Sixty-One

VALERIA

I slid into an empty chair at the café. I did not have long to wait. Two minutes later, I spotted Noah opening the door. He saw me, waved and came over. An hour ago, we had arranged to meet at this café during my lunch break which was taking place now. I asked the usual questions about his day while we waited for our order.

"I bet Dimitri wasn't too pleased that you hung out with me," said Noah, unknowingly echoing what had dominated my thoughts throughout yesterday.

I could not stop the sour look that spread across my face even if I tried.

"Yes," I admitted. "He was pissed, alright, but not just because I was hanging out with you."

Noah's brow arched in surprise. "Really? I would have thought that just the fact that we spent time together was enough to drive him off the edge."

"Well... there's that," I allowed. "But then I also had to ditch my bodyguard so I could go off with you."

"Bodyguard? Oh." His eyes lighted up in understanding. "That's why you were acting all weird ye