CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Claire was with Denis around six in the evening.

While seated across one another in the restaurant, Claire finally spoke after a long uneasy silence. "Do you realize you've been staring at me for minutes now?" she asked, trying to get rid of the small discomfort of his eyes devouring her.

"I know," Denis replied with a smile. "I guess I'm trying to encode this new you. You have really changed, Claire; you are so beautiful."

Here it comes. Claire sighed.

"Was I ugly back then? Because I think that's what you're insinuating." She took a sip of water from the table.

Denis chuckled. "No, you've always been beautiful, trust me. But you look more mature now, and you're glowing in some ways I can't explain." He tried to continue flattering her, but the maître d' interrupted with the menu. Denis looked at Claire and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

"Anything," Claire replied, her tummy responding with a faint grumble.

If Ryan was here, he would definitely have something to say about it. S