chapter 74. gossip gathering

"so.." Maya said teasingly as she sipped her wine. "what has 'Gracey the bestie' smiling and not the creepy kind"

Grace and Maya were having brunch at a really fancy restaurant doing what Maya like to call a 'dine and dish' but Grace calls it a -gossip gathering. it used to be fun when they were gossiping about other people not so much when the topic is about her.

Maya suddenly gasped as if she had an epiphany. "did you finally do the dirty with Mr hotty? it was about time, I was starting to think both of decided to go celibate. I mean..."

"nothing of that sort happened" Grace cut her friend off

"what!!" Maya yelled exaggeratedly before her face twisted into worry "is there something wrong?"

"why are you making it seem like I'm the type of girl that only dates a guy for 'the dirty'?"

"because you are?"

"I am not"

"riight.. you have a history and we both know it"

"baseless accusations" she defended.

"let's just pretend that I believe you... are you sure everything is OK between you and Lucas"

"we're fine. he's just shy and adorably inexperienced but I can feel him cracking and it's actually quite fun with watch" they both chuckled.

"speaking of guys and dates, Mr forbidden love just walked in"

"what?! I have to hide don't let him find me" Maya yelped loudly before hiding under table and of course, her action receive a lot of strange looks from the other customers but Grace made sure to give each and everyone of them the stink eye.

'nosy brats'

"where is he? is he gone? can I come out now?"

honestly, nobody walked in. Grace just wants to know why Maya went from talking about her 'forbidden love' all the time, to avoiding the topic like a plague.

she let Maya stay under the table for a little while longer before calling bluff.

"I can't believe you tricked me like that" Maya whined as she sat back down on her sit.

"so, are you going to tell me what's going on or do I have to find out myself"

"I punched him square in the jaw and.. ran away"

"half truth" Grace said flatly. "tell me everything"

Maya sighed deeply "we kissed and almost did the dirty -it didn't go all the way but still. after that, he disappeared for a whole week. and when I finally got to see him, he was all flirty and comfortable with some girl. we had an argument. I said some things I didn't mean and I punched him and ran away. I've been avoiding him ever since"

"wow. did

"isn't this supposed to be the part where my best friend tells me that shouldn't put myself down because of a guy and that I'm amazing and I deserve the best" Maya scowled.

"we wouldn't be friends in the first place if you aren't amazing" Grace sassed "and our friendship wouldn't have lasted this long if you didn't know how amazing you are"

"it would still be nice to hear it every once in a while" Maya huffed.

"don't put yourself down because of a guy. you are amazing and you deserve the best" she said mimicked Maya's words blankly.

"thanks. means a lot" Maya's voice was laced in sacarsm. they stared at each other with amused grins before bursting into a fit of laughter.

"I've missed this. just you and me. Grace and Maya just like the old days"

"we still hang out a lot" Grace argued.

"oh please." Maya scoffed "you barely have time for yourself and when we hang out, it's no longer just the two of us. I love Trevor and Anna they're basically family but it feels like you spend more time with them. especially Trevor"

"Anna is my relative and it's not my fault that our Mafia prince friend has a lot of time on his hands and insists on barging into my office even after telling him numerous times no..." Grace paused in realization "wait a minutes, dearest MyMy misses her bestie. awwwn"

"unlike you, I have a heart and I'm not afraid to show it"

"....Lucas said he wants to marry me"

"what!!!" they didn't even bother with the strange stares they received "what!? when?! how?! where?!"

Grace blushed heavily "we were just talking and he just said it"

"what did you say" Maya edged eagerly.

"I played it cool but... I think I just might explode"

"hell no!! get married fast and then explode"

Grace ignored how her best friend said the word 'explode' "that's the thing! he said he wants to marry me in the near future. the keyword is future!! but that's all I've been thinking about since he said it"

"if you really can't stand the suspense, you should to him instead. I hear its all the rage with desperate and or independent women" (A/N... I personally think that as a lady, if you really want to propose to a guy then; good for you girlfriend;)

"Noway Hosey. the chances of mine and Lucas's relationship making it this far were so slim but here we are now. I demand that everything be done right. Lucas is going to go down on one knee and he's going to propose and it's going to a surprise and romantic" Grace was practically panting heavily after her rather passionate speech.

"well.. okay? since that's the case, you have to be patient"

"noooo... i can't be patient I don't to be" Grace whined.

"you have to baby girl, you have to" Maya patted her cheeks teasingly.

"this is so not fair" more whining

"life's not fair... but cheers to your very possible engagement in the near future"

"and cheers to your soulmate/forbidden love"

Maya stood up abruptly and raised her glass to the ceiling"mark my words, I. Maya, no middle name Xin, will bag my mate and have the most extravagant wedding this time next year!"

"you go girl" she cheered on, ignoring the fact that her best friend was drunk so early in the afternoon.