Page 34 of Yearner

Before the waiter could answer, another woman rushed over from a different table and grabbed his arm.

“I’ll pay you a thousand dollars! Let me have that table!”

“Hey! I asked for it first!” the first woman snapped, staring at her in utter disbelief.

A third woman marched straight toward Summer, who stood frozen, watching what looked like the opening act of a live WWE women's match unfolding in the middle of her diner.

“If you don’t give me that table, I’m going to tell everyone you have cockroaches in your food!” the woman hissed.

The wild, almost crazed look in her eyes was so convincing that Summer couldn't be entirely sure she was joking.

“Rocky!” Summer shouted.

The waiter, who was still trapped between the two other women, hurried toward her with both women hot on his heels. Summer glanced at the three women, flashed them a bright smile, and clapped her hands to get their attention.

“Ladies, how about a game of rock-paper-scissors? Whoever wins gets the table! Rocky, you’re the judge.”

Before any of them could argue, Summer pushed past the women and hurried toward the table near the window. She stopped beside it, lowered her voice, and muttered, “Jesus fucking Christ. Why am I having riots in my diner over a damn table?”

Allison sat beside Silas, while Shane occupied the seat across from them. The flower vase that had previously sat in the middle of the table had been moved to one corner, leaving nothing to obstruct Shane’s glare as he stared directly at Silas.

Summer looked from one face to the next, her eyebrows rising as she waited for someone to laugh or admit this was all a joke.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “Why isn’t anyone laughing?”

“I’m not joking,” Allison said, holding Summer’s gaze. “We’re really getting married.”

Summer stared at her, momentarily speechless. “Are you kidding me? You’re getting married out of the blue, and you didn’t even tell us! When are you getting married?”

“Today,” Silas answered without batting an eye.

Summer slowly turned toward him, narrowing her eyes. “That day when we met at the club, you told me you didn’t even know each other.”

“Well…” Allison hesitated, glancing at Silas before looking back at Summer. “We kind of know each other.”

“It’s my fault,” Silas interjected smoothly.

His fingers circled the coffee cup on the table as he spoke, his expression composed despite Shane’s unwavering glare. “I asked her to keep a low profile and not tell too many people.”

Summer’s expression hardened as she turned toward Silas. “No wonder poor Allison lied to me. She’s already so scared of everything, and you’ve probably made things even harder for her!”

Silas smiled at Summer’s words, while Allison tightened her guilty grip on Summer’s arm that was wrapped around her neck, holding her from behind.

“Don’t be angry, okay?” Allison said, giving Summer’s arm a gentle pat. She looked at her apologetically. “I agreed to marry him willingly. He didn’t force me into it.”

“Excuse me.”

Shane abruptly pushed back his chair and stood up. Without another word, he walked out of the restaurant, his expression serious.

Allison’s smile vanished. Tension tightened her features as she watched him leave, worry flickering in her eyes. She immediately started to rise, intending to follow him, but Silas placed a hand over hers.

“Have some cake,” he said calmly. “I’ll talk to him.”

Before she could respond, he pushed back his chair and followed Shane out of the restaurant.

They returned after what seemed like an eternity to Allison, though barely five minutes had passed. She watched them walk in one after the other, searching Shane’s face for any sign of anger. To her relief, he no longer looked as upset as he had before. His expression had softened, and he seemed considerably more relaxed.

Silas stopped beside Shane, casually sliding his hands into his pockets. A moment later, Shane adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose before lowering his gaze to Allison.