Page 80 of The Restoration Program
“We’ll be in and out,” Ryan promised as he pulled her away from him.
Stares weighed on her as he carried her across the sidewalk. Maybe it had something to do with being freshly married, but she found the confidence to stare right back at a few of them. She furrowed her brow as if to say,What are you looking at? I’m just a person. I’m a person.
A person being carried in her husband’s cupped hands.
When Ryan entered the restaurant, at least the stares didn’t come right away. Most people were too engaged in their conversation or food to look up every time the door opened. The hostess, of course, did a double-take behind the counter.
Nicole glanced away, only to find a busboy clearing a nearby table and gaping at her. Open-mouthed and everything, even when they made eye contact. She clenched her jaw, utterly relieved that Ryan hadn’t kept insisting on having their meal in the restaurant.
“Hi, takeout order for Northe,” Ryan told the hostess.
“Oh. Yes! Your order’s already being prepared. It’ll only be ten more minutes.” The hostess’ eyes darted between him and Nicole, seeming to wrestle with something before adding, “The chef would love to meet you, Mr. Northe, if that’s okay. He read a few of those articles online about the two of you. I… I did too, actually. Kind of feels like meeting local celebrities.”
“Oh, that’s very kind of you. Of course, I’d be happy to talk to him,” Ryan said. He was working her with the charming smile that got him out of speeding tickets. It would be more than a few minutes before they left with their order.
“Thank you! I’ll message him,” the hostess gushed. She busied herself on her phone for a moment, before informing them that the chef would be right out.
“Your dress issopretty,” the girl added shyly, letting her shy gaze rest fully on Nicole. Her unassuming tone made Nicole lower her guard somewhat.
“I can’t believe it’s mine,” Nicole admitted, running her hands down the flowing skirts. She had to adjust herself—the weight of the skirt cascading over the side of Ryan’s hands kept tipping her forward. “It’s heavier than it looks.”
“Here.” With that single word of warning, Ryan set her on the counter.
She wobbled for balance, immediately feeling exposed out of his hands. Her protests died in her throat. Requesting for him to pick her back up would be humiliating.
“Did you guys just get hitched, or was it a photoshoot?” the hostess asked. Her name badge readKaylee.
“We said our vows about forty minutes ago,” Nicole said.
“Which means you’ve beenMrs. Northefor almost an hour,” Ryan reminded her in a purr.
“Wow! Congratulations.” Kaylee chewed on her pen. “Do you mind if I ask… Did you guys meet before you were Restored or after? Sorry—I feel like I read that somewhere and totally forgot.”
“Before. It was back in college.” Nicole said. She drifted back to that first moment she’d clapped eyes on him at the New Year’s Eve party five years ago. They seemed soyoungthen.
The chef approached through the dining room. Several strides away, Ryan met him with a firm handshake and the two greeted each other like old friends. Nicole rolled her eyes fondly. Her social butterfly was in his element, thanking the chef for pulling strings and answering questions about being one of the beta clients for the Program. Several tables in the area watched the amicable exchange with pleasant bemusement, though few turned to look through the archway to the hostess’ stand. It was just as well. Ryan got his five minutes in the spotlight, and she got to have a quiet evening with him all to herself at home.
“What does he do?” Kaylee asked, watching over Nicole’s shoulder.
“He’s an accountant.”
“Wow. He doesnotlook like it.”
“He gets that a lot.”
“Are you guys going anywhere on a honeymoon?”
“We haven’t talked much about that yet,” Nicole admitted. She played nervously with her skirts as a party of ten or so exited the dining room, talking and laughing loudly amongst themselves. Once they passed, she added, “We kind of eloped. But I certainly wouldn’t mind going somewhere tropical. Lots of sun and quiet…”
Another couple approached the hostess stand, inquiring about their table. They didn’t notice Nicole, too busy glancing at their phones and eyeing which tables were available. It was refreshing to be overlooked. Just like anyone else.
“Sure thing,” Kaylee chirped. “We have your reservation right here. Follow me.”
She grabbed menus from under the counter and hesitated for a moment, gauging the distance between Nicole and Ryan. He was only a few steps away, and Nicole waved her off pleasantly—though she’d likely had no choice but to agree. She held her breath as the couple walked right past her without even a glance toward the monitor.
No more than ten seconds after Kaylee had ushered them off, another set of footsteps approached the counter. Nicole cursed under her breath. There were too many fucking people here. But it wasn’t a customer who came up to the counter. It was the busboy she’d seen when they’d walked in.
He had the same look on his face as before—the unabashed stare, except now he was close enough that she could smell the nervous sweat on him. Nicole backed up slowly, clutching fistfuls of her skirts. She prayed that he was just going to clock out, but she doubted she would be so lucky. She could already imagine the strange questions he’d have, and all she could do was hope that Ryan or Kaylee would return to save her.
