✭
"Just stop being difficult Venicia." Charlie retorted with that oh-so-annoyed gaze — the same look that tempted anyone with those soft brown puppy eyes. Ugh. Ew. Yes Venicia, a priest.
I leaned forward ever so slightly, quickly folding my arms with a deliberate cocky slowness, letting the thick tension hang between us. Raising an eyebrow, before letting a scoff slip past my lips.
"That doesn't mean you have to pay for everything," I shot back with will, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You're not my knight in shining armour,"
I added, watching his face flicker with amusement, though he tried desperately to hide it beneath a mask of fake annoyance.
Charlie gave a soft laugh, almost a half-smile, as he leaned forward on the counter beside me —
his fingers held out his card with a certain finality. "That may be true," he spoke, voice casual and confident, "But I'm still paying smartass." His tone allowed no argument, though I swear I could sense the faintest trace of a challenge within it.
The stupid tug-of-war of who pays for lunch continued, a ridiculous yet oddly tense back-and-forth that seemed to go on forever, with neither of us willing to give in. By now, the cashier who'd been quietly observing our little argument — seemed ready to just take whoever's money and fuck off elsewhere, clearly fed up with our banter.
"Maybe next time you can pay," Charlie chimed in, paying with his card. Charles fucking Mayhew. I then tucked my card back in my purse, a snarky mumble falling from my lips.
Oh so in his eyes there'd be a next time?
"There's a next time? We'll see." I quickly nudged the priest beside me, and yet when I did so — I barely made him falter in his steps. Look at this asshole acting like my push was no more than a gust of wind in the summer breeze. I softly smiled at the cashier as she returned it — mainly directed to Charlie but, okay..
