Chapter 260: Chapter 260: We’re Even
Zoe Pierce was left speechless by his words, unable to respond.
She could only give an awkward smile and sit down at the table.
’Even now, I still haven’t figured out how I can reward Aaron Xavier.’
’I’ll just have to take it one step at a time.’
Once the group was seated, the robots got busy.
They were having hot pot today. Scalding steam was already rising from the center of the pot, and the prepared ingredients were arranged neatly on the table.
After everything was set out, the robot thoughtfully confirmed what the humans wanted to drink before returning to the kitchen.
"Zoe." Zoe Pierce looked at the drinks on the table—there were soft drinks and alcohol. Before she could reach for anything, she heard Nathan Lockwood call her name.
Lifting her face, she looked at him.
"Don’t drink alcohol." Nathan Lockwood picked a sparkling beverage from the selection of drinks and pushed it toward her.
Aaron Xavier also chimed in seriously, "You can’t hold your liquor, Zoe Pierce. It’s best if you don’t drink."
Miles Sherman and Chase Shaw both clearly recalled the time Zoe Pierce drank during the friendly match, and a smile touched their lips.
Zoe Pierce was a bit exasperated.
She took the sparkling beverage. "I have a medical check-up, so I’m not drinking."
It wasn’t that they didn’t want Zoe Pierce to drink; they just didn’t want her to drink in front of so many people.
’Drinking with just the two of them is romantic.’
Nathan Lockwood chuckled. ’If she were to drink with so many people watching, all it would do is get me worked up.’
His gaze fell on the bottle of what was clearly low-alcohol-content liquor on the table, and he poured himself a glass.
The cool liquid slid down his throat, instantly refreshing.
Aaron Xavier swished a slice of meat in the pot and changed the subject. "Zoe, we’ll all go with you to your medical check-up tomorrow."
Zoe Pierce hummed in acknowledgment.
"Actually, Director Quinn also finds it strange that Councilor Rhodes wants you to have another check-up. But since everything is by the book, we figured we should all go with you just in case."
Aaron Xavier and the others hadn’t been required to get a check-up.
Zoe Pierce froze for a moment. His words were clearly hinting at something.
"I don’t know for sure, it’s just a guess," Aaron Xavier said with a shrug.
Zoe Pierce could only furrow her brow.
"We’ll keep an eye on things the whole time, so don’t worry." Miles Sherman placed a piece of food in Zoe Pierce’s bowl with his chopsticks.
Zoe Pierce smiled. "If it’s all by the book, there shouldn’t be any problems."
’Still, it’s strange that this could be connected to Yara, an Omega.’
’After all, Omegas can only soothe an Alpha’s spiritual power. What happened before didn’t seem to have anything to do with an Omega.’
The others thought so too. So, while it was strange, they didn’t dwell on it.
After dinner, however, Miles Sherman brought up the promise they had made to Hope Sherman in the hovercar.
Aaron Xavier was fine with it, of course. He looked at Zoe Pierce, and she had no objections either.
’Aside from school, I’m just at home these days.’
’The Pierce Family’s affairs have been handed over to professionals; I just have to review the accounts periodically now.’
"But, I remember... Miles, isn’t your birthday coming up?" Speaking of going to Miles’ Residence, Aaron Xavier suddenly remembered this.
"After yours, Zoe’s birthday is next month."
Aaron Xavier remembered asking for Zoe Pierce’s birthday before, but he hadn’t thought about it since and had forgotten.
"Is your family inviting people over this time?" he asked, looking at Miles Sherman first.
Last year, Miles Sherman’s birthday was skipped because he was away for special training.
But this year it happened to fall during a break, and knowing Mr. Sherman’s personality, he would probably throw a birthday banquet for him.
"No guests. It’s not a big one." For Miles Sherman, he had spent more birthdays not celebrating than celebrating. Besides, a birthday banquet was just a venue for social climbing.
The hustle and bustle was never about the birthday itself.
Since Miles Sherman wasn’t celebrating, the group’s gazes all turned to Zoe Pierce. She had to celebrate hers, right?
"Sis, let us celebrate your birthday for you." A little less than a month was more than enough time, Aaron Xavier was the first to say.
Zoe Pierce hadn’t planned on celebrating her birthday, but faced with their eager gazes, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
’They want to celebrate my birthday.’
So she nodded.
Aaron Xavier was already getting excited. "When the time comes, I’ll definitely get you a huge gift, Sis."
Zoe Pierce’s eyes, however, darted to Miles Sherman before she inconspicuously turned her face away.
’What should I get for Miles?’
As they talked and joked around, time flew by.
Zoe Pierce went to get another drink. It was only a few steps, so she didn’t bother calling a robot.
But before she could even leave the kitchen, she saw Nathan Lockwood walking over.
"What do you want to drink?" She opened the refrigerator again.
Nathan Lockwood braced his hand on the refrigerator door, appearing to envelop her from behind.
"Chase Shaw did that on purpose last time," he said suddenly, his voice low in Zoe Pierce’s ear. His finger pointed to the flavor she had just been drinking. "I want the grape-flavored one."
Zoe Pierce didn’t realize what he was talking about.
She turned her head, only to see Nathan Lockwood had intentionally leaned down. His face was right by her neck; if she moved just a little more to the side, her lips would brush against his.
"What?" she asked, dazed.
Nathan Lockwood chuckled softly. "On the Starship. I know what he did."
He leaned in closer, his fingers touching the side of her face to keep her from turning back.
A deep kiss.
Zoe Pierce froze on the spot.
Nathan Lockwood let go, his hand landing back on the open refrigerator door. "Now we’re even."
"Zoe, get the drink for me," he said.
Zoe Pierce mechanically took the grape-flavored sparkling water from the refrigerator.
Nathan Lockwood’s gaze landed on her lips. It was unclear whether he was commenting on the drink or something else as he said, "Tastes great."
Just as Zoe Pierce opened her mouth to speak, she saw Aaron Xavier walking over. "What’s taking you two so long? Were you doing something behind my back again?"
Zoe Pierce had been in the kitchen for a while.
And with Nathan Lockwood following her in, Aaron Xavier didn’t believe for a second that nothing was going on.
Now, looking over suspiciously, he saw that Nathan Lockwood was indeed holding a drink, as was Zoe Pierce. The refrigerator door was wide open, cold air wafting out.
While they looked a bit close, it wasn’t the scene he had been hoping to catch.
Nathan Lockwood took a few steps toward the doorway. "You’ve got too much time on your hands, Aaron Xavier."
Aaron Xavier walked up to the refrigerator, randomly picked a drink, and surprisingly didn’t argue with Nathan Lockwood.
’As long as Zoe Pierce does something special for someone else, I can justifiably play the victim and demand the same from her.’
"Maybe I do have too much time on my hands," he said nonchalantly.
He looked at Zoe Pierce, who was standing to the side, and asked, "Zoe Pierce, need anything else? I can help you."
Zoe Pierce pressed her lips together. "No, this is enough."
She almost flew out of the kitchen.
Aaron Xavier raised an eyebrow. Watching Nathan Lockwood unhurriedly twist open the bottle cap and take a gulp of his drink with a smile, he let out a low hmph.
’Looks like I was a little too late.’
By the time the two of them returned to their seats, Zoe Pierce looked normal, except that she had already drunk a third of her new beverage.
’A dry mouth, or a guilty conscience?’
Nathan Lockwood’s lips curved, his smile deepening.
’Is this what a "secret affair" tastes like?’
