Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,129
shoot daggers at us. “Oh, finally,” she snaps. “You guys thought you’d hide and not do shit?”
“Thank you, sweet Sarah.” Matthew trots toward her and gives her a quick peck on the cheek, before taking the plates and putting them at each place setting.
Since I see everyone busy arranging the dining table, I ask, “Um, can I do something?”
“Don’t worry, it’s already done,” Matthew mumbles as he finishes putting the glasses in front of each plate. Then he takes his iPhone from his back pocket and asks, “What do you guys want to eat? I’m thinking of ordering Thai. Is that okay for everyone?”
As the group gathers around Matthew to tell him exactly what they want, I excuse myself and quickly go to my bedroom. There, I take my new iPhone and send Alex my location, along with a text message: Hey, I’m at this address. Be careful of the security cam at the gates. And I’m not sure if the bodyguards are around or not. Love you, P.
“Petra!” I hear Matthew shouting from the dining room.
“Coming!” Glancing at my watch, I see it’s only seven p.m., so I leave the phone in my bag and head back to the dining room.
After our Thai dinner, we get our coats and head outside to the beach where Matthew is lighting up a campfire, while David is already passing out beers for Sarah, Katrina, and himself. Then he shows me a bottle and asks, “You want one?”
“No, thanks,” I tell him as I sit on one of the cushions. A smile settles on my lips at the fire already beaming on my cheeks, and I extend my hands to warm them up.
While everyone is sitting around the campfire, Matthew goes back inside the house without saying a word. As we wait for him, I discreetly pull out my iPhone and check the time: 8:30 p.m. I also notice Alex sent me a message in return, and I open it just as fast: Noted. I’ll wait far from the gates, then. See you at 10 p.m. Love you.
Jeez, only ninety minutes to go.
“Here.” Suddenly, I see Matthew standing beside me, offering me a mug.
“What is it?” I ask as I hold it and bring it to my nose.
He sits beside me, and I notice he’s also holding a mug for himself. “Try it and tell me if it’s good.”
As curious as I am, I take a sip, and my lips curve up, recognizing the flavor. “I can’t believe you made me a matcha latte.”
“Is it good though?” he asks, still worried I won’t like it.
“That’s very sweet of you,” I say in a low voice, quite in awe at his effort to prepare a beverage he told me he doesn’t like. “And yeah, it’s really good.” As I see him also drinking a hot beverage, I ask, “Are you also drinking matcha?”
“Oh, no. This is a cappuccino. You want to try it?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
Then Matthew glances around the campfire, and seeing that we are all here, he asks, “So, Sarah, you still want to play that game?”
Oh jeez, I had already forgotten the reason why we came here. I can’t believe Matthew just reminded Sarah about it.
“Yeah!” she shouts, clapping her hands. “David, did you bring the shots?”
David shows us the beer-packed cooler resting behind him. “There is beer and tequila inside.”
“Perfect.” Then Sarah takes a sip of her beer and says, “Let’s play, then!” Her voice has never been so joyful, which makes me laugh a bit. She then looks at Katrina, sitting beside her, and asks, “Katrina, truth or dare?”
Katrina presses her lips tightly together, pondering her options for a second. “Hmm, dare.”
“Great!” And Sarah rubs her hands together, maliciously planning the dare. “Call Prof. Reich and tell him that his breath smells bad.” While my jaw drops at Sarah’s request, everyone else breaks into laughter.
“Are you insane? I can’t!” Katrina yaps amid the laughter.
“Relax. Put your phone on private, and he won’t know it’s you,” Sarah insists.
David takes her phone and helps her set it to private mode, then Katrina makes the call and puts it on speaker for us to listen.
“Hello?” My heart skips a beat recognizing Prof. Reich’s voice. Everyone is containing a laugh, trying to keep quiet as much as possible.
“Prof. Reich?” Katrina asks.
“Yes, who’s speaking?”
Jeez! It’s really him.
“I was one of your students last year, and let me tell you, your breath smells terrible! Brush your teeth once in a while, for fuck’s sake!”