Chapter 14
After speaking, Colin looked up at Hayden surreptitiously, observing his expression.
Hayden didn’t look impatient, so he continued boldly, “So, normally, when you think you’ve met the right person and have decided to marry her, you would want her to get to know your friends, right? You should be involving her in your social circle.
“But you’ve never done that. You’ve never brought Zara to meet us. In the future, are you not going to invite us when you get engaged, married, or even for your kids‘ birthday?”
His words made sense. Hayden nodded.
Colin felt encouraged. His tone and expression became more obsequious. “So, Hayden, why don’t we set a time and date so that you can introduce Zara to the rest of us?”
“No need for that,” Hayden said. “I’ll just tell her about you guys when I get home, and show her your photos.”
Hearing this, Colin felt even more dejected. He thought he was disappointed enough before, but now, he was devastated.
“Zara only needs to know me. She doesn’t need to know you guys,” Hayden said haughtily, making Colin grit his teeth.
However, Hayden had always been like this; Colin had put up with him for all these years, so in truth, he was more exasperated than angry.
After all, he wasn’t strong enough to fight Hayden.
He’d lost too many times before. All those experiences had taught him not to be rash when it came to Hayden.
After many promises of not stirring up trouble tonight, Hayden decided to call Zara over and introduce her to his friends after careful deliberation. After all, she really should meet his friends.
They would only get one chance of meeting her, though.
The city’s nightlife was unusually vibrant that night.
There were neon lights shining everywhere on top of tall buildings. It was easy to lose oneself in the lights and noise.
Zara arrived at her destination, where Hayden was waiting for her at the entrance. Inside the restaurant, the bustle of the city was muffled.
Hayden told her about his friends quickly. “These three are my childhood friends. Don’t bother being polite to them. If they bully you, I’ll help you deal with them.”
Under the bright lights of the restaurant, Zara looked even more pretty and aloof.
Looking around, Hayden was satisfied.
Colin had done a good job this time, which was a rare occurrence.
…
Before Hayden and Zara arrived, Colin’s other friends, Anthony Smith and Benjamin Harris, teased him. “You’re in a sophisticated mood today. Why did you book a table at a restaurant instead of the bar? I’m gonna give you a bad review for this.”
“Yeah. Is it because you pulled too much before and can’t get it up anymore? Are you on a break now?”
Colin did not refute his friends‘ teasing. In fact, he was amused.
Eventually, he gave them a kind warning. “Stop that. You’re getting a huge surprise later. You guys had better watch your mouths, or you’re going to regret it.”
If Hayden heard this, he would think that his friends were really trying to corrupt Zara.
Unfortunately, neither Anthony nor Benjamin paid attention to Colin’s warning. They continued bantering with each other.
Colin shook his head in exasperation.
They were hopeless. There was nothing he could do about them.
He had done his best to warn them.
Through the slight crack in the door, Anthony and Benjamin’s conversation leaked out into the corridor.
Hayden and Zara were right outside the door, so they heard everything.
Hayden’s expression darkened when he said what his friends were saying.
What the hell was all this?
He looked over at Zara, observing her expression. What he found only made his expression go colder.
Actually, he wasn’t really worried about his friends corrupting Zara. He just didn’t want to bring Zara to their usual bar.
Well, now the cat was out of the bag.
Zara was confused when Hayden lingered outside the door. “What’s wrong? Are we not going in?”
As soon as Hayden pushed open the door, the conversation inside stopped abruptly.
Colin, Anthony, and Benjamin all looked toward the door as one.
“Finally, Hayden! I was just wondering why Colin got us such a nice private room,” Benjamin said. He was dressed casually. In contrast, he sounded gentle, mostly because he had a kind face. He looked kind and gentle, at least on the surface.
When he saw Hayden’s gloomy expression and Zara standing behind him, he was taken aback.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. When the scene before him did not change, he asked Anthony, “Tony, are my eyes deceiving me? Is that Jonathan’s girlfriend standing behind him? It looks like her!”
“Yes, that’s Zara,” Colin said simply. When Benjamin tried to speak up again, he added anxiously as Hayden’s expression got darker, “You need to shut up now.” Hayden might be able to bring up Jonathan in front of Zara, but that didn’t mean that other people could.
“He really needs to learn how to read the room,” Colin thought. He went up to Benjamin and slapped a hand over his mouth, stopping him from saying anything else. Then, he looked over at Zara and gave her the brightest, widest smile he could muster. “Hello, Mrs. Gavino! My name is Colin Freeman.”
Chapter 14
2/2
He spoke loudly into Benjamin’s ear, as if afraid that he wouldn’t be able to hear him. The three of them settled into their seats, straight–backed and serious. Benjamin was trembling slightly in fear.
He felt a little light–headed when he remembered what he had blurted out earlier.
“Hi, Mrs. Gavino. I’m Anthony Smith.”
In contrast, Anthony was calm. After all, Benjamin had taken all the attention earlier, so no one would remember what he had said before Hayden and Zara arrived. “Hello. My name is Zara.”
Zara felt a little embarrassed when they called her by Hayden’s last name.
After all, they weren’t married yet.
Trembling, Benjamin stood up, his eyes flitting around as he looked at Zara. “I’m Benjamin Harris. You can call me Ben like everyone else. If you ever need help, feel free to hit me up… Actually, no, hit Hayden up.”
Benjamin wanted to curry favor from Zara, but when Hayden glared at him, he changed tack immediately.
Unlike before, he was now incredibly aware of the atmosphere in the room.
