MainNovelAllison couldn't help but laugh at what she'd just heard.
She looked at Luna, half amused, half exasperated. “Luna, seriously? You really don't see any boundaries, do you? I'm Joshua's girlfriend, and you wantto bring my own boyfriend to his admirer's birthday party?" It wasn't anger, just genuine disbelief at how wild the request was.
Carolyn raised a hand, like she was making a solemn promise. "I swear, I just want to make up for years of regrets. All you have to do is bring him. You can hold his hand, flaunt your love, whatever I'm fine with it. I just want him at my birthday party, that's all." "Allie, you're the best! Please say yes," Carolyn whined, clinging to Allison's arm like a little kid. "I really mean it. Just this one time, okay?" Allison frowned, thinking it over.
"I promise I won't do anything," Carolyn said, her voice soft and pleading. "Let's just call this the end of my one- sided crush." After a long pause, Allison let out a sigh. "Alright. Fine." Carolyn instantly brightened, grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you, Allie! Lunch is on me." In a private room at the restaurant, Allison, Carolyn, and Joshua sat around a round table.
Carolyn handed Allison the menu, letting her pick the dishes.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIt was a Cantonese place. Allison ordered a few of her favorites, including the poached shrimp.
She'd loved shrimp since she was a kid. Back home, there was always someone to peel them for her, but here, it was just the three of them.
When the food arrived, Allison picked up a shrimp, dropped it in her bowl, and wiped her hands, getting ready to peel it herself.
Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks reached over and snatched the shrimp from her bowl.
Allison looked up in surprise. Joshua was already peeling it for her.
He looked totally at ease, his long, pale fingers moving deftly and elegantly as he worked.
Allison blinked, caught off guard, and glanced at Carolyn.
Carolyn looked frozen-clearly not thrilled.
Joshua finished peeling the shrimp, dipped it in sauce, and dropped it right back into Allison's bowl. Allison mumbled a quiet "Thanks," and started eating.
She hadn't even finished the first shrimp before Joshua was already peeling a second one for her. Carolyn's smile was stiff. "Wow, Joshua. Didn't know you were the type to peel shrimp for someone else." He was the big shot in Oak Lake, always surrounded by people waiting on him. When had heel bothered to get his own hands dirty, let alone for someone else? From how smooth he was at it, this clearly wasn't the first time.
Joshua kept his head down, focused on CoPeeling. "She's my girlfriend, Ore I'll spoil her. I'm not goilet let her do everything herself Ouch. That hit right where it hurt.
Carolyn felt her chest tighten.
She didn't bother replying, just stuffed a mouthful of food to keep herself from saying anything else.
Servesright, she thought. Every word out of his mouth is like a punch to the gut.
Carolyn had always seen Allison as competition.
She'd pictured, after Allison and Joshua got back together, that om Allison might parade her victory showing off how easily she'd won the guy Carolyn had chased for seven years.
She'd even thought up ways to save face if that happened. But she never imagined it'd be Joshua doing the showing off. Compared to him, Allison actually looked a little embarrassed.
Pretty soon, a small pile of peeled shrimp had built up in Allison's bowl.
When Joshua figured it was enough, he picked up a warm towel and wiped his hands, taking his time. "Is that enough for you?" "Yeah." Allison kept her head down, nibbling on her shrimp.
Joshua then picked up a piece of fish, carefully picked out every bone, and placed the perfect bite into Allison's bowl.
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