"Sorry we're late," I said as she pulled back laughing.
"At least you made it," she said. Linking my hand with hers, she dragged me away. I looked back at the two, wanting to scream 'help'.
After half an hour of introductions, she finally left me and I found my way to the table where Alicia was sitting. She was looking around and did a double take when she saw me. She rushed over to me, giggling and ushering me to her seat.
"Damn, girl, you look beautiful," she complimented as she eyed me up and down. I could feel my cheeks turning red. She was wearing a bright pink and white gradient dress with a crystal belt; she seemed to pull off the bold colour very well.
"I bet Darius was lost for words when he saw you, eh," she said, winking and nudging me . I shook my head at her. "How was your trip?"
I opened my mouth but closed it when Jake, Adrian and Darius joined the table. Adrian brought with him a plate full of quiches.
"Oh, can I have one?" asked Alicia as Adrian took a big bite.
He looked at her funny, then said, "Get your own."
We were so shocked by his rudeness that we just stared at him.
"Gentleman, you can't keep the ladies hungry," said Miss Alvin, coming over our table carrying a massive plate of pastries and placing one on each of our plates. Alicia and I exchanged a look. The pastry looked raw on the bottom and burnt on top and the middle. We wouldn't know what we’d find till we open it.
"It’s my famous rum and banana pie."
I nearly gagged. Rum and banana?
"Eat up," she sang as she moved on. Alicia and I both stared at our plates.
"You think it's edible?" Alicia asked, touching the top of her pie with her finger.
"I don't know. I dare you to eat some." It was childish, but I couldn’t dive right into the pie. She looked at me with eyes wide.
"No way. You first."
"If you do it, I will," I said. She bit her lip, looking around and back down to her plate. I looked down at my own plate.
"You first," she said and I nodded. Fine.
How bad can a pie be?
Just as I was about to reach for the pie, I saw Darius reach for it, but somebody beat him to it. From behind me, a hand connected to an arm covered in a bright red sleeve picked the pie up off my plate. I stared at the plate in confusion and looked at Darius who was staring at someone behind me. Then he broke into a smile.
I turned around in my chair, looking up to see who it was who took the pie. I felt all the blood drain from my face.
CHAPTER TWENTYONE
It felt as though my heart stopped beating as I met the blue eyes that stared back.
"James," said Darius, breaking the silence that seemed to go on forever but was really a brief second or two.
James held out the pie and Darius laughed, shaking his head. "How have you been?" he asked.
"Heartbroken since someone didn't reply to my phone calls all week," he replied. Darius laughed uncomfortably as he stood up. So James was the one calling?
Right now, I would have preferred a skinny–size, negative nine supermodel calling him instead. James's eyes looked down, meeting mine, and I turned around in my seat as they continued talking, trying to ignore my beating heart.
Alicia looked at me, her eyes brows furrowing.
"Are you okay?" Alicia asked and I jumped in surprise.
"Oh yea. No, I just… Isn't it hot in here?" I asked, fanning myself for emphasis. She raised her eyebrows and I bit my lip, looking around.
"I'm going to get some fresh air." Without waiting for her reply, I stood up.
"Ooh, me too. I’ll come with you," she said, looking at the pie distastefully before standing up.
I didn't want her to come but she followed me as I made my way outside. The air was relaxing and I greedily sucked it in. What was he doing here?
Of course, he was Miss Alvin’s son. All the times I had been with him, not once had he mentioned family or names even. What happened to being an orphan? I knew I should have doubted him then. We had been together longer than I could remember and he had been to my house a million times and met my parents but I had never really met his. Well, probably because he told me he was an orphan.
"Are you okay?"
I looked at Alicia with a nod and felt the hot sting at the back of my throat. Oh god, Ivory, don't cry now.
Alicia continued when I remained quiet. ”Because you look like you saw a ghost."
I let out a nervous laugh. I was expecting her to say that because, in fact, I did see a ghost. A ghost of my past.
"There you are."
I looked to see Miss Alvin walking toward us.
"My son’s here somewhere. I was going to introduce him but then you ladies left. Never mind. At dinner I will introduce you. That reminds me, are you both hungry?"
I shook my head, surreptitiously signaling at Alicia to say no. Oh dear, no more pies.