Page 57 of Shattered Oath
"The fish is excellent here." His voice was low, meant only for me. "You should try it."
"I'm having the chicken."
"Trust me on this." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "The fish is better. They do this thing with lemon and capers that's rather brilliant."
I turned my head slightly. Our faces were inches apart, close enough to kiss. "I know what I want."
His eyes darkened, reading layers into my words. "Do you?"
I looked away. Picked up my wine glass and took a long sip.
Xavier saved me by launching into a story about a disastrous business trip to Tokyo. Something about a mistranslation and an accidentally insulting toast. Kim was shaking her head, adding corrections, insisting that wasn't how it happened at all.
But Femi wasn't distracted. His hand found my knee under the table—brief, questioning. I shifted away. He didn't pursue, but his smile told me he'd noticed.
The main course arrived. He served me vegetables without being asked. Refilled my water glass when it got low. Small gestures, relentless in their accumulation.
"You're tense." His murmur was barely audible under the table conversation.
"I'm fine."
"You're not eating properly."
"I'm not hungry."
"Issy." His hand covered mine on the table, gentle. "I'm sorry. For all of it. Can we please talk?"
I pulled my hand away. "Not here."
"Then where? When? I've been trying to reach you for a week."
"I know."
"Then let me fix this. Tell me what you need."
What did I need? I didn't know anymore. That was the problem.
My grandmother's voice cut through: "Isabelle, you've barely touched your plate. Are you feeling unwell?"
Every eye at the table turned to me. The weight of their attention was suffocating.
"I'm fine, Grandma." I smiled, picked up my fork, took a deliberate bite of chicken that tasted like cardboard. "Just pacing myself for dessert."
Femi's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, frowned. "Excuse me. I have to take this."
He was up and out of the room before anyone could respond. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"You okay?" Xavier asked quietly.
"Fantastic."
"You look like you want to stab someone with your fork."
"Don't tempt me."
He laughed and bumped his shoulder against mine. "Hang in there. Dessert's almost here, and then you can escape."
