MANUEL

Adrian parked the car, and we both stepped out, immediately drawing whispers from people nearby.

“Aren’t those Manuel Collins and Adrian Carter?” someone whispered, loud enough for us to hear.

“Wow! They look so handsome!”

“This is my first time seeing them in real life. They’re both so hot. What are they doing here, though?” one person asked her friend.

“This is a public restaurant, but didn’t you know? Adrian Carter owns this place,” her friend replied, almost smugly, as if she were proud to know such privileged information.

I smirked, amused by the comments as we made our way into the restaurant. I was used to the attention—enjoyed it, even. People’s whispers, the way they stared, it all fed my ego in ways I wouldn’t admit out loud. Adrian, on the other hand, was as unaffected as ever, ignoring both the compliments and the stares like they didn’t even exist. He was always so… calm.

We settled at a table a little removed from the others, enjoying a rare moment of calm before a cute waitress approached us.

“Hello, I’m Patricia, and I’ll be your server this afternoon. What would you like to order?” she asked, flashing a wide smile. Her lips looked inviting enough to kiss, and I couldn’t resist a little fun.

“Hmm, I feel like having pizza. Or better yet, a ‘pizza’ you,” I flirted, watching her reaction with satisfaction. Her cheeks flushed a bright shade of red, but Adrian merely raised an eyebrow, staying silent.

“Listen, I don’t have time for this. I’m at work, and if my boss catches me messing around with customers, I’ll be fired,” she replied, attempting to sound unaffected, though her flustered expression gave her away. She must be new here, not recognizing Adrian as her boss.

“Fine. I’ll go with seafood pizza,” I said, grinning, “but, just saying, the offer still stands. Adrian?”

“Just the pizza,” he replied, ignoring my antics. “And bring Pinot Grigio to go with it.”

“Make it a large pizza,” I added as she jotted down the order and headed to the kitchen. Adrian and I chatted idly while we waited, and soon Patricia returned, setting the food and wine before us. I winked at her as she walked away, causing another blush, and Adrian shot me an unimpressed look.

As we began eating, I washed down my third slice with another sip of wine, savoring the relaxed vibe. By the time I was done, I’d eaten five slices while Adrian had only managed three, his movements deliberate and slow. I finished my glass of wine and belched, patting my stomach with satisfaction. I was full enough that I couldn’t imagine eating another bite.

Adrian looked at me in disgust. “Seriously, Manuel? Don’t you have any manners?”

I shrugged. “Lost those a long time ago.”

“Aunt certainly taught you better than this. She would’ve taught you that it’s rude to belch in public, but clearly, you just don’t learn.” He rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe I’ve been friends with a pig all my life.”

“You love me just the way I am,” I replied, grinning. My antics never failed to get under his skin, and I loved it.

He groaned. “Alright, that’s enough. I’m done with this pointless conversation. I need to go see the manager, and I’d rather not have you loitering around here. Go wait in the car, and try not to flirt with any more staff members. I saw how you were with Patricia.”

“Why are you acting like you’re my dad?” I groaned. “I’m 27, you know. We’re the same age.”

“Oh, we’re the same age, but I’m clearly more mature and definitely have better manners,” he retorted, looking me dead in the eye. “Go to the car.”

I stood up with exaggerated annoyance, the chair scraping loudly across the floor, drawing curious stares. Ignoring them, I stormed out of the restaurant. My focus was so wrapped up in my frustration that I didn’t notice someone approaching until we collided, scattering her belongings across the floor. I looked up, ready to unleash my irritation, only to find myself momentarily speechless.

The woman in front of me was stunning—far more beautiful than the waitress. My gaze traveled from her face to her figure, appreciating every perfect line. She had this fierce beauty, the kind that felt both dangerous and irresistible, like she was used to commanding a room just by walking in. I was still staring, lost in my own thoughts, when her voice snapped me out of my daze.

“Dude! Are you blind, deaf, or dumb?” she said, irritation clear in her tone.

I tried to speak, but nothing came out.

“Idiot!” she hissed, raising her broken phone. “Look what you did! My phone’s screen is cracked, and now it’s not even switching on.”

I found my voice. “I didn’t bump into you; you bumped into me.”

She scoffed, clearly unimpressed. “I don’t care whose fault it is. All I know is that you broke my phone, and now you’re going to buy me a new one.”

“Hey, calm down. You’re attracting attention, and this could ruin my reputation. If the press sees a woman yelling at me, they’ll think it’s something serious,” I said, trying to deescalate. The last thing I needed was a scene with cameras around.

She lowered her voice but was undeterred. “I don’t care about that. You look like you can afford it, so you’re buying me a new phone.”

“How do I know the phone didn’t fall before we bumped into each other? This could be a scam,” I replied, smirking, half-expecting her to back down. But her glare only intensified, and I realized she wasn’t backing down.

“Why would I do that? I’m not a gold digger,” she snapped, her voice laced with indignation.

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. “If I promise to buy you a new phone, will you stop drawing attention?”

She folded her arms. “Yes, and you’re buying it for me right now.”

“Right now? I’m waiting for someone. We came in the same car, and I can’t just leave without letting him know. He’ll wonder what happened.” I gestured back toward the restaurant, hoping she’d at least let me explain things to Adrian.

“I don’t give a damn. Just get me my phone!” she demanded, voice icy and unyielding.

“Fine, fine. If that’ll make you shut up.” I pulled out my phone to call Adrian, letting him know I’d be taking his car. Luckily for me, he hadn’t bothered to lock it.