Chapter 22: 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟏

BREE

“Do you have a death wish?” Rose asks Jack after we take our seat by a table.

We’re back in the same cafe where it was revealed that Finn had a crush on someone. It took me long to figure out it was me but the answer was satisfying nonetheless.

“No,” Jack replies.

“Then why do you always drag us here especially when I’m in the middle of reading?” Rose glares.

“Geez, calm down. You brought your book with you this time.” Jack reasons then looks at me, “did she accidentally encounter Ryan or something?”

Before I could clear his confusion, Rose pinches his arm.

“Ow!” Jack exclaims, rubbing the spot Rose pinched, “what the hell?”

“You’re annoying!” Rose says then sits back, opening her book.

Jack looks at me, “seriously, what is up with her?”

“Why did you drag us here? Where are Finn and Farhan?” I ask.

“Farhan is on some kind of mission and I texted Finn, I don’t know if he’s coming,”

Just then my attention goes to the cafe entrance and a smile takes over my lips as Finn enters the cafe.

His eyes quickly find mine and a smile spreads across his face before he walks to our table.

“What are you doing here?” Jack asks as Finn takes his seat.

“You said to accompany you. I thought you were going to pay like last time,” Finn grins.

“It wouldn’t hurt you to use your own money,”

“How could I when my dear sweet friend said to pay for me?”

Jack makes a face but Finn’s grin only widens.

Jack looks down at the menu and Finn locks his eyes with me, giving me his smile which I return with mine.

Under the table, he places his hand on my thigh. I’m wearing pants and even through the cloth, I feel the heat from his touch.

“On what mission is Farhan on?” Rose asks, earning our attention.

“Who knows? This will only be revealed when he succeeds,” Finn says. I place my hand over his under the table. He interlocks his fingers with mine, running his thumb over my knuckles.

“Succeed in what?”

Finn and Jack look at each other then at Rose.

“Marriage,” they say at the same time.

Rose and I stare at them, unblinking.

“What?” Rose says.

“Excuse me?” I say.

“That’s what he told us,” Finn says, “literally.”

Rose and I exchange a glance.

“Well, we hope he succeeds,” Rose says.

“Speaking on success,” I start, looking at my brother, “Jack.”

Jack looks at me.

“Hm?”

“Why don’t you ask her out?”

Jack blinks, “sorry, what?”

“I know you heard me,” I say, “ask out the waitress,”

“Do you know her name?” Finn asks.

“Nora. Isn’t it a beautiful name?” Jack says, smiling.

“Wouldn’t it be beautiful if you asked her out?” Jack looks back at me. I spot Nora coming towards us, “she’s coming. Ask her right now.”

“W-what?”

“Hi,” Nora speaks as she reaches our table, giving us her sweet smile, “what can I get you all?”

“We will have coffee, thank you.” Finn says.

“Alright. Anything else?”

“Yes!” everyone looks at me, “actually, Jack would like to say something to you,”

“Oh,” Nora looks at Jack- who’s frozen, “yes? Is everything okay?”

“Y-yes. I.. um,” Jack forgets how to speak and he’s not even looking at her, his ears are turning bright red. I catch Finn trying to hide his laugh by covering his mouth, I squeeze his hand in warning.

“I.. you.. Uh.. um,” Nora frowns at Jack’s gibberish.

Rose sighs and puts down her book, “Nora?” she says, earning Nora’s attention, “do you have any plans for tonight?”

“No. Why?”

“Jack would like to take you to dinner if you don’t mind,”

Jack stays frozen and Nora’s cheeks turn a shade of pink, “o-oh, okay. Yes. I don’t mind.”

“Great.” Rose smiles, “can you please write down your number? He’ll text you for the address.”

“O-okay,” Nora quickly writes her number, rips the paper from her notepad and sets it on the table. Jack’s eyes snap to the paper but he still doesn’t say anything. Nora looks back at Rose, “are you sure he wants to take me out?-”

“Yes!” Jack quickly says, finally snapping out of frozen zone and looks at Nora, smiling, “sorry, I’m weird- but not creepy, I promise.”

She blinks at him, “okay,” she chuckles, “see you tonight then,”

“See you, Nora,” Jack says and dreamingly watches as his date walks away with a smile.

Jack’s dreamy expression soon gets wiped off when Rose kicks him under the table, earning a pained hiss from him. I press my lips together to stop myself from laughing.

“Behave on the date.” Rose grits out, “If you spend the whole dinner being frozen and showing your weirdness, I’ll kill you.”

“Fine,” Jack says then smiles, “thank you so much, my beautiful sweet Rose-”

“Stop buttering me. I’ll send you the name of the book I want,”

“How about I set up a date with Ryan instead?- ow!”

Jack jumps out of his chair when Rose kicks him again. Finn and I cover our mouths to cover our laugh.

“Geez, I was returning the favor.”

“Get out.”

“Fine,” Jack makes a face at Rose then looks at me and Finn, “I have a date,” he smiles, turns around and starts walking away.

“Wait- you said you’ll pay!” I call after him but he doesn’t listen. He’s busy daydreaming.

Finn laughs, “God, I am so glad I got to see this,”

“Shut up,” I hit his arm.

“Are you forgetting you were blushing when it was revealed you had a crush?” Rose asks Finn.

Finn’s smile drops, “I wasn’t frozen.”

“Right. You were red.”

Finn looks at me, I press my lips together trying to hide my smile.

“What is up with her?” He asks.

“Nothing.” I turn to Rose, “Rose, continue reading, I promise we won’t disturb you.”

“Thank you, Bree.”

I smile and she goes back to reading.

“I think you should’ve taken Jack’s offer,” Finn says to Rose, I glare at him but he continues to speak, “you’d get a good date-”

“Bree, either he leaves or I kill him,”

“Finn, stop.” I tell him.

“As you wish, amore.” He says, I smile.

We get our coffees and find out that Jack already took his and paid, we somehow didn’t see it.

“I have to head back now,” Finn says, standing up, “I need to answer emails so I can spend time with you tomorrow,”

“Will you call tonight?”

“Of course, amore,” he leans down and gives me a quick kiss. He stands straight, taking his coffee, “goodbye, Rose,”

“Goodbye, irritating head,”

“Not impressed,” he says, earning Rose’s glare.

I chuckle, “enough. Go.”

Finn gives me his smile then leaves. I let out a happy sigh.

“You’re happy,”

I look at Rose, “what?”

She smiles, “I said you’re happy. It’s good to see you like this again,”

I frown, “like what?”

“Like you love being yourself."