I smiled. “That's really kind of you, but you can buy me things next time.”

Anne gasped dramatically. “That's unfair.”

“How?”

“You let Aiden take you bowling and keep you out until one in the morning.”

I groaned. “And I went to work late the next day.” I pointed at them. “Are you guys trying to get me fired?”

Anne laughed. “We won't let big brother fire you.”

“That's not reassuring.”

“Come on.” She grabbed my arm. “It'll be fun.”

I should have known better.

Because somehow, twenty minutes later, I found myself standing inside a luxury store whose name I couldn't pronounce.

I stared at the displays.

Everything looked expensive. Far too expensive.

“This place is terrifying. The prices are screaming theft.”

Aiden laughed. “Relax.”

A sales assistant approached us.

Anne immediately pointed toward a pair of boots. “Those.”

I looked at her. “Those?”

“Yes.”

“I already have boots.”

“Not those.”

Before I could protest, I was sitting down trying them on.

They fit perfectly.

I looked at myself in the mirror. “They're beautiful.”

“I knew you'd like them.” Anne turned toward the sales assistant. “We'll take them.”

I immediately looked at her. “Wait. You're actually buying them?”

“Yes.”

“Aren't they expensive?”

Aiden stepped in. “I'll take these too.” He said, pointing at another pair.

I stared at him. “Why?”

“Because they're nice.”

Anne looked at him. “Those are nice, but these are nicer.”

She pointed toward another pair. “I'll take those too.”

Aiden laughed. “Then I'll take these.” He pointed at two more.

I stared between them. “What is happening?”

Neither answered. They just kept shopping: tops, pants, even more boots, sneakers, handbags…

It became a competition; Anne picked one thing, Aiden picked two, Anne picked three, Aiden picked two more.

I eventually looked at the growing collection of bags around us.

“It's enough.”

Neither listened.

“We don't even need to get all these.” I gestured toward the clothes. “It was nice looking at them, but let's put some of them back.”

“No.”

They said it together.

I blinked. “Are you guys trying to change my entire wardrobe?”

They looked at each other.

I narrowed my eyes. “Do you perhaps hate the way I dress and feel the need to fix it?”

“No, no, no.” Aiden waved his hands. “That's not the case.”

He hesitated.

“We just want to buy you stuff and, uh—”

Anne suddenly sighed. “Lior.”

I looked at her.

“We both like you. And we're competing for your attention.”

My brows pulled together. “What?”

Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. “We're interested in you.”

I stared at him.

Anne continued. “This is our way of courting you.”

My mouth fell open. “What?”

“We're competing.” Aiden smiled awkwardly. “If one of us wins you over first, the other gives up.”

I stared at them for a moment. Then I slowly stepped backward.

“You should stop.”

Anne's smile disappeared. “What? Why?”

I swallowed. “I...” My heart began beating faster. “I already have someone.”

They both went quiet.

“I'm not single.” I looked between them. “I'm so sorry. I didn't realize you were courting me. I would have stopped it earlier.”

Anne looked surprised. “I thought you were single— I remember you said it yourself.”

“And I thought we were just friends.” I took another step back. “I thought you guys just liked spending time with me.”

I hesitated, before adding:

“As a friend.”

Neither of them said anything.

I gave them a small smile and turned around. I needed to leave.

Now.

Jay was right after all. It was obvious, I was just blind.