Page 43 of Chance

“I had to wait half an hour just to get my phone that I'd left in there," Allie pouts at Izzy when she lowers her hands as we all laugh. I think Allie is lucky the food arrives before Izzy can reply.

We all eat quickly in silence. As I’m chewing on a French fry, I look over to catch the gaze of Elena as she is chatting to an older man I don't recognise. She sees me and gets up, trying to walk over, but the old man grabs her arm, stopping her.

"Shit, Elena is here," I say to my friends, and Allie turns, getting up herself to see where I’m looking.

"What the fuck is she doing here with my dad?" Allie practically shouts, and lots of heads turn in our direction.

Izzy looks over at Elena and Allie’s dad. She goes very pale before getting her phone out and ringing someone.

"Have you decided to leave my Sebastian alone yet?" Elena asks, stopping in front of me.

I guess I must have missed when Allie’s dad let her go. Izzy is looking terrified, staring at Allie who has left the table to argue with her dad, and I'm on my own.

"Elena, seriously, you are getting crazy. He isn't yours," I say slowly, hoping she will understand.

"He is, and you will see. I have a plan, and you’re going to pay. I won't watch you have my man."

She leans forward into my face as she talks, a look of disgust all over her pretty face. Now that she is closer, I can see how her hair hasn’t been dyed in a while, and her brown roots are coming through the platinum blond. There’s a faint smell, like alcohol, on her, and her unfocused eyes suggest she has been drinking today.

Seb’s family lawyer has a restraining order on Elena, and she isn’t meant to be near any of his family, me included. Her parents are away on a long trip abroad, according to Seb’s lawyers, but because Elena is over eighteen, they didn’t need to be told.

I had to get a new number this week because I was getting a withheld number calling me all the time. Luckily, since getting a new phone, I haven’t had anyone call me that I don’t want to talk to. Sebastian is convinced it was Elena calling. He is going to go mad when he hears she is shouting at me again.

I feel a little dizzy from standing up quickly, but I refuse to have her look down at me. I glance quickly at Izzy, who is hiding in her seat so Allie's dad can’t see her. I want to go to her, but I can’t.

"By the time I’m done with you, you'll wish you and that baby had disappeared like Seb told you to." She smirks at me as she leans back and walks out of the restaurant. I fall into my seat, watching as Allie’s dad follows Elena out.

"You okay?" I'm shaken from my thoughts as Izzy takes my hand. She is shaking herself, but I have no idea why.

"Yes, are you?" I ask, squeezing her hand, and she shakes her head looking away. Allie comes over and sits next to me.

"Sorry, Maisy, my dad said she was applying for a job," Allie says with a long sigh, and then she looks over at Izzy with a grimace, noticing her tears.

"What's wrong?"She tries to take Izzy’s hand, but Izzy pulls away, standing up quickly.

"He's yourdad, Allie?" she says, emphasising the word dad.

Sebastian and Blake suddenly appear at the end of the table, stopping whatever Allie was going to say. Blake wraps an arm around Izzy and walks out with her, after sliding Izzy’s keys into Seb’s hand. Sebastian calls for the bill as he watches Blake take an upset Izzy outside the restaurant. Seb picks me up out of my seat, as I squeal, and sits in my seat with me on his lap.I don’t think he cares if anyone is looking, he just wants me close.

“You girls can never stay out of trouble,” Seb mutters to us while Allie looks down at her drink, clearly deep in thought.

“What the hell happened to Izzy? She looked terrified?" I ask. Allie watches Seb’s answer as closely as I do.

"Nothing to worry about. I will explain later, but she thought she saw someone she is scared of," Seb says, glancing at Allie. I know enough to see he is trying to protect her by lying.

Allie clearly doesn’t believe him either, but she looks so confused. I am feeling the same way. What did I miss? I’ve met Allie's dad a few times, and he seems all right.

"She was only looking at my dad and Elena, why would she react like that?" Allie asks,taking a drink of her wine.

"Allie, I can't answer that for you," Seb says, shaking his head and kissing my forehead.

“Why does no one tell me anything? I want to know why my best friend looked terrified!” she shouts the end part, and I wince as everyone turns to look at us now. A silence fills the small restaurant before Allie talks.

“Sorry, Maisy, I know you’re not meant to be stressed out. Don’t worry, I'll speak to Izzy later,” she says, placing her hand on mine over the table before excusing herself to the toilet.

Seb pays the bill while we wait, and he must have come in Blake’s car, so he drives me and Allie home in Izzy’s.

"Thanks for today," I say to Allie as we pull up. I'm aware she hasn't said anything, but she looks so confused.

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