Chapter 290
Everyone drank and then we started passing around food, the conversation flowed easily with
everyone sharing stories and laughing.
But I noticed Derek and Kiara kept shooting glances at each other when they thought the other
wasn’t looking.
About halfway through dinner Sarah stood up and I knew what was coming.
“Kiara, Derek, would you two mind helping me bring out the next course?” she asked innocently.
“There’s a lot to carry.”
I saw Derek’s eyes narrow slightly, clearly suspicious, but he stood anyway because refusing
would be rude.
“Sure,” Kiara said also standing.
They followed Sarah to the kitchen and Leah leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Think they’ll kill
each other in there?”
“I give it fifty fifty odds,” I whispered back.
In the kitchen we could hear Sarah directing them to grab different dishes, clearly positioning
them so they had to work together, there was the sound of plates clinking and low voices but no
yelling so that was a good sign.
They emerged a few minutes later both carrying serving dishes and I noticed their hands had
brushed when they’d both reached for the same platter, the look they’d exchanged had been electric,
filled with hatred but I knew that kind of hatred.
“Everything okay?” I asked sweetly.
“Fine,” Derek said shortly, setting down his dish and returning to his seat quickly.
Kiara said nothing but I saw the slight flush on her cheeks as she took her own seat, avoiding
looking in Derek’s direction.
The rest of dinner passed with more good food and conversation, Cara told a story about a
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mishap at her job that had everyone laughing.
Maya talked about a trip she was planning, Leah gave us updates on her recent marriage and
how her husband was adjusting to married life.
When it came time for dessert Sarah enlisted Derek and Kiara’s help again, this time to clear the
dinner plates.
“You’re really pushing it,” Orion murmured to her.
“That’s the point,” Sarah whispered back with a mischievous smile.
This time when they went to the kitchen we heard raised voices and everyone in the dining
room went quiet, pretending not to listen but clearly listening.
back.
“You don’t know anything about me,” Kiara was saying, her voice sharp.
“I know enough,” Derek shot back.
“Oh really? Enlighten me then,” Kiara challenged.
“Can we not do this here?” Derek asked, his voice strained like he was trying to hold something
“You’re the one who started it,” Kiara pointed out.
There was a long pause and then we heard Derek say quietly, “I didn’t start anything, you did…”
He paused stopping himself but everyone knew what he wanted to say.
My eyes widened and I looked at Sarah and Leah, they definitely had history, significant history
by the sound of it.
None said anything again, and I wondered what was happening in there, then they came back
out both looking composed but I could see the tension in their shoulders and the way they both
carefully avoided looking at each other.
“Dessert will be ready in five minutes,” Sarah announced cheerfully, pretending she hadn’t heard
any of their conversation.
After dessert everyone moved to the living room for coffee and more casual conversation, I
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maneuvered it so that the only available seats were in the loveseat and Derek and Kiara both hesitated when they realized they’d either have to sit together or remain standing awkwardly.
Kiara sat first, settling on one end and leaving just enough room for one more person, Derek stood there for a moment looking like he’d rather sit on the floor but finally lowered himself onto the opposite end of the loveseat, leaving as much space between them as physically possible.
Throughout the rest of the evening I watched them, they barely spoke to each other directly but there was awareness between them that was impossible to miss.
Every time one moved the other seemed to notice, and when their eyes did meet they quickly removed it.
Around ten people started making their moves to leave, Cara and Maya were first thanking us profusely and promising to get together again soon, then Leah gave me a meaningful look and a hug before heading out.
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