Page 6 of Till Forever Falls Apart
I squeezed her thigh. “Just work. Some paperwork I need to sort out.”
It wasn’t a complete lie. Technically, the Organisation was work, and it was something I needed to sort out, yet my stomach still churned from it.
“Work at this time of night? On the weekend?” she questioned.
“A few important projects are coming through when we get back.”
Before she had a chance to respond, the waiter brought the starters out, laying them neatly on the table.
“You need to try this, Nyx.”
I placed some cicchetti on her plate with some pumpkin carpaccio that I knew she’d like.
She leaned in. “You know, these two will be so funny to watch when they’re an old married couple.”
My eyes flicked up to Hayden and Serfina. She was doing her usual of trying to feed him things he didn’t want, and then he’d give in anyway after trying to stop her. The thing was, he’d always end up liking what she gave him. She knew him inside and out.
“Do you think we’ll end up like that?”
“No. We’ll end up with you constantly stealing my food.”
I grinned, then took some cicchetti from her plate and took a bite.
“Like that?” I teased.
“Yes, like that,” she laughed.
I pulled her in, planting a delicate kiss on her head. I loved this girl with every part of me. She was my future. She truly was beautiful—not just on the outside, as breathtaking as shewas, but on the inside, too. The warmth and kindness she had for people was something I hadn’t experienced much in life, but Aria saw me in a world full of darkness. She always had.
“Look at you two. It’s like Tony and Maria. A westside story of love,” Hayden teased.
I arched my brow at him. “Tony died.”
“Fine. Jack and Rose.”
“Again. Died. Why are you always trying to kill me off?”
Serfina giggled to herself. “I think Hayden is trying to get rid of you.”
“I’m just amazed you know where all these couples are from,” Aria added.
“Sebastian’s a hopeless romantic, really,” Serfina joked.
“Not sure about that.”
“I don’t know. You seem softer.” Hayden grinned.
“Yeah, less intense,” Serfina agreed.
I glanced over to Aria, who had her hand covering her mouth to stop the laughter bursting out, and I shook my head, smiling at her.
“I’m getting rid of you two,” I told Hayden and Serfina.
“You can’t.” Serfina took a sip of her drink. “No take-backs. Stuck with us for life.”
Honestly, I wouldn’t change them for the world. Serfina had been there since I was eight years old. She’d known my mum for two years, and when she’d died, Serfina was there as much as she could be for a seven-year-old and every day after that. Then I met Hayden. My best friend, my brother. We’d been through a lot in those eleven years. He was there when my granddad died, helping me through it. Even in my darkest times, he’d stayed by my side. I couldn’t see my life without them in it.
After we finished our starters, the waiter cleared the table and brought the main dishes out for everyone. The food was exceptional—everything a place like this should be. There wasbeef fillet with a cream sauce, accompanied by mixed vegetables and lamb. The lasagnetta was Aria’s favourite—I’d made sure to order it for her.
