I shrugged my shoulders. “Burgers, pizzas, fries. You know, lunch.”
Christian nodded. “Burgers are fine. I could have a cheat day today and work out extra hard tomorrow.”
When someone mentioned their defined body offhandedly, it’s only courtesy that you spare said body a look. And in this case, I looked at his biceps as subtly as I could manage it. Even in the suit, it was still visible.
“I’ll bring in yours when it arrives,” I said as we got into my office. I stood smiling as he went into his. I picked up the phone and ordered the burgers. When they arrived a few minutes later, I took his burger into his office.
“Ah, that was quick,” Christian said, and I nodded even though I thought the delivery took forever. “Where’s yours?”
I jerked a finger behind me.
“We should eat together, get to know each other.”
I blinked once and then nodded rapidly. Not only do I have a lot of questions to ask, and observations to make, but I’d also like to sit up front to see how he’d go about munching the burger.
I walked out and returned immediately with my burger and took the seat before him.
“I have sports drinks,” he informed me, taking two can drinks from the drawer in his desk. I accepted it graciously and thanked him.
“Do you always have burgers for lunch?” He asked.
“Do I always have burgers for lunch?” I echoed back to him, unaware of what I was even saying because I was completely taken in by the big bite he took of the burger. Mustard and ketchup sat at the corner of his mouth, a testament to his effort.
“Fiona?”
I blinked back into the present, and pointed to the side of his lips. “I don’t always have burgers. Pizza here, chicken nuggets there. I like to diversify my food choices.”
“It does sound like you’ve been eating all the delicious food.”
I nodded in agreement. He’s always eating things that would build up his muscles. The efforts were paying off, but I couldn’t imagine this life for me.
“I feel absolutely jealous of you.”
“Well,” I said and shrugged, “people whose staple dishes consist of grass and smoothies made of more fruits and grasses tend to feel that way around me.”
Christian laughed, raising his hand to cover his mouth. I beamed with pride and took another bite of my burger. It was tasty, and I loved it. And I loved it even better that I was the reason he’s smiling.
“But you’ve not really changed since we were kids. You are still the Fiona I have always known.”
The blush sat comfortably on my cheeks, and I wondered if he had ever thought of me during the years we were apart.
“I spoke with Allison last night,” I said in a desperate attempt to change the subject.
“Oh, we’ve not talked in a week.”
“Yes, she said she’s usually caught up with work and hardly has time for herself these days.”
“I seriously warned her not to accept the offer, but she didn’t listen.” He shrugged. “She doesn’t think she’s worth more. She should have stayed back in Laketown; she was a queen here.”
“Why did she leave?” I inquired. Allison never truly told me her reason anyway. Or it was more like I didn’t find her reason consequential.
“She wanted to get away from our parents.” Christian gulped down his drink.
“I had always known Allison to be adventurous, but I never thought she was running away.” At that moment, I felt low.
“Yeah. Did you tell her you accompanied me to golf?” He switched the topic.
“Yes,” I chortled. “She promised to play a game when she’s in town.”
“Cool.” He twitched a small smile just as his phone began to ring. He stared at the screen of his phone and quietly tucked the phone away.
“Aren’t you going to pick the call?” I asked.
“No,” he looked up at me. “ It’s not important.”
I suspected Aurora was the caller, so he didn’t answer.
“What do you do in your free time, if I may ask?”
He chuckled softly.
“I play games.”
“Cool, perhaps we could play a game one of these days.”
“Hm.”
I could spot warmth in his eyes. His eyes were the kind that made you want to sit down and talk for hours. I felt light-hearted talking to him and hoped to lighten up his mood, too.
