“Stop being a bitch and let’s eat,” Hina glares at Katarina.
I protest, “She wasn’t?—”
Hina grabs my arm, dragging me to a chair.
The last to enter the dining room is Dean. When he finished making food, he muttered that he’s gonna wash up quickly. His hair is wet, and he changed into a simple black, long-sleeved top that I am drooling over.
Even if he wore a garbage bag, I’d salivate.
Keep feminism in your pants, girl.
He needs bigger shirts. He’s inconveniencing the material of the fabric by getting a size too small.
How muscular is this man for his shirts to look likethaton him?
We pull into our seats.
Dean settles into the one beside me.
As if I’m not already annoyed by him.
Rhys takes the seat across from me.
One of the crew members claps his hands together. “Rhys and Dean, can you guys switch seats?”
Dean fixes a napkin onto his lap. Without looking up, he utters a deep, guttural, resounding, “No.”
Poor crew member.
His cheeks grow red with embarrassment, shuffling back behind the camera. I look at Dean, telepathically cursing at him.
He ignores my burning gaze.
No social awareness, I tell you.
“What did you think of the first challenge?” Shaan clears his throat, placing a couple cut pieces of well-done steaks on his plate before passing the dish to Hina.
Hina busies herself with the dish. “Tell me why a fun activity became stressful? I was sweating balls.”
Rhys’ laugh echoes across the dining room. “It was actually pretty smart. It seems impossible to think the same as someone else.” A sheen of surprise fills his features. “Nova, did you notice the painted triangular panels on the Chapel Bridge?”
I can’t believe he remembers the time I talked about seventeenth century art.
Hina hands the dish over to me. “We didn’t get to see the bridge yet, but is it as beautiful as pictures?”
Rhys nods, “Better than the pictures.”
“I’m jealous!”
My hand stops midway when I realize I’m putting meat on Dean’s plate. I don’t dare look up.
Rolling my lips inward, I pretend it’s normal and add meat onto my plate before handing it off to Rhys.
Unfortunately as I turn my head to listen to Katarina, I’m met with Dean’s gaze entirely on me. Some strong part of me is glaring, but his eyes are full of softness.
I surrender instantly and pretend I don’t see it.
Dean needs to stop. I don’t know how to navigate this professional relationship outside of work. We went from never seeing each other in the office to now spending eight full weeks together.
