Revenge is best served cold

I lifted my eyes to glance at Eric, and sure enough, there were dark circles under his eyes.

Ugh, I was the worst. Cursing myself silently, I was about to say something when my phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from Natasha.

"Looks like someone's worried about you," Eric remarked casually as he stood up gracefully and left the room.

Despite the lingering awkwardness, I felt a small warmth in my heart at his considerate gesture. I had misunderstood him in the past.

I picked up the call.

"You're amazing! So, how did things go with Eric last night? Sparks were flying, huh? I remember back in college, Eric was way better looking and more talented than Jeremiah. Now that you're divorcing that scumbag, I fully support you getting together with Eric!

"You can't let a bad guy ruin your shot at a second chance at love!"

Listening to Natasha's excitement only made me feel more awkward. "Natasha, you've got it all wrong.

Nothing happened between Eric and me last night."

"What?" Her tone instantly shot up.

"You two were practically glued together at the bar last night, and then you dragged him home. How could nothing have happened? This is I sighed, pressing a hand to my forehead. "We're just friends. That's all."

She wasn't buying it. Instead, her excitement ramped up further..

"Please. Eric definitely likes you. Why else would he go out of his way to help you over and over again? Doesn't he have anything better to my heart

Honestly, I had thought about it too. Eric's selfless help was undeniably odd. But then I reminded myself that there was no way he could be serious with me since I'd been with Jeremiah before.

Maybe he was just a good person I shoved the thought aside, refusing to dwell on it. I hung up the phone.

Yet somehow, while brushing my teeth, Eric's teasing gaze floated into my mind. It threw my emotions into chaos all over again. Regardless

I went downstairs and found that he had already prepared breakfast.

Seeing him standing by the table, I was momentarily stunned. The scene looked oddly... domestic-

like a happily married couple's morning routine. No, no, no. I couldn't think that way!

We were just friends.

I warned myself mentally and pushed the thoughts away as I walked over. "I'm really sorry about last night. If you ever need my help in the future, 1 promise I'll be there for you."

I blurted it all out at once, only to feel even more awkward afterward. What could someone like Eric possibly need from me?

Leaning casually against the table with his arms crossed, he looked at me with a spark of interest in his eyes.

“Nothing happened last night, but you seem really bothered by it. Don't tell me you've fallen for me?”

Tfroze. For some reason, my ears started to burn at his words.

"W-What are you talking about? I'm just apologizing! How does that translate to being in love with you?"

He stared at me silently for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed my wrist and pressed me against the edge of the table.

Itis tall frame caged me in, his scent-cool and woody-wrapping around me just like last night.

"If you're not in love, then why is your face so red?

Red?

I instinctively touched my cheeks, but before I could respond, a sharp voice Interrupted us