Fly High | ✅

39 | Sipping tea

◈A D R I A N◈

I trailed behind them like an evening shadow, my eyes fixed on the herringbone pavements with blades of resilient grass poking through the gaps. Anywhere was better than looking at that woman fawning over her ex-husband.

Her slim heels clacked noisily against the paving bricks and I secretly hoped it would get caught between the bricks and sprain her ankle. That way, she can sip her tea as much as she wanted in her own home. Alone.

I kicked on a pebble laying innocently on the sidewalk, my mood soured with every step I took. Why did I agreed on torturing myself with that eyesore?

Cutting off the nose to spite the face, wonder why that sound familiar? That snide voice in my head poked and gutted at my ego. Yeah, that made me feel so much better.

"Did you cut your hair? It looks shorter now," her shrill voice cut through the peaceful silence. She peered over her shades to look up at Logan, her slim hand reaching for his head.

"Yeah," Logan replied in a gruff voice, his hand running through his hair expertly dodging her hands from reaching him. "Been running tight on money so I gotta cut down on shampoo."

Kara giggled at his joke, completely oblivious to his subtle rebuff. "Come on, you don't ever use shampoo when we were together. You said it was too girly." Her painted lips pulled into a longing smile. "I like it when your hair was a little longer. You looked...liberated."

"Well I'm not chained to a post now, am I? 'Sides, new year new me, whatever bullshit that was," Logan huffed. He stopped and turned to look at her looking slightly annoyed. "It's been thirteen years, Kara. Things changed."

She stopped as well and took off her sunglasses, her hands held up in mock surrender. "Hey, I didn't come here to judge you or your way of life. I just wanted to catch up with you. Just because we're divorced doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?"

As much as I was enjoying this spectacle with hidden glee, I felt that it was way too personal for an outsider like me. It almost felt like I was peeping on their private show.

Logan glanced at me briefly and tightened his jaw. "I'm starving. Let's go."

"Lead the way," Kara smiled trying to set the atmosphere right.

The rest of the journey was quiet. I noticed the familiar row of shops brushing past us until we stopped near an intersection. I looked up at the sign and felt betrayed.

We have arrived at Average Joe's.

The smell of greasy pizza hit us before the bell attached to the door could ring to notify our presence.

"Mio fratello! You come just in time for the secret menu!" A heavyset man with an even heavily accented voice called out from the kitchen, his curly moustache bounced above his lips as his head poked out from the little opening on a brick wall separating the kitchen from the dining area.

"I'm a lucky man, Giù." Logan chuckled and walked up to the front to greet the chef. They shook hands and slapped on each other backs in greeting.

The chef cocked his head sideways at us and exclaimed, "I see you brought a pretty lady with you this time. Desserts on me, fratello! I have cannoli and bombolone."