Chapter 91
Julien said, “Can’t you tell that like her?
He was forthcoming, making it clear to Sonia that he didn’t mind being called cheesy if it meant that he could outright praise Shelmaine. He had nothing to be ashamed of
Sonia froze. She rubbed her arms to soothe the goosebumps that rose on her skin. “Why didn’t I ever realize how cheesy you are? Are all men this fucking corny when they’re in love?
“Mind your language, Sonia,” Julien chided. “It isn’t ladylike to speak that way,”
“I can use whatever language I like when I’m with you, prick,” Sonia retorted. “Why should I pretend? To hell with being ladylike. I’m already sick of my mother hounding me over
“You can act however you want with me and Shelly,” Julien allowed:
“Aw, Shelly, huh? Do I hear wedding bells? Sonia mimicked Julien’s sickeningly sweet tone. “Are you going to beat Josie to the altar?”
“No, Josie will be getting hitched before Shelly and 1 do,” Julien said. He took a sip of his tea, ignoring the wine that he had ordered in light of his driving plans later.
When Shelmaine heard this, she kicked Julien under the table and drew her leg back almost immediately. She willed her expression to stay neutral as she sipped her tea, not glancing at him.
Julien’s smile deepened.
Sonia did not notice anything amiss and asked Shelmaine with a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes, “Don’t you just hate men who are so full of themselves?” Shelmaine Godded.
Sonia said, “Me too. I never knew he was so thick–skinned. I kind of feel sorry for you for having to put up with him. For all her teasing, it was clear to see how close–knit Sonia and Julien were. She wouldn’t have made such jokes otherwise.
Shelmaine wamed, “Don’t get me in trouble, or I’ll have to spend the rest of the night babying him.”
Sonia grinned flendishly. She then asked Julien, “When’s Josie’s big day?”
“I’m not sure, but stay tuned for the updates,” Julien replied.
“Okay.”
sonia did not stay for long. She glanced at the time and excused herself, saying she had some errands to run Julien saw her off, and when they were alone, she asked, “I can’t believe you’d prey on someone as sweet and pleasant as shelmaine.”
He berated, “Watch your words, Sonia. You’re making me sound like some untarned beast. Also, how could you ruin my game like that?
“She hasn’t even agreed to go out with me yet, and you’re scaring her off! What will I do if she decides she doesn’t want to date me?”
“You only have yourself to blame. But I do think you’d have a hard time getting her to go out with you,” Sonia pointed out
Her intuition was honed by her years dabbling in the vanity–fair way of life. She had met plenty of women and men along the way. Occasionally, she could be wrong about men, but she had never been wrong about women.
She knew Shelmaine was not the docile woman she appeared to be. She was likely opinionated and stubborn, and she kept a distance from Julien.
“What do you mean?” Jullen asked,
Sonia didn’t want to dash his hopes outright. “I could read your fortune for you when I have the time”
Julien normally did not believe in fortune–telling, which was something Sonia enjoyed dabbling in even back in university. It was her belief system. However, he surprised her when he said, “Deal”
She blinked “Oh? How interesting. You’re usually so cynical about it.”
“My cynicism won’t change my mind about Shelly,” Julien explained.
Sonia grinned. “Fine, then. You can go back now. See you around.”
When Julien returned to the private dining room, shelmaine was replying to messages in her work group text. Her hair cascaded post her chest, curling at the ends. The rest of it fell to the small of her back. Perhaps she was too focused on her texting and did not notice his return.
Julien sat down and gave her helpings of the food, After a while, she set her phone down and said solemnly, “Don’t joke like that the next time.” “Okay,” he promised without hesitation. “Sorry about that. I got a little too excited after you said you’d buy me dinner and mistook this for a date.”
