Chapter 154: Let Me Book It
"Hmm, you would now say that after all you have already got to experience it." she replied, her tone laced with amusement and a hint of envy.
Thea’s skin grew hot at her friend’s words, and she couldn’t help but blush at the memory of Ryder’s arms holding her close.
"Your crush is approaching." Charlotte whispered, a cheeky shine in her eye, and just then, Ryder appeared and slid into the seat beside Thea.
"Order whatever you want." Ryder invited, his deep voice warm and welcoming.
Thea, however, was determined to take charge. "Ryder, I want to treat today’s meal."
"How can I let you treat me? This time, let me pay, and next time, I’ll think about it." His tone was casual, but Thea was not to be deterred.
She smiled sweetly, but her words were laced with a hint of teasing. "No, this time I will pay. Last time you said the same thing, and it never happened." Ryder’s smile grew wider, and he leaned back in his chair.
"Today, I will treat you. Next time, you will." Ryder said, folding his arms across his chest.
Thea’s lips curved into a low smile as she replied, "Next time, you will let me treat. Remember that."
The waiter appeared at their table, pen and notepad at the ready. "May I take your orders, sir, madam?" he asked, looking at Ryder ,Thea Charlotte and with a courteous bow.
"For me, I will have the Grilled Chicken Fettuccine." Charlotte replied, scanning the menu one last time.
Thea’s eyes met Charlotte’s for a brief moment, a hint of a smile on her face, before she turned back to the waiter and replied, "For me too."
Ryder’s lips curved into a smile as he chuckled. "Make that three."
"Mr. Thompson, this is the first time I am having a meal with you." Charlotte said.
"Hmm, you don’t have to call me Mr. Thompson. You’re Thea’s friend." Ryder replied.
"No, I like to call you that." Charlotte said with a smile.
"Then I would too stick with Miss Wright." Ryder said, returning the formal address.
"I don’t mind." Charlotte added, her voice filled with amusement as she chuckled.
As Charlotte asked, "Mr. Thompson, you’ve known Thea for such a long time... what do you think of her?"
Thea’s smile slipped momentarily, and she subtly nudged Charlotte’s leg under the table, her eyes conveying a wordless warning of "stop right there".
Ryder’s smile was warm and genuine as he replied, "Yeah, I have known her since her childhood... She is someone special to me." The simplicity of his words belied the depth of emotion behind them, and his eyes shone with a deep affection, conveying a sense of loyalty, trust, and devotion that only comes from knowing someone for a lifetime.
Thea’s thoughts turned inward, and a soft smile spread across her face as she realized, "I know that I am special to you,Ryder." Lost in her own little world, she didn’t notice Charlotte’s gaze on her, but when their eyes finally met, Charlotte’s face lit up with a sweet, knowing smile. It was as if Charlotte had been let in on a precious secret, and she was happy to share in Thea’s quiet joy. Thea’s smile faltered for a moment, before she smiled back at Charlotte, the two friends exchanging a warm, unspoken understanding.
As they began their meal, the warm glow of the table lamps and the gentle hum of conversation created a cozy atmosphere.
Ryder’s phone, lying on the table, suddenly lit up, catching Thea’s attention. She was sitting close enough to clearly see the name flashing on the screen, and her eyes instinctively darted to read the display. The name on the phone seemed to freeze for a moment, suspended in the air, as Thea’s gaze lingered on the screen, her expression unreadable.
With a quiet murmur, Ryder accepted the call, his eyes drifting away from the table as he listened intently to the voice on the other end. After a brief moment, he responded, his voice measured and calm, "Okay... Next time..." The words hung in the air, a hint of a promise or a plan, as Ryder’s gaze remained distracted, his attention still anchored to the conversation, even as he ended the call and returned to the present moment.
The meal came to a close, and Ryder stood up, his chair scraping softly against the floor. "You are going home, right? I will drop you.".
Thea nodded, and Ryder led the way out, with Charlotte and Thea following behind.
Charlotte walked alongside Thea, her voice low and laced with concern. "Thea, is everything okay?" Thea didn’t respond, her gaze drifting off into the distance. Charlotte tried again. "Thea?" The silence that followed was palpable, and Charlotte’s words took on a slightly sharper edge.Thea’s response was vague, her eyes still distant. "Hmm... I missed out on what you said?" she murmured.
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed, her expression skeptical, as she asked once more, "Are you okay?"
Thea’s smile returned, and she replied with a gentle laugh, "Ha... Yes... I am fine." Her words were reassuring, and Charlotte seemed to accept them, choosing not to press the issue further. Instead, she accompanied Thea, walking alongside her in comfortable silence.
As they approached Ryder, Charlotte’s demeanor shifted, and she greeted him with polite formality. "Mr. Thompson, thank you for this wonderful meal." she said, her voice warm and Charlotte bid them goodbye before she drove off first, followed by them.
The car ride home was marked by Thea’s silence, her head turned towards the window as she gazed out into the night. The quiet was broken when she finally spoke, "How are your cousins?" she asked, initiating a conversation.
Ryder’s response was warm and affectionate. "Emerson is missing us.." he said, a hint of a smile in his voice. "While they’re quite excited to come back here." He paused, reflecting on the twins’ enthusiasm. "After all, there are many memories of them here... The twins would be excited." His words were laced with a sense of nostalgia, and the thought of the twins’ impending return seemed to bring a sense of joy to his voice.
Thea’s response was spoken with a quiet conviction, her eyes still fixed on the window as she gazed out into the night. "Indeed, memories are all that people preserve, a cherished collection of moments, experiences, and emotions that make us who we are."
Her gaze gravitated towards the chain hanging in his car, its simple presence sparking a flurry of unanswered questions within her. But the recollection of Ryder’s guarded response when she had once attempted to touch it was a potent deterrent, and she felt her curiosity falter. The memory of his eyes, darkening with a possessive intensity, still lingered in her mind, a subtle warning that had left an indelible mark. With a barely perceptible nod, she redirected her attention to the window, the soft blur of the outside world a welcome distraction as she closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting into the silence like a whispered secret.
Thea’s words trailed off as she began to speak, "Ryder...The person..." but before she could continue, his phone rang out once more, its ringtone slicing through the air. Ryder’s eyes darted to the screen, and with a swift motion, he accepted the call, simultaneously guiding the car to the side of the road. His response was brief and to the point, "Okay...I m coming." before he ended the call, the sudden silence a stark contrast to the brief, urgent conversation. The car’s engine purred softly, the only sound in the stillness that followed.
"Thea, I need to head to a place.." Ryder said, his expression serious, his eyes already fixed on some point beyond the present moment. "Can you get home from here?" Thea nodded, her response barely above a whisper, "Yes, I can." She reached for the door handle, but Ryder’s hand closed around her wrist, stopping her. "Wait, let me book a cab for you." he said, his fingers releasing her wrist as he pulled out his phone. With a few swift taps, he arranged for a cab to arrive, his eyes scanning the screen as he confirmed the booking.
As they waited, Thea sat quietly in the car, while Ryder’s gaze drifted back to his phone, his thumb scrolling through the screen.
