Chapter 83

They looked at each other with so much affection I couldn't help but get jealous. It felt odd to just stare at them so I busied myself with carefully taking down a painting. I couldn't reach any of the higher ones so I focused on the ones I could get to. Dahlia also carried on with her work, Cassie however, remained glued to the couple. Staring at them with unblinking eyes....though I was sure her eyes were fixed specifically on Crystal's fiance. 

" Where were you?! You were supposed to be here ages ago, " Crystal complained. I couldn't not listen considering how close they were. 

" I'm sorry, something came up at work. Some clients who wanted to speak directly to me, it was urgent so I couldn't just leave."

I sneaked a glance and watched how warmly he was cradling her face. For real though, there was no way to not look at him and not be in awe. And I would have probably been more intrigued had my mind not been focused on Gabriel. He wasn't even around yet he was still making me lose focus!

" I texted you though, didn't you see?"

Crystal laughed.

" I definitely saw that, you silly pervert!"

" Well you better brace yourself because this pervert plans on doing everything I said, "

I sneaked another glance, Crystal had wrapped her arms around him, her head tucked into his chest. I found the height difference adorable. 

" You look really beautiful, " he complemented her and she mumbled something into his shirt that had him chuckling. He didn't seem like the type to do so and it shocked me. Actually, had I met him walking down the street, I would have probably turned around and run off. He was captivating, but also very intimidating. 

" That's enough you two, we still have a lot to do and I have a small human playing soccer with my uterus!" Dahlia stated as she blew out a breath and placed both hands on her belly. 

" Nice to see you too blondie, " the dark haired grey eyed clear love of Crystal's life said. Then he walked towards Dahlia and she gave him a side hug. Some words were exchanged but I couldn't hear them well. 

" Oh, how forgetful of me!" Crystal seemed to finally recall our presence in the room. She held her fiance's arm and led him to where Cassie and I were. 

" Nick, meet Layla and Cassie. Layla is the new chef at Dahlia's and Cassie is her friend, they were kind enough to help out. And guys this is Nick, my fiance. " The pride in her voice as she said that was impossible to miss. 

Nick stretched his arm in greeting, Cassie wasted no time in taking it. 

" Hi, " she said. Looking up at him nonstop, her eyes unblinking. I was tempted to gently hit her just to get her back to her senses. Nick's expression had once more grown completely focused, he looked like a well trained soldier on a mission. 

He offered me his hand afterwards and I took it, my grip was gentle, almost nonexistent. But his was quite firm. 

" Hi, " I sad and it came out as more of a whisper. I looked up at him in an attempt to offer him a friendly smile but his gaze was too strong for anyone to hold, I ended up focusing on the tiled floor instead. He let go and looked around, then he asked what he could do to help. And once Crystal told him, he kissed her forehead and went straight to work. He was fast, focused, and did almost everything by himself. Plus he was much taller than all four of us and that was an added advantage. 

Not long after that, Miguel also showed up.

" Aren't you a busy bunch, " he said on seeing how focused we all were on our tasks. Dahlia blew out a breath on seeing him. 

" Did you bring it?" was the first thing she asked. Miguel's face fell, then his eyes widened a fraction and I watched as he parted his lips and then placed a hand over his mouth. 

" Shit!" he muttered. 

" Oh my God! How could you?" Dahlia sounded honestly upset. 

We all turned to her in shock. 

" I um, of course I didn't forget. I passed by there and they had ran out, but they said I ought to go check in half an hour. "

" Liar!"

" Whoa, relax amor, it's just tacos. "

" How could you forget? You promised me that you wouldn't!"

" Calm down, I'm going to get them, " Miguel slowly started walking back and towards the door, his hands up in a gesture of peace. 

Then he stopped, looked around the room and we all watched as he cautiously approached Dahlia. Then he held her arm and started leading her towards the left. 

" No, let go! Don't touch me until you bring me my tacos, " 

I felt like laughing at the entire scene. Especially when I noted the look on Miguel's face, then he led he to a couch that was in the room and had her sit down. 

" I told you not to move around so much, " he scolded, then he crouched down next to her and placed his hand on her belly. 

" I can't wait for you to get here, I love your mom but you're making her very unreasonable! "

Dahlia was about to angrily say something but Miguel was wise enough to stand and quickly leave. In search of tacos because his pregnant wife craved them. 

After he was gone, we all looked at each other for some reason, wondering whether to laugh or not.

" You sure you still want one of those?" Nick asked Crystal, a horrified look in his features as he glanced towards the exit where Miguel had gone through. Crystal nodded and he muttered a curse. 

We finished up everything,Miguel returned bearing his fiance's tacos but she claimed she no longer wanted them. 

" My God! Are you kidding me?" 

" Don't blame me, you're the one who took too long to get them,"

Miguel ended up distributing the food amongst us, eating one himself. And not long after, the guests started to arrive. I considered leaving, I mean, we had only gone there to help and that's exactly what we had done. Plus being in that room made me realize just how sadly single I was. There was no way to be around those two couples and not help but note that I would most likely never have what they had. I didn't want to but I ended up feeling greatly jealous. Dahlia had been teasing Nick about something before the guests arrived, and Miguel had urged him not to say anything back since she was allegedly hormonal. But then Nick had turned to her and said, " If only you knew the things that have occured on that couch blondie, "

Dahlia had shuddered and immediately stood. Groaning as she wiped at her clothes. 

" Ewe!" she cried out. She would have gotten back at him had the guests not walked in. 

Crystal immediately stopped laughing and took on the role of the host. She hadn't hired any waiters but none were required seeing as the place wasn't too big and there didn't seem to be a lot of invited guests. I did however see a couple of guy with cameras,they seemed as if they were reporters or something of the sort. I walked around, admired the artwork as I made small talk with Cassie. Then she held me by both my shoulders and said I was starting to worry her. That I looked genuinely stressed out about something and she doubted if she could ignore the fact for much longer.

And so I told her what had happened. Not everything though, I wasn't brave enough to tell her the main reason behind me ending things. I couldn't tell her because if I did so then I'd also have to admit to myself that it was actually the truth. That I......nah!

"Wait, so you broke up with him?" she sounded more upset than I was. 

" I didn't break up with him, we were never a couple to begin with. "

" Yeah but you had something! And you can't tell me that there were no feelings involved there honey. "

" There weren't!"

" Yeah right, tell that to someone who has never noticed how you two look at each other. "

What was that supposed to mean? She was making things up for certain. Or perhaps she had been seeing things, I wouldn't argue that maybe I had been looking at him too fondly, but never the other way round. To him I was only a creative way to pas the time. A challenge he had conquered.

And when I told Cassie I would be leaving that house the following day, she tried to get me to be logical. But that's exactly what I was being. I would not be spending another minute in that place, with him!Not after what happened that afternoon. 

" Cassie, I'm going to move out, my mind's already made up. "

" Come on, you guys are actually really cute together!"

I scoffed. 

" No we're not, I'm sure he's not gonna mind me leaving. Gabriel is--"

" Right there!" She cut my words short. 

I looked at her and found her focused on the entrance, her eyes wide. My heartbeat increased as I slowly turned around. She was right, he really was right there!