UNTIL DAWN

Chapter Ten

Song for this chapter: Duncan Laurence - Arcade

"Is it menopause hitting?" Mike said and I smiled a little. Before we could get distracted from what we were talking about before, I raised my eyes and looked at him.

"I am so sorry Mike! I should have looked for you or talked to you or... did something."

"It's okay." he assured me.

"It's not, Mike! Can't you see how horrible I have been treating you and then this..." my emotions were starting to surface. He cut me off.

"No, Hazel. Look at me. I should have known how difficult it was for you and how scared you might have been. He was your dad after all, your only family left. It should have been difficult to make that decision of taking a break. I was kind of being selfish with my feelings. And I saw how terrible you looked on that day, so I am certain that you were not aware of a lot of things which were going on." I started to cry again.

How could he be this thoughtful? He was finding every kind of excuse for me and it was only making me feel worse.

"You are my best friend Mike, even long before we started dating. You know many things about me and you have been there for me as long as I can remember. It was only fair to find comfort in you rather than someone else."

"Now you are making me sound pathetic." he said grimacing.

"I don't know Mike, I just want to make everything right again but I don't even know the right words to use." I covered my face with my hands in guilt and shame.

"Shh, I am fine really. I didn't say that or do whatever I did to make you feel guilty or bad. I just hope that someone else is not treating you like shit. I didn't want to say this but, he might be nice and I saw that he does care about you."

I could hear annoyance in his voice and it was a little funny hearing him sulking. I would have teased him if things were different.

"How are you so sure? I mean, it doesn't matter. There is nothing serious going on." he raised a brow at me but stopped at that. I really didn't know how I was feeling then and I did not want to be ahead of myself to be hurt in the future.

That guy was nothing but trouble. I knew it the first time he took me home and I am still aware.

"Okay, if you say so. I will try to root for you two."

We chatted about several other things. I told him how fun my first day at Don Corp was and how everything changed the second day. He talked about how his dad told him to get ready to take over their restaurant and I couldn't be more proud. He was really good at his job and their restaurant was among the best steak restaurants in Herald Square.

It was a successful family business, passed on from generation to generation which was growing day by day and now it was Mike's turn.

Mike told me how one of my friends from college was getting married and she was asking for me. I cut off contact with everyone soon after dad collapsed. My circle of friends liked partying and going out many times. I couldn't have been able to take care of dad's hospital bills and our living expenses then find time to meet them so I did them a favor.

Mike asked to escort me to my apartment when we left the diner but I declined his offer as it was less than five minutes of walking. in my crazy neighborhood when we left the dinner.

"In that case, take care."

"Yeah, same goes for you. I need to go to bed early, i will go back to work tomorrow morning."

"You should consider using all your leave days but if you feel like working then go for it. Catch you later."

He pulled me in another hug and I felt him stiffen under my touch.

"We have got an audience. I guess it's time for you to go."

I was in confusion when he suddenly let go of me and it vanished the moment I realized what he meant by an audience.

Ace stood with his back against the car, his eyes fixed on us.

He was learning casually, both hands in his front pockets, two of his buttons were open and its long sleeves were rolled up to the elbow. Why was he effortlessly handsome? Mike cleared his throat beside me and I realized that I was shamelessly ogling at him.

Embarrassed, I shifted on both of my legs making an effort to hide that he had that kind of effect on me.

"You were not home." he said and started to walk towards us.

"How did you find me?" wrong question.

"I am sure you know how, Hazel." Mike started to shift uncomfortably beside me and I noticed that Ace was shooting at him with a cold look which was different with how light his deep voice was.

"Hazel, see yah... i think?" Mike said, his eyes still fixed on Aces' accepting the challenge.

"Yeah, I guess. I will text you when I reach home." he hesitated but when I nodded he headed to his car, lingering a little before driving away.

"Can we go somewhere and talk?" Ace said and headed for his car without waiting to see if I was following behind him.

Arrogant prick.

I swallowed my pride and got in the passenger seat. That was the last time he was bossing me around, it was going to change after i gave him a piece of my mind.

****

"Are you mad at me or something?" he started.

"Why would I be? Coffee?" I removed my trench coat and hung it.

"Yes, thank you. I think you are. You were quiet during our ride here."

"Some people find it hard to find relevant things to say in that amount of time. The ride was less than five minutes."

The water boiled quicker than I had hoped.

"You left without saying anything, that means that you are mad."

He was propped up on the edge of the couch and he looked so big compared to its small size. He was a contrast to everything around him in my small living room . He looked out of place in my simple home and it seemed he did not mind it at all. My heart almost swelled but I held back those worthless emotions.

"How do you take your coffee?"

"However you have it but no sugar."

I ignored the look of question he was sending me due to the fact that I was playing dumb with him, instead I placed the coffee mug on the small coffee table.

" Your coffee is ready."