What the hell did that mean? Did he think I was naïve?
“I . . . um—” Luckily we’d reached the table and everyone’s eyes were on us, so I didn’t answer him.
“What took you so long?” Mum asked as she dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “The food arrived and since everyone was starving, we started without you.”
My gaze stayed glued to the chair that Grayson had pulled out next to him. Thankful, I sat down, my knees feeling uncharacteristically shaky. My mouth salivated when I saw my salad. Maybe I was hungry after all and had hit a sugar low.
“So tell me about the shopping. Found a dress?” Grayson directed his question at Sloane who sat next to me, yet his eyes were trained on me. I pretended not to notice and took a big bite of salad, keeping my jaws occupied with chewing so I didn’t say anything stupid.
From my peripheral vision I could see he was frowning again, as if something bothered him. Every time the subject of the ball came up, something about him changed subtly.
I wasn’t opening that can of worms. My dress, or rather lack of a dress, and my date with Seth wasn’t any of his damn business. And more importantly, I was determined to ignore the way he was staring at me. Yet, I couldn’t help a small shiver running up my spine. The man was unnerving me big time.
Sloane rambled on about how difficult it was to shop with me. Apparently Grayson was amused with her story as he laughed out loud several times. He’d dug into his food and carried on asking her questions between mouthfuls. He focused on her completely which of course, made her practically fucking glow.
Chewing on another mouthful of lettuce, I nearly choked as my gaze fell on Seth and his mother entering the restaurant.
Of all the places in Sydney, they had to choose this one?
Then I remembered that my mother and his usually played tennis on Tuesdays and Mum had mentioned they often came to Tony’s afterwards for lunch.
I let my gaze run over Seth. He looked hot in a fitted pair of jeans that sat low on his hips and a skin tight sleeveless t-shirt that showed his ripped biceps to perfection. He had a scowl on his handsome face that lifted the second he spotted me.
Seth’s wide mouth turned up in a smile. He tugged his mother’s arm and pulled her in our direction.
“Hello, Mrs. Forbes,” he greeted Mum as he got to our table. Much to my astonishment he leaned right over and kissed me on the lips. “Hey, babe. Ready for tomorrow night?”
“Babe?” Grayson questioned, his voice low and ominous; I swear he actually growled.
Believe me, I'm just as stunned.
Seth had never called me babe before. And he chose now to do it? Here in front of everyone, including our mothers and Grayson?
“Hello, Norma.” Mum greeted Seth’s mother with a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi Alice, how lovely to see you and your kids out for lunch.”
Mum laughed. “Yes, it’s not often we all get to come here together.”
The two older women exchanged a few more pleasantries as I shot up a prayer. Please don’t invite them to sit with us. It would just be plain awkward.
Sloane and Taylor giggled, both staring at me with big eyes. Taylor gave me the thumbs up signal behind Seth’s back. Clearly she approved. But Grayson had seen his sister do it, and judging by the expression on his face, he was less than pleased. It looked as if he was going to burst a vessel in his forehead. But I was more worried about the way his fists kept opening and closing as he glared at Seth.
I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes.
Men and testosterone.
Seth turned his back to Grayson, completely ignoring him. “Can't wait to see you all dressed up. I bet you’re going to be a knock out,” Seth said, smiling down at me.
Who, me? Was I in some sort of dream?
“You leave that part to us,” Mum said, smiling at Seth and Norma. “I have a few ideas for my lovely daughter that I’m sure you’ll love.”
“Really?” I said, unable to stop the words spilling from my mouth. What the hell was I? Some social experiment?
My gaze shot to Grayson. His eyebrows were knitted together and the knuckles of both balled fists had turned white. Why was he so against me going to the prom with Seth? He’d told me about Seth’s boasting and that he strongly disliked Seth’s older brother, Hawke, but it hardly made sense.
A minute later, much to my relief, a waiter appeared to show Seth and Mrs. Matthews to their table.
The awkward silence after they left was filled by Taylor’s gushing. “You’re a lucky girl, Sis. Seth’s hot as hell.”
“I think he’s crazy about Layla,” Sloane said, “because she treats him like she does all the other boys and his ego can’t stand it. He’s used to girls fawning over him. But not our Layla—she’s making him work for it.”