ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ

Chapter 21

Amelia

Saturday night fever electrified the streets of the city. People hurried to their destinations, dressed up, smiling and full of life.

I was waiting for Brooke in front of her apartment, while the taxi driver was nervously putting out his second cigarette.

"Is that friend of yours coming soon?"

Smoke swirled around his irritated face, blurring his features.

"I hope she is."

She was always late. Next time I will know better, so I will come fifteen minutes after the agreed time. But I knew I would be waiting for her even then.

"Sorry honey, here I am. I had to change three times."

Brooke said hurriedly, getting into the cab, the smell of her perfume overpowering the smell of smoke and creating some strange and sickening combination of the two. She wore a long, green dress that went perfectly with her complexion.

"As you said to dress elegantly, I couldn't decide what to wear. Otherwise, where are you taking me?"

I called her earlier today and told her I was taking her out tonight. The girl's night, as we agreed recently.

"I managed to reserve a table for us at the Cosmo restaurant. I was there once for a business dinner and was impressed with the food and the interior. You will like it."

"When food, drinks and you are put in the same room, I can't help but like it. By the way, that dress looks beautiful on you."

I looked down at my choice for tonight. Nothing much different than usual. A black, silk knee-length dress with thin straps and a bare back."

After a while, the taxi dropped us off in front of Cosmo. It was crowded inside. The atmosphere was pleasant. Soft music barely overpowered the murmur of people.

We settled down at the table and ordered aperitifs, while we looked at the menu and decided what to eat.

"Anything new with Gabriel and you?"

I asked her, slightly looking away from the menu and raising one eyebrow.

"I don't know how to answer that question. I think we're on the right track, but it's starting to bother me that he's too busy. Something always comes up for him, he always has to go somewhere. I have the feeling that his job comes first."

Her pensive look and pursed lips told me how much she was starting to warm up to him.

"He likes you. A lot. You know that, don't you?"

She looked back at me and a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"I think I've warmed up to him a lot too. But enough about me, tell me what's going on with your Mr. "I think I can cum only by him looking at me"?"

I motioned her to be quiet with my hands, while my cheeks suddenly felt hot.

"Shut up Brooks."

"Those are your words not mine."

I took a sip of my drink and leaned on my elbow.

"It's complicated."

"And when isn't it?"

I let out a sight, not knowing how to actually explain the situation to her without mentioning William or at least the part where I don't want to drag Sebastian into all of this. After everything that happened with William and Erika and the way he let me down, I didn't want any more friends involved in that story. Brooke knows a little, but the only one who knows absolutely everything is Gabriel.