The restaurant was exactly the kind of place my mother loved: elegant, timeless, and so exclusive it practically oozed superiority. We'd been lucky to snag a reservation on short notice, thanks to Kemi pulling some strings I didn't ask too many questions about. But, of course, the universe decided to remind me that good luck was never my thing.
I should've known the moment I stepped in and spotted Reid.
His back was turned, but I'd recognize that posture anywhereâthe perfectly straight shoulders, the casual angle of his head as if he owned the world. And sitting across from him, practically glowing in her designer dress, was Red. She was more glamorous than I remembered, all sharp lines and smirks, her hair styled so effortlessly it had to have taken hours.
I froze, debating whether to turn around and march out the door. But before I could decide, Kemi nudged me forward. "Well, this is awkward," she muttered under her breath, clearly noticing them too.
My mum, ever the composed one, didn't hesitate. "Let's just get to our table." She led the way, head high, and I followed, pretending my stomach wasn't twisting into knots.
But the universe wasn't done with me.
As we neared our table, Red looked upâand recognition sparked in her eyes. Her radiant smile waned the moment she saw me and she leaned closer to Reid, saying something I couldn't hear. A moment later, she was on her feet, making a beeline toward us.
No, could the ground open up and swallow me.
"Mrs. Kensington!" Red greeted, her voice dripping with warmth that didn't quite match the sharpness in her eyes. "What a small world. It's been ages!" She knew my mum? I throw a questioning gaze to kemi and she shrugs in respond.
My mum blinked in surprise before her face lit up in polite recognition. "Isabel? My goodness, I didn't expect to see you here. How are you?"
Isabel. So that was her name. Hearing it confirmed my suspicion, Red, was a nickname. Were they on some kind of date right now? Wasn't she too old though?
"Oh, you know, busy as ever," RedâIsabelâreplied smoothly. Her gaze flickered to me, then to Kemi, lingering just long enough to make me uncomfortable. "And who do we have here?"
"This is my daughter, Isla," Mum said proudly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "And my best friend since high school, Kemi."
"Daughter?" Isabel echoed, her smile widening as she looked me up and down. "How lovely. You've grown into such a beautiful young woman."
"Thanks," I muttered, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.
"Hey, let's go back to our table now," Reid's voice cut through the conversation, smooth and unmistakably sweet. He had walked over to us, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine almost immediately.
For a second, I couldn't breathe.
"Actually," Isabel said, turning back to him with a sly grin, "I was just catching up with an old acquaintance. And now that I think about it, we have a spare couple of seats at our table. Why don't you join us?"
"No, that's quite alright," my mum began, but Isabel waved her off.
"Nonsense! It'll be fun." She didn't wait for an answer, already motioning for a waiter to bring over extra chairs.
"I don't think that's a good idea, just stop," Reid says, grabbing Reds arm and pulling her to their table but she drags her hands off his and walks back to us "Come on, it will be fun."
I could feel my mum's hesitation, but before she could decline again, I spoke up. "It's fine, Mum. Let's just sit."
Kemi shot me a questioning look, and I knew she was ready to back me up if I wanted to bolt. But I wasn't about to let Redâor Reidâthink I couldn't handle this.
So we sat.
The tension was immediate.
Reid was directly across from me, and I could feel his gaze every few seconds, like he couldn't help himself. I focused on my plate, cutting my steak into neat little pieces, pretending I didn't notice. Isabel, meanwhile, was in full hostess mode, filling the silence with overly cheerful chatter that somehow always circled back to Reid.
"And Isla," Isabel said suddenly, her voice turning sugary sweet, "how are you finding college life? It must be quite a change from Beverly Hills."
"It's fine," I replied curtly, not looking up.
"Oh, come on, you can tell us," she pressed, leaning forward like we were sharing some big secret. "Is it hard being away from home? Or are you enjoying all the...freedom?"
Reid frowned. "Isabelâ"
"What? I'm just making conversation," she said innocently, though the glint in her eyes told a different story.
My mum's voice cut through, sharp and calm. "Isabel, darling, I'm not sure what you're trying to do here, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't drag my daughter into whatever this is." Mum points between them.
Isabel blinked, clearly taken aback by my mum's tone. "Oh, I-I." She stutters.
"Good," Mum said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She turned to me. "Isla, why don't we finish up and head home? I think we've had enough excitement for one evening."
I nodded, more than ready to escape. Kemi was already standing, her expression a mix of relief and anger. Looking back to Reid, I see him exchanging glances with Red and I know he did not approve of her behavior tonight.
As we made our way out, I felt Reid's gaze on me again, but I didn't look back. We walked to the entrance and was waiting on the valet to drive our car around when I heard my name.
"Isla."
I stopped, turning slowly to see him standing just outside the restaurant, his hands shoved into his pockets.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice harsher than I intended. I look around expecting Red to be behind him but she's not.
"Can we please talk?" he asked, his tone soft, almost pleading. His eyes flickered to my mum, who was watching from a distance, her expression unreadable. He gave her a small nod, which she returned, before turning back to me.
"Do we have anything left to talk about?" I asked, crossing my arms. Why did he follow me out and did he just leave Red there all alone? I was way too curious about their relationship.
Reid's face fell, and for a moment, he looked so genuinely hurt that I almost felt bad. Almost.
"Fine," I said finally, my voice sharp. I turned back to my mum and Kemi. "You guys go home. I'll meet you there."
"Are you sure about this?" my mum asked, her concern evident.
I nodded, stepping forward to hug her tightly. "I'll be fine. Love you."
"Love you too," she whispered, kissing the top of my head.
I watched as she and Kemi got into the car and drove off, a part of me wanting to run after them. But instead, I turned back to Reid.
He was standing there, looking almost...awkward, his hands still in his pockets. When he saw me looking, he gave a small wave, like this was some casual meetup.
I sighed, walking toward him, my stomach twisting with a mix of anger, curiosity, and something I didn't want to name.
"Alright," I said, stopping a few feet away. "Talk."
And just like that, the night took another turn I wasn't ready for.
Authors note
Thank you for reading. Two chapters in one day, it's my gift to you for my inconsistency in uploading. Love y'all.