Liar || Nina Zenik ✓

xviii

Tiana internally cringed when she walked into the establishment, she could see that the floors were dirty and she had a feeling that they cooked with rats in the kitchen. Tiana clutched her purse closer to her chest as she scanned the establishment for someone who also looked out of place cause she knew Wylan's reputation. "Is that him over there?" Betty softly touched Tiana's shoulder to grab her attention, Tiana furrowed her brows as she looked to where Betty was pointing. She pointed to a man who was sitting in the corner of the establishment drinking something that Tiana's brain supplied was coffee. "Oh," Tiana muttered as she started to walk towards the man, it didn't cross her mind that it was Wylan because to be honest, to Tiana it looked like he fit with the establishment, and that's when it hit her, this man was going to be the one that she was going to have an heir with.

She slightly touched her stomach, she felt nauseous as she was walking closer. Wylan stood up once she got close enough and smiled at Tiana before holding his hand out to shake it. "Tiana! Nice to finally meet you, I've heard nothing but good things." Wylan clasped his hands and let them rest in front of him. "Nice to meet you as well, I hope it's okay that I brought Betty, I don't go anywhere without her." Tiana gestured towards Betty who was standing next to Tiana. "Nice to meet you." Wylan held his hand out and Betty shook it, Tiana watched as they squeezed their hands for a second too long, too long for strangers who just met. "I'll just be over there, let me know if you need me," Betty said to Tiana squeezing her arm as she passes to go walk towards the window and take a seat so then it was Tiana and Wylan alone, Wylan stepped around and pulled out the chair for Tiana who was touched and took a seat before touched the menu that was in front of her with her gloved hand. "So, can I ask? Why this place, it doesn't look like a place that Jan Van Eck's son would dine at?" Tiana couldn't help but ask, she looked at Wylan in horror at what she said, she opened her mouth to apologize when Wylan shook his head quickly and started to laugh. "I completely understand, this is just one of the many places I go to, just to be away from the pressure that comes with being his son." Tiana went silent at that, she understood the feeling that Wylan was feeling, it was nice to know that she isn't alone.

"What do you recommend here? I've never eaten food like this before." Tiana asked after looking at the menu confused. "Well, I like the eggs and Hutspot." Wylan glanced at the menu towards Tiana before he closed the menu quickly. Tiana acknowledged Wylan with a small smile before glancing at the menu and deciding on what to get. Tiana decided to get waffles with a side of eggs while Wylan got the Hutspot with smoked sausage, so now that they ordered were forced to talk.

"I was sorry to hear about your Father, he was a good man." Wylan honestly said, his comment made Tiana's mouth go dry, in however many dates she's been on, no one has ever apologized as Wylan has, Tiana, can feel the sincerity oozing off of him. "Thank you, I'll be honest. It's been really hard having to step up and do everything when it used to be My Dad's job. It's really hard." Tiana tried to rein back her honesty but she couldn't help it. She just felt safe with Wylan, like she could tell him anything.

"I bet it, it's difficult when you suddenly have to step up after being off on the sidelines." Tiana didn't say anything in response to Wylan, she just nodded in agreement. "Excuse me for being too forward, but are you seeing anyone else? It's just that I'm having a good time so far, and I really like you." Tiana's heart was pounding as she waited for Wylan's answer, he had a soft smile on his face before he responded. "I don't have a girlfriend, I have a boyfriend." And that's when Tiana's felt her stomach drop to the ground.

"What?" Tiana licked her lips as she watched Wylan who nodded. "Yes, my boyfriend is the light of my life and I love him more than anyone else. Do you have anyone like that?" Wylan asked gently, almost like he could tell. Tiana's thoughts drifted towards Betty, she shifted in her seat to take a glance at who was stirring the tea she had on the table, she turned back towards Wylan and looked at him uncomfortably. "Why don't you tell her? You might be surprised." Tiana shook her head quickly.

Tiana gently picked up the coffee and swallowed, she ignored the burn in her throat as she tried to answer Wylan. "I can't, it's wrong and I have things to do that are expected of me." Tiana tried, but for a second as she looked at Wylan she didn't believe herself. "It's not wrong Tiana, people have never met someone like us before but there's more of us than you think." Wylan pressed his lips and looked at Tiana kindly, she went to shake her head when she stopped herself but before someone could say anything, food was being set down in front of them.

So Tiana took the opportunity that was presented in front of her, she quickly cut a piece of the waffle she ordered and stuffed it into her mouth, she knew if her Father or Mother saw her now she would be ashamed but it was the only thing to prevent the other one from talking, which Tiana was welcoming so she didn't have to face the music.