Page 24 of Mine

Chapter Eight

Eden stabbed her fork in the plate of spaghetti that sat in front of her. Phoebe glanced from her to Jasmine, and Jasmine shrugged. They were seated in Ricardo Trattoria having their weekly dinner outing. The triplets’ lives were always in the spotlight because of their family’s famous name. Each time either of them made an achievement or dated someone and broke up, the news would find its way splashed across newspapers, magazines, and sometimes TMZ. So planning their outings was a must.

Growing up in a family with the cameras set and ready to capture every moment of your public or private life was not all it was cracked up to be. But Phoebe, Eden, and Jasmine had managed it, with the help of their family of course.

“There’s someone over your shoulder taking a picture,” Eden said dryly.

Phoebe glanced back to Jasmine then turned to peer over her shoulder. Just as Eden had predicted, a flash in the rear corner of the establishment illuminated than quickly went away. Phoebe sighed.

“How would you know, you’ve barely lifted your head from your pasta. What am I missing?”

Eden looked up at Phoebe. “I’m surprised you still haven’t figured out how to spot them yet.”

“How am I supposed to know when someone is going to take out a camera and take a shot?” Phoebe said.

“There’s a simple mathematics to this. If you calculate—”

“Oh boy, here we go,” Jasmine interrupted.

Eden turned a sharp eye to her. “What? There is a simple mathematics to this. If there weren’t, I wouldn’t have known that guy was going to take that picture without looking his way. I also wouldn’t know he’s turned around a second time and now he’s recording.”

Phoebe and Jasmine turned back to the guy. Sure enough, he’d left his seat and was now standing boldly filming them. They both turned around with a grumbling sigh.

“We should probably get out of here,” Phoebe said.

“No.” Jasmine called out to a passing server, “Excuse me, can I see the person in charge please?”

“Is everything okay?” the dark-haired, gray-eyed waitress asked.

“No, it’s not. There’s a man across the room filming us, and it’s rude. Either get rid of him, or we’re leaving.”

The waitress took her eyes across the room and still the guy recorded them, waitress and all.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

The waitress took off, and Jasmine sat back crossing her legs. They all waited patiently for the outcome of their issue before resuming their conversation. The waitress and the owner approached the man.

“Hey man, it’s a free country, I’m not hurting anybody,” the man said.

The owner was joined with security, and gradually without making a scene they discarded the patron.

“That should teach him a lesson,” Jasmine said, pulling her hair behind her pierced ear. “Here they come.”

The owner approached their table. “Good evening, Ms. Rose.” He reached out for a handshake, and they all greeted him one by one. “Please accept my humblest apologies. I hope you all will enjoy your meal, on the house tonight.”

“Thank you,” they all chimed.

The owner strolled away, and the waitress spoke next.

“Are you ladies ready to order?”

“I’ll have what she’s having,” Phoebe said, pointing to Eden’s dish.

“Yes, ma’am,” the waitress scribbled, “and you?” she asked Jasmine.

“Let me get your Caesar salad and the apple martini, please.”

The waitress smiled and nodded. “Good choice,” she said. “Anything else?” She glanced around at all three of them.

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