SWNOVELS The Charade: Chapter 17
‘SHOULD WE GRAB SOME FOOD?’ I asked Ava when we walked onto the terrace behind my house. There were about thirty kids from school scattered around the stone patio and on the grassy area below, most with plates of food already made up as they sat and chatted happily with each other.
Our chef, Marie, had done a great job with the menu as always. We had decided on hamburgers and grilled chicken for the main dish, along with vegan burgers for our friends who didn’t eat meat, and then there were various side dishes lined out on the banquet-style table to fit anyone’s tastes.
‘I haven’t eaten anything since lunch, so yes, let’s get food now,’ Ava said.
I grabbed two thick plastic plates with a hammered gold design, handing one to Ava. We went down the table, telling the servers which foods to add to our plates.
After Sofia broke up with me, I’d decided to focus on building up my muscle tone as my own little form of revenge—hoping that when she saw me at school again, she’d regret casting me aside for Simon. So, I asked for extra portions of the grilled chicken because I could always use more protein. And even though Marie’s famous strawberry pretzel Jell-O salad was calling my name as I passed it on the table, I had a server put a big helping of the green salad and grilled asparagus on my plate instead.
When our plates were full, I made a quick survey of the area to see where Sofia and Simon were. They must be still inside since I didn’t see them anywhere on the terrace or at the grassy area below. I led Ava to a table near the edge of the terrace that overlooked the pool and gardens.
‘Do you always eat so healthily?’ Ava commented after glancing at my plate once we were seated.
‘I try to for most meals,’ I said. ‘Why?’
She shrugged and picked up a potato chip from her plate, dipping it in ranch. ‘It just looks so boring.’
Her plate had a hamburger, a helping of fruit and the Jell-O salad, potato chips with dip, and a few cucumber wedges.
‘Do you like everything in your life to be exciting?’ I arched an eyebrow.
‘I just think that since we don’t know how long we really have, we might as well make the most of every opportunity.’
‘Yes,’ I said, agreeing with her point. ‘But then, don’t you think that eating foods that really nourish your body instead of simply bringing pleasure would count toward longevity?’
‘It might help you live longer,’ she said. ‘But how boring would life be without a brownie or cheesecake every once in a while?’
‘Touché,’ I said, unable to keep a smile from lifting my lips at her thought process.
I bet Ava had an argument for everything. She could probably have a great career in law if her dream of having a fashion empire didn’t work out.
‘Mack did warn me about how disciplined you were,’ Ava said conversationally. ‘I just didn’t realize it went to your food choices, too.’
‘You talked to Mack about me?’
She shrugged and took a small bite of a cucumber. After swallowing, she said, ‘It was his excuse for why you were so rude the first day in the weight room. He said you like to stick to your routines.’
‘That’s true.’ I picked up my fork and knife and cut into my chicken. ‘Is there anything wrong with sticking to a routine?’
‘It’s fine. I mean, it gives you a sense of control and helps you know what to expect, but I don’t know. I guess it seems like it could also get boring.’ She cast a glance at my food. ‘Like your plate.’
What she called boring, I called security. And after having so much instability for the first half of my life, I quite liked the safety my routines provided me—even if everyone gave me a hard time about it.
But instead of explaining, I pursed my lips and cut off a small piece of my chicken. ‘If you knew how good this chicken was, I don’t think you’d say it was boring.’
She arched an eyebrow, challenging me.
So I speared a piece on my fork and held it up for her. ‘Try it.’
She narrowed her eyes, gauging whether I was serious about letting her eat some of my food, and then she opened her mouth.
I placed the forkful of chicken in her mouth and then waited.
She chewed slowly, savoring the taste of the meat, and then her eyes widened with surprise. ‘What kind of chicken is this? It’s amazing.’
‘It’s our chef’s secret recipe.’ I smiled and cut another small piece for myself, plopping it into my mouth. ‘But it’s good, right?’
‘I’m seriously tempted to throw this plate away and get one that looks like yours now.’ As if to prove her point, she scooted her chair back, lifted her plate, and stood up. ‘Actually, I think that I’ll—’
But before she could finish her sentence, I reached out and quickly snatched the plate from her hands. ‘You’re not going to throw a whole plate of food away.’
She froze in her spot, half-standing, half-sitting, and completely shocked at what I’d just done. After staring at me like I was crazy, she took her plate back from me and said, ‘No. I was going to grab a piece of that delicious chicken.’ She glanced around the terrace, an embarrassed expression filling her features. ‘But now I kind of just want to die.’
Her gaze flicked around us, and that was when I realized our sudden movements had brought an audience to our meal.
And I looked like the guy who had issues with the food choices my date was making.
I pinched my eyes shut, wishing I could go back in time about fifteen seconds and smack myself.
But since time travel wasn’t invented quite yet, I cleared my throat, feeling my cheeks burn as I met the curious eyes watching us. In a lowered voice, I mumbled, ‘Sorry. I, uh, what I should have done was offer to get that chicken for you.’
Ava gave me a wary look. But she was better than me at being the center of everyone’s attention. She managed to put on a smile that almost seemed real and said, ‘How gentlemanly of you, Carter.’ After handing me her plate, she spoke to the crowd still watching us, ‘Isn’t my boyfriend the best?’
With her plate in my hand and everyone’s eyes on me, I strode over to the buffet table and added the dumb piece of chicken to it.
I really shouldn’t have come down to this stupid party.
I was just trying to figure out how to get myself out of eating my meal beside a girl who probably hated my guts now when I saw that Ava was no longer alone at our table.
Sofia and Simon had joined her.
Man, this night was just getting better and better.