(Zane POV)
I am currently having meet and greet with my fans and surprisingly, it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. They have provided me with words of encouragement and it's nice to have that level of support from strangers. Nobody is as touchy as I expected them to be so that's a vast improvement compared to what I have been experiencing.
My next fan to greet is a little girl who was holding a rose with a letter attached to it.
"For you!" She said.
"Aw, that's so sweet. Thank you, dear!" I said before reading the letter. As soon as I began reading it, I noticed that the words are a little familiar.
"You are beautiful and you are the apple of my eye!"
At the back of the letter, there is a picture of me giggling while eating a caramel apple. I don't even have to ask. Orville must have asked her to give this to me.
"Who gave you this sweetheart?"
"My stepdaddy did…over there." She said as she pointed at someone from afar. It took me a minute to realize that it's actually Orville. He waved at me before giving me a flirty wink which caused me to roll my eyes.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" I asked.
"Joanna!"
"To my dear Joanna, stay sweet!" I wrote before putting my signature on the letter and handing her a box of macarons.
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome!"
"I have a question for you." She asked adorably.
"Go ahead. You can ask me anything, sweetheart."
"Do you like Orville?"
My eyes widened and I just couldn't help but laugh at her cute way of prying.
"I guess I do."
"Would you go on a lunch date with him after this?"
"What?!"
I looked at Orville to see him smirking and I recognized that look on his face. That face is something he does when he knows he's about to get his way.
--
"Smooth move back there, huh? Making the kid ask me to go on a date with you because you know that I can't say no to a child." I said coldly.
"Come on, Zane! Stop acting like that. I know you like it when I court you." He said as he caressed my chin with his thumb.
"Just so you know, I haven't forgiven you yet so don't act as if everything's okay between us."
"Why'd you come with me then?" He smart mouthed.
"Because it's lunch time and I'm clearly hungry." I replied.
"But it's not required for you to come with me, you have the option to say no." He smiled.
"Wipe that smirk off your face. It's all part of your plan, Orville so stop talking already. You win."
"Yes, I did."
--
(Orville POV)
"We're here." I said as I parked the car and turned off the engine which woke Zane up. He stretched for a while before looking to see where we are.
"Surprise."
I brought him to the restaurant that won over his heart, Strange Confections.
"We're having lunch here."
"Yep." I said as I got out of the driver seat to attend to him and open the car door for him like a gentleman.
"You excited?"
"I…guess." He said with a weirded out tone.
"Hey, relax! We're just going to eat here because I know for a fact that you missed this. It's a shame that you only have eaten here once. It's like the best restaurant in the world."
"It's too expensive though." He said.
"Cut the crap, Zane! So what if it's expensive? You're rich so no need to be frugal."
"Unlike you, I know how to be thrifty." He sassed.
"Alright, let's go in already, Mr. Smarty pants." I said before opening the door for him. As soon as Zane entered, all eyes are on him and he began feeling self-conscious, which made him hide behind me. He must have had enough attention for today.
"Place your hands on my hips." I whispered to him behind me. He did what he was told and I started walking while he tags along. In that way, his only view is me and he won't have to see the people looking at him, unless he looks to the side.
"Good day, sir! Table for two?"
"Yep."
"Right this way." She said as she escorted us to our area. We both sat down and Zane began staring at the menu, trying not to focus on the attention that he's getting. I took the menu from him and handed it to the waitress.
"Zane, you don't need to look at the menu. I know what's best and I am going to give you what's best." I said.
"Are you ready to order, sir?" The lady said.
"Two herbed potato soufflé with basil and ricotta whip for our appetizer, Two Argentinian rubbed rib eye with mixed berry vanilla sauce and a Romaine lettuce salad with apple cider vinaigrette for our entrée. For our dessert, give us two street corn panna cotta with peanut brittle, drizzled with Habanero chocolate sauce."
"Will that be all, sir?"
"That's all, thank you."
With that, the waitress left with our order while we wait patiently at our table.
"Zane?"
"Hm?"
"I would really like for us to talk things out. Would you give me a chance to explain myself? I believe I owe you that."
I looked at him to study his eyes and I see nothing but sincerity and willingness. As much as I try to convince myself that he is just lying or he is just going to make a fool out of me again, I don't see any sense of dishonesty behind his eyes so I guess it would be fair to hear his side.
"Okay."
"Would you mind if I bring you somewhere tonight?"
"Um…sure…I don't mind, I guess."
"Thank you."