Chapter 64: Your Favourite Ones
"Keep your nonsense to yourself, John."
"Have I said anything wrong ? She seems like the ideal match for you. No one knows you like she does. Why don’t you consider it?" John continued. "Don’t you have any feelings for her?You have known her for a long time .."
Ryder’s eyes glazed over, his demeanor impassive. "I care about her deeply, but not in the way you’re thinking,"
"What do you mean?" John reached over to touch his shoulder.Ryder let out a sigh and lowered his shoulders a little. "She is someone I have to look out for and take care of, like a little sister.However, romantically? No, my feelings toward her are not that way."
John looked up. "But she’s now an adult. She has grown out of her childhood." Ryder’s face took a hard line. "Although it might be the case, my emotions haven’t altered. I am deeply in love with someone else. That’s the only thing that counts."
His eyes wide with curiosity, John asked him in a questioning way, "Who is that person you have in mind?"Ryder adopted a cautious look. With a stern voice, he answered, "You don’t have to know." John gave him a nod, realizing that Ryder was reluctant to discuss anything.
As Elizabeth introduced Thea to her group of friends, they turned to grin warmly at her. One of Elizabeth’s pals said, "So, you’re Thea," with curious sparkles in her eyes. "Elizabeth would often talk about you to us. We’ve been hearing a lot about you.". Thea reddened a little, feeling both thrilled and a little awkward to be in on the chat. "Good to meet you all," she said in a gentle and cordial tone of voice. Elizabeth went on to introduce herself, saying, "Thea, meet my buddy, Stella. She is returning after a protracted absence from Florida." With a beaming smile, Stella, a tall and fashionable woman, held out her hand.
Thea extended her hand to grasp Stella’s hand for the handshake.
Her phone rang and as she looked, she found her grandma was calling her.She excused herself to receive the call.
"Thea, today we can’t reach the home here road construction work is going on."
"Don’t worry Grandma.I will be alright.Remember to take your medicines on time."she reminded her about her medicines.
She later hung up the call and returned back to find only Elizabeth was there.
"Whose call?" Elizabeth enquired.
"Grandma called.There is ongoing road construction, so she won’t be able to get home today."
"Thea why not you stay with us today then?" Elizabeth suggested.
"But aunty."
"Pass your phone to me.I will ask permission from her."Elizabeth persisted.
Thea called her and it was answered quickly.
"Grandma,Aunty wants to talk with you." She handed her phone to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth spoke with Thea’s grandma, and after a brief conversation, she hung up and gave the phone back to her. "She gave permission.." Elizabeth announced her smilingly.
"Mom, I asked Thea to stay with us today," Elizabeth informed Rosie, her mother in law who was standing beside her husband.
"Today, Thea, you must come with me to play chess." Elder Edward said, grinning eagerly.
"My grandson is so occupied that he hardly has time to play chess with me.He is forgetting about this old man."
"Grandfather, who did you play with two days ago?" Approaching them, Ryder talked.
Elder Edward appeared perplexed,"Hmm, did I play chess two days ago? Why can’t I remember it?"
Ryder snickered "Because you lost to me, Grandfather!"
Elder Edward feigned offense ,"Whom are you calling a loser, you little brat? I lose intentionally because I don’t want to crush your feelings."
Just as Elder Edward and Ryder were getting into their argument, Rosie intervened with a warm smile.
"Okay, you two, stop your bickering.No more teasing, Edward. "
Elder Edward and Ryder looked at each other, before the former turn back to Rosie and nodding "Yes, darling."
Ryder added, "We wouldn’t want to scare Thea away with your absurd ideas."
"Grandfather, I’m not sure how to play chess."Thea admitted.
Elder Edward waves his hands dismissively,
"Ryder will help you; he is here. Stay calm.You will learn in no time."Elder Edward was clearly looking forward for the game."Ryder, you will help her as you can’t fulfil my wish for great grandchildren."stated Elder Edward.
"Grandfather, I will surely grant your wish, but not now. I won’t disappoint you," Ryder said, his face expressionless.
Elder Edward chuckled, "I suppose I’ll have to wait longer for great-grandchildren."
At that moment,Rosie intervened, "Enough, both of you! Let’s go get our meals."
Ryder grasped Thea’s hand and led her to the buffet counter. Elder Edward watched them with a knowing smile, "See, he can’t let her spend a moment without him."
Elizabeth and Rosie exchanged amused glances.Grasping two plates, Thea gave Ryder one.John suddenly appeared out of nowhere, "Thea, give me one."
Ryder raised an eyebrow, "Don’t you have your own hands?"John feigned hurt emotions, "Ryder, don’t be so mean. I did request a plate."
John whispered teasingly in Ryder’s ear, "Are you feeling jealous?"Ryder shot him a serious glance as John swiftly snatched a plate away from Thea, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
She wandered over to the meat section of the buffet, where renowned chefs had crafted an array of delicious items. She began to serve herself, then turned to Ryder and asked, "Do you want some?" Ryder shook his head.Thea noticed John extending his plate. "You want?" she asked, and John nodded slightly, so Thea added some meat to his plate.
"Why is he not having any? Did his tastes change?" she asked John, who replied with a knowing glint in his eye, "He has changed, Thea. Believe me."
Undeterred, Thea continued to fill Ryder’s plate with a variety of items, trying to coax him out of his grim mood. "You should have some instead of looking so grim." she lauged quietly.
Thea hoped that the delicious food would lift his spirits.Finally, Thea made her way to the desserts section, where she tasted desserts on offer. "Do you have a sweet tooth?" John asked, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm, don’t you like desserts?" Thea countered back. "Not particularly." John replied.
At last in the desserts section she tried every item."Do you like dessert so much?" John asked as he looked at her.
"Hmm.Don’t you like it?" Thea asked back.
"Not so much."John replied.
Ryder’s expression softened into a smile as he witnessed Thea’s love for sweets.
"Taste this dessert, Ryder.It tastes really good."Grabbing the spoon from her hand, Ryder scooped up one spoonful of dessert and shoved it into his mouth.
As Thea saw that, she flushed.In actuality, he was using the same spoon that she had used. "Why did you use this spoon?"She questioned him quietly. "Was wrong with it?"
Thea answered, "I used it."
"As your friend, I can taste it from the same spoon.." Ryder replied.
"Why are you so mean, Ryder?" John asked, sounding hurt. "Previously, when I offered you my spoon with soup, you rejected it."
"Your hand was dirty, so I rejected it at the time," Ryder replied matter of fact.
"Don’t give me lame excuses.I know you treat her differently than me."
"Whatever you feel, you believe.I don’t care." Ryder replied with a smirk, his expression unapologetic.
"Did you all enjoy your meal?"Rosie approached them before asking.
Thea had completed eating her desserts by the time."Did you enjoy the dessert,dear?"Rosie turned to Thea while asking.
"Hmm.These desserts are delicious."Thea answered smilingly.
"Let me tell you the secret then.Most of the desserts here are chosen by Ryder’s Grandfather .They are your favourite ones."Rosie whispered to her.
"Then I have to thank him." Thea chuckled as she spoke.Ryder’s family didn’t make her feel like an outsider throughout her life.
They adored her as like their own granddaughter.
"Ryder,you have to take Thea with you.She would be staying at our house today."Rosie turned to Ryder as she instructed.
Ryder nodded his head as he agreed to take her home with him.
John was the first who bid them goodbye before he set out in his car to go home.
Inside the car, Thea was glancing outside through the window.
The sky was dark and full of stars. The moon was big and bright. It was a beautiful night.
As she gazed out the window, Thea’s eyes fell upon the reflection of Ryder’s side profile, his face focused intently on the road ahead. Without thinking, she slowly reached out and gently caressed the glass, her fingers tracing the outline of his jawline and lips, as if longing to touch him directly.
She turned her head to look at him."Do you want to say anything?"he felt her gaze thus he asked.
"I am observing your feathers."she blurted out her mind words.
Her eyes widened as she told herself.
"Thea you fool.Why did you blurt out your words so directly?"
