Fighting for her (Novak series #1) {Completed}

17. Uncomfortable

Darby’s POV

I never thought the day would come when a beautiful and steady woman chooses me, but here we are, and I can’t help but feel childish happiness. She said yes! To me, it’s unbelievable. It’s so bad that when I come into my bedroom, I do a little dance to celebrate that my possible future wife wants to go out with me.

“That’s pathetic, even for being you,” a voice says from the corner, and I quickly turn around, only to meet my big brother’s stern gaze.

“What are you doing here, Cal?” I ask with a sigh, and I see how his eyes turn dark with anger.

“You have no right to call me that anymore!” he growls, and I feel my own mood failing.

“What’s the matter with you, really!? Whatever I do is obviously wrong in your eyes! I’ve said repeatedly that I’m sorry. What else can I do!?” I roar back.

“How about, to begin with, telling me what you’re apologizing for!”

“What do you mean?” I ask in a calmer tone, and he sighs noisily before getting up.

“You don’t even seem to be aware of the problems you created when you left. When you figure it out, you may come and talk to me,” he answers quietly, and walks out the door.

I throw myself into the armchair Caleb just sat in and sigh. Of course, I know why I apologize. Why else would it make sense for me to do that? I know that I betrayed my brothers when I disappeared without even explaining why. It’s clear they’ve needed me over the years, especially Noah.

On the other hand, I don’t know how much or if Caleb feels he needed me at all. But judging by his reaction, we can probably take that for granted. Caleb has always been very private with his feelings and not precisely the one to gossip. We’ve always been able to talk about everything and been best friends, not just brothers.

That friendship and brotherhood were obviously damaged by my choice three years ago. What Caleb doesn’t see, however, is that I’m no longer the same person I was then. I left because Amina left me, and I realized it was my mother’s fault. However, the truth is that it had nothing to do with mom or my ex, but me.

In my head, my family had created an image of what kind of woman I should be looking for, someone like mom. It was her fault that she was so perfect that I couldn’t find anyone good enough for my impossibly high standards, but rather expected too much without giving anything in return. I was at fault and no one else.

Instead of talking to the woman who gave me life and asking for advice, frustration made a hen out of a feather. It was that frustration that created problems that never really needed to exist. If I had just been open with my family and focused more on getting stronger, instead of pushing the issues away and continuing to be the insecure boy I was, then maybe everything would have been different.

Things might have been simpler, better. At the same time, I can already see two things that wouldn’t have been in my life if I had never left: Camilla and Hope. Camille wouldn’t be alive if I didn’t bolt because then I’d never have met Melissa. If I hadn’t created Camilla, Hope’s help wouldn’t have been necessary, so we wouldn’t have met again.

Everything has pros and cons. Actions have consequences, and even though I regret some parts, there’s a more significant part of me that doesn’t. The man I am today is someone I can be proud of because that strength within me did I create on my own. One day Caleb and I will hopefully be able to go back to the way it was, but not today because now I’m going on a date.

❖❣❖❣❖

I thank the gods for the well-known surname of my parents and the weight behind it because, without it, I’d never manage to book a table at “Le Français heureux.” The name means “the cheerful Frenchman,” and the restaurant is relatively newly built. Although it hasn’t been around for more than a year, it has quickly become world-famous, and the tables are booked months in advance.

The food is very exclusive and the decor luxurious. I don’t know if this is Hope’s style, but at the same time, I don’t want to take any risks. She deserves to be pampered and just get the opportunity to enjoy something for once. Hopefully, she appreciates the gesture and takes the chance to be looked after for the sake of unusualness.

Hope comes down the stairs, and I lose my chin when I see her. She’s wearing a light blue, thin dress that’s both simple and elegant. Her hair is set up in a ponytail high on her head and swings behind her as she walks. She looks at me halfway down the stairs, and my heart beats double beats.

She has chosen to wear very little makeup, which I prefer as I consider the natural Hope the most beautiful version of her. Standing in front of me, I realize that she’s not wearing any high-heeled shoes this time, making our difference in length clearer than usual. I think it’s cute that she’s a little shorter than me.

None of us say anything, but we stand in the hall and stare at each other as if there are no other people in the universe. Then it strikes me that at this moment, it doesn’t; no one but the woman in front of me exists in my world. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and Noah interrupts us this time by clearing his throat.

“Where are you going?” he asks with a grin on his lips, and the rest of the family enters the room behind him.

“Oh, you’re going on a date!?” mom exclaims happily, waving her arms excitedly. “Is that why Hope couldn’t babysit?”

Hope’s cheeks turn bright red, and she looks down at the floor with her lower lip between her teeth. Those red, plump lips I look forward to tasting. Her teeth as she nibbles on my throat as I penetrate her– okay, it’s time to calm down before the situation gets very uncomfortable in here.

“Come on, Hope. Ignore them,” I chuckle and help her put on her jacket.

“Where are you going?” dad asks with a warm smile on his lips and a tender look.

“I’ve booked a table at a restaurant in town, and then we’ll see where the evening takes us,” I answer secretly, letting Hope hook her arm with mine.

“Have fun, young people!” mom shouts happily. “Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do!”

“That doesn’t rule out much,” dad mumbles, and Hope giggles as she gets in the car.

❖❣❖❣❖

Hope’s eyes shimmer under the dazzling light of the chandeliers, and her chin is almost down on the floor. Her gaze sweeps across the scenery as if we’re in heaven, and I’m glad that I’m the one who gets the opportunity to help her experience that feeling. I walk up to the courtier and say my name, making him quickly move towards a more private table, entirely according to my wishes.

With Hope’s hand in mine, I lead her to our seats and pull out her chair like a real gentleman. She smiles at me as she sits down, and I sit down across from her. We each order a drink, and as soon as the courtier disappears, Hope returns to staring around the room with a faint smile on her lips.

“Do you like it?” I ask, and she’s about to answer when her gaze lands on a middle-aged woman a few tables away from us.

Her happy mood disappears, and she looks at me with a forced smile that baffles me. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all? At least not if she gets uncomfortable in the environment I basically forced on her. Hope is such a kind person that she would hardly say bluntly that it isn’t enough to someone who has made an effort for her sake.

“It’s nice,” she replies, and her voice sounds sad.

We get our drinks, and she sips carefully as if she needs to conserve the liquid. Why is she acting weird? Have I already done something wrong, and if so, what? I don’t have time to ask her before a waiter arrives to ask if we’re ready to order. Hope is so quick to lift her menu that I don’t even have time to ask him to come back in a little while.

I would’ve liked to talk to her a little more first, but now it feels like she wants the date to end as soon as possible. The dark thoughts come back like a tsunami. Am I not good enough for her? Of course, I’m not. Why would I be? She gives the waiter a slight smile and orders an appetizer bestowing of bread, which puzzles me again.

I’ll order a proper meal, foie gras. Hopefully, I can keep the date alive a little longer if at least one of us eats properly. Despite my attempts to start a conversation, Hope is brief with her answers and looks down on her hands rather than on those around her. The waiter comes back to the table with our plates in his hands.

The first thing that strikes me is how little food is on my date’s plate. Please don’t say she’s one of those women who barely eat anything on a date because they’re afraid the person they’re out with will judge them for having an appetite. For me, it has always been a strange tactic. Why starve for someone else’s sake if it’s not necessary?

“Are you sure you don’t want anything else?” I ask, and for the first time since we sat down at the table, she smiles at me.

“Thank you, but it’s fine with this,” she replies, slowly shaking her head. “But you eat.”

She looks at me with a mischievous facial expression, and I don’t understand why until I take a bite of my food. It’s one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever tasted! I immediately get nauseous, and Hope reaches out a glass of water to me while laughing at my reaction. Okay, I’m going to stab that person on the internet who recommended this dish!

“It tastes like an old foam slipper!” I exclaim, and Hope continues to giggle at me before reaching for a piece of bread dipped in oil.

I open my mouth, and her index finger goes into my mouth a few millimeters. All the while, we stare into each other’s eyes, and it feels intimate, almost erotic, that she’s feeding me. As quickly as the mood thickens, it disappears when she hastily removes her hand to tuck a piece of bread into her own mouth.

“The bread was dry, even though you dipped it in the oil,” I mutter, feeling disappointed with the quality of the food, despite all its high reviews, or I’m the one who has terrible taste.

“It’s not exactly my cup of tea either,” she mumbles, looking down at her plate, and it’s only then it strikes me that she might feel inferior.

Of course, that’s why she’s been acting weird since we got here! Hope isn’t used to extravagant dinners, private schools, and holidays to warmer latitudes. I was busy making sure she saw me as better than I really am, which caused me to not even think about what she wanted at all.

“There’s an amazing food truck down at the harbor that makes juicy burgers with crispy bacon on top,” I say, immediately catching her interest. “How about we go there instead?”

She laughs, nods, and we get up from the table simultaneously. I take her hand in mine and immediately notice how her mood gets better from the thought of the simple instead of the elegant. When I pay, Hope turns around to look around one last time when her whole body stiffens next to me, and I react instantly.

“Hope, what is it?” I ask anxiously, just when I hear another voice behind me.

“Hope? What are you doing here?”

I turn around and look at a skinny man our age who has a surprised facial expression. They obviously know each other, and judging by Hope’s face, his attention isn’t something she craves. She stretches her back, looks straight at him with a cold expression, and gives me the name of a person I’ve wanted to hurt since I first heard about him.

“Hello, Freddie.”

A/N:

Hello everyone!

Okay, let’s talk. I have lost the desire and motivation to do anything. Everything feels pointless, and I don’t know what to do to get out of the gray everyday life I’m currently in. I won’t stop writing. However, it may take a little longer between updates, which I guess most of you have already noticed. I’ll try to better myself!

~ What do you think of the date so far?

~ Did Darby do wrong, or is it understandable that he made a mistake?

~ You think Freddie’s going to cause trouble?