Silver Lining | Grooms #3

XXIX. Little Things

Nikhil pulled out the chair for Esha once the waiter showed them to their reserved table. While Esha had been shopping earlier in the day, he had taken a moment to call the restaurant and get a reservation. Once he walked around and took a seat, he warned her up front. "None of your 'split the bill' business today, got it?"

She didn't even bother with an argument since she did understand that this was supposed to be a romantic date out. "Sure, Nikhil. Tonight, you get a free pass."

He was pleasantly surprised at her quick caving. He didn't question it though. He was only glad she was seeing things his way for one night. He eyed her navy-blue dress, "Have I told you how beautiful you look?"

She laughed at his nervousness, "Yes, Nikhil. This would be the 5th time."

"Oh."

Her laugh eased up and she forwarded her hand on the table to place it above his, "But you can say it as many times as you want. I like compliments, especially when they come from you." She winked at him at the end, causing him to chuckle. She wasn't even modest about it, and that was one of the many reasons he loved her.

She glanced away from his eyes at someone saying her name. "Esha?" She looked past his shoulder to find Camille and Louis there looking at her in surprise as they approached her. Their surprise doubled upon seeing the person across from her was none other than Nikhil. Esha's hand slipped off of his just as Camille questioned, "Are you two here for a meeting? Esha, I thought you said you did not work on weekends."

"I'm not." She replied, understanding how they could think this was related to their project work. But... hello? Did they not see what she was wearing?

"Oh well, fancy running into you two here." She went on to greet Nikhil, "Hi, Nick. Mind if we join you two?"

Louis looked like he wanted to object while Nikhil had no idea how to politely decline. Esha took it upon herself. "No."

All eyes turned to her in a snap. Camille's squinted. "No?"

"No." She elaborated, "We're not here on a business meeting. And from the looks of it, neither are you two. So, both of you go to your table and let us dine alone."

"Esha." Nikhil said her name in a gaping manner, asking her not to be rude.

She stuck to her position however. "What, do you really want to be polite right now?" She looked at her superior and employer, "Sorry guys, but this is my weekend and you're not my bosses right now. And... tonight he is supposed to confess his feelings for me, so shoo."

Camille opened her mouth in confusion before snapping it shut and looking between the two of them. It took a second for it to dawn on her. This was the boyfriend Esha had mentioned, but would never tell the name of. "I knew it!" She exclaimed, "You sly, what did I tell you?" She questioned Esha while pointing out, "Didn't I say Nick here gave our company a second chance because he was smitten by you? You didn't want to believe me then!"

Esha answered in a bored tone, "Yeah, alright. Now how about you bite down on 'I told you so' and go work on your feelings?"

Camille narrowed her eyes for what Esha was insinuating, feeling somewhere embarrassed that she said it in front of Louis, but Louis snickered and mouthed a 'thank you' to Esha. If she hadn't, similar to last night, Camille would have turned this outing into a casual one as well by pretending to be ignorant about what Louis was trying to change their relationship to: from friends at work to more.

Esha blinked at him in understanding and he spoke to Camille, "Let's go, Cami. Some people are very rude and don't want us around."

Once they left, Nikhil scolded her, "Did you have to be so rude?"