Page 14 of A Dark Duet

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite follow your sport and I honestly didn’t know your name until someone mentioned it.”

I can see Nate stiffen a bit because I don’t recognize him like he is used to. Even though I signed the NDA and the contract. I was trying to be honest because I really didn’t know who he was.

“So, you never knew who he was when you were waiting on us at the club?” Jaden asks.

“Nope.” I smile again. “Interesting.” He grins.

“So, what can I get you boys?” I look at Nate while he looks at his phone.

He looks up and says with a smile, “I already have a date with you, so we would like to add five scrambled eggs and a water, please.” I look at Jaden and he grins as Brie walks up next to me.

“Everything okay here, Giselle?” Brie asks.

Jaden speaks up before I get to tell her everything is fine.

“Everything is fine, especially now that you’re here, beautiful.”

I look at Brie as her cheeks blush pink, but she quickly composes herself.

“Okay. Well, let me help you get the food for Jace and Jason over there before Jace starts with his shit,” she says, leaving to go back to get them their orders. Jaden and Nate look over their way with a glare.

“How do you know them?” Nate asks as he looks at me with his gorgeous clean shaven face and black hoodie.

“Brie and Jace used to date back in high school, and Jason always hung out with Jace, and Brie is my best friend. We all lived in the same town close to here before they went pro,” I say.

“So how come the Ravens starting tight end Jason Bresely speaks to you like you were his girl?” Nate asks. I look at him, not understanding why he wants to know.

“I honestly don’t know. We were friends and he would come over to my house and hang out, but that’s it. I told you before, I’m no one’s girl, and if you want to eat, I have to put your order in.”

Avoiding the subject from his interrogation about Jason and Jace, I’m trying to figure out what his problem is. I see Brie, good on her word, bringing the food out for the guys in booths one and two, so I help her with the third booth and put in Nate and Jaden’s order.

Joe looks at me with a twinkle in his eye when I’m at the back preparing the tray to bring the food and silverware out.

“Looks like you and Brie have the attention of all the star athletes out there,” he says.

“Yeah, and none of them are worth a girl’s heartbreak over, believe me. They don’t have good intentions. They’re all the same.”

Joe chuckles. “Come now, Giselle, you know Jason likes you and has always had an eye for you. I think he has honestly liked you since you were teenagers.”

“Yeah, was that before or after he took a bet to kiss me for fifty bucks?”

His eyes widen.“What is wrong with that boy? Let me guess, he played it off.”

“You got it, Joe. Brie and I are just jokes and a nice laugh at our expense. Nothing special.”

He stops what he is doing and looks at me. “Boys do stupid things sometimes when they really like a girl and don’t know how to approach her without hurting her. Look at Jace and Brie. Jace has been in love with Brie since he was a kid, and he just can’t deal with the fact of who her mother is and how people will judge them. It’s cowardly, but all the same, it’s what everyone knows is the problem.”

Joe would know this, being from a small town where everyone is in everyone’s businesses.

“I guess, but we shouldn’t judge people or use them. It’s unfair,” I say.

I look at where Jace and Jason are sitting and realize Jace is looking at Brie as she takes an order from another customer on the other side. He can’t stop staring at her while she isn’t looking, and when I look at Jason, he is staring right at me with a grin and soft eyes.

I look away and notice the guys in the back with cold, hard glares aimed right at Jace and Jason. Feeling the tension, I head over to pick up Nate and Jaden’s order, the sound of the bell from the cook signaling that their food is ready to be taken to their table.

I place the food on the tray and head over to them, placing their breakfast in front of them. “Is there anything else I can get you guys?”

“How come you and your friend work here when you work at the club?” Jaden asks.

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