Chapter 244
Chapter 244 An Unwelcome Interruption
“Here you go, folks.” The server arrived with their food, setting the plates down with a practiced ease.
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Arabella felt a silent wave of relief–the server’s timing was impeccable, saving her from having to explain her momentary
distraction.
“Let’s eat,” she said, smoothly shifting the topic and bypassing the earlier moment entirely. “But I do still want to properly thank you for yesterday. Seriously.”
“Consider your thanks accepted. So, from now on, no more thanking me,” Lucas said, his tone softening into something almost stern. “Otherwise, it’ll start to feel like you don’t think of me as a friend.”
“A friend?” Arabella was slightly taken aback.
Lucas nodded, his expression earnest. “I’d like to think we are.”
After a brief pause, a genuine smile touched Arabella’s lips. “Alright. Friends.”
Lucas felt a quiet satisfaction settle in his chest. He’d been a little nervous just then, half–expecting her to say he was just her instructor. He was glad she hadn’t.
Acknowledging their friendship seemed to lighten Arabella’s mood, too, and her smile warmed.
Feeling more at ease, Lucas reached over to pass her a bread basket. “Here, you should try this.”
They fell into easy conversation as they ate, the atmosphere comfortable and relaxed.
“Well, well. Look who it is. Skips training for days, and here she is, all cozy on a little date.” A sharp, sarcastic voice sliced through the pleasant ambiance.
Hearing the voice of someone she really didn’t want to deal with, Arabella’s good mood evaporated, and she couldn’t help but frown.
A moment later, two figures materialized beside their table–Naomi and Ruby.
“It’s you two,” Lucas said, his own brow furrowing in clear annoyance at the interruption. This was a rare chance to spend time with Arabella alone, and he wasn’t thrilled about it being cut short.
“Lucas, you haven’t been at the airfield for days,” Ruby said, her eyes darting accusingly toward Arabella several times. “The other instructors said you were handling some personal business. Is this what you meant?”
Arabella had some nerve. Ruby had tried calling and texting Lucas multiple times with no response, yet here he was, sharing a meal with her. It was infuriating.
“I have been busy,” Lucas replied, his tone cool and dismissive.
He had no intention of going back to teach them at the flight school anytime soon. He’d wait until Kyle was fully recovered and could take over.
“Busy?” Ruby’s impatience flared. “Busy having lunch with her?”
“What I do with my time is my concern,” Lucas shot back, his annoyance now plainly visible.
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10:54 am
Chapter 244 An Unwelcome Interruption.
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Naomi gently pulled Ruby back a step, giving a slight shake of her head before turning to Lucas with a carefully crafted, apologetic smile. “Lucas, she didn’t mean it like that. Please don’t take it the wrong way.”
“I’m not taking it any way. It’s simply not your business,” he stated flatly, unwilling to expend energy on the matter.
Naomi’s smile held firm. “I’m glad you’re not upset.” She then turned the smile, slightly weaker, toward Arabella.
“Naomi, come on,” Ruby protested in a hissed whisper, irritated that her cousin seemed to be playing peacemaker instead of taking her side.
“Actually, Lucas,” Naomi continued, ignoring Ruby, her voice sweetly tentative, “I did have a couple of questions about the last lesson. I’m sorry to interrupt your meal.” To everyone’s surprise, she promptly slid into the booth beside Arabella, tugging Ruby down to sit next to her.
“What are you doing?” Ruby whispered fiercely, scandalized.
“Just wait. I know how you feel. I’m trying to help the situation,” Naomi whispered back, patting Ruby’s hand placatingly.
“Help? By sitting down with her while she’s obviously trying to get her hooks into Lucas?” Ruby fumed, barely containing her voice.
“We stay, we observe, we see what’s really going on,” Naomi explained sotto voce.
“What’s to see? Ugh!” In Ruby’s view, Arabella was transparently throwing herself at Lucas.
Naomi’s smile tightened slightly. “If you really want to leave, we can.”
“I…” Ruby’s gaze flicked between Lucas and Arabella. The thought of leaving them alone together was even worse. Swallowing her anger, she forced her tone to level out. “Lucas, sorry for… interrupting.”
“Arabella,” Naomi added, turning her wide, guileless eyes on her, “I’m really sorry for intruding on your time with Lucas. You don’t mind, do you?”
That performance of fragile innocence made Arabella’s stomach turn. “You’re interrupting his time,” she corrected coolly. “No need to apologize to me.”
Hearing Arabella refer to him so casually, Naomi’s eyebrows lifted almost imperceptibly.
Ruby’s face lost its color, her jealousy overriding her attempt at composure.
“What’s it to you?” Arabella replied, her frown deepening.
“It’s… it’s disrespectful!” Ruby spluttered, grasping for a reason.
“Whether it’s disrespectful or not is for him to decide,” Arabella retorted. “Not some random bystander.”
The audacity. Since when did Ruby get to be the etiquette police?
“Arabella, you-!” Ruby began, her temper flaring again.
“Ruby, you’re hardly in a position to lecture anyone on manners,” Arabella cut in, her voice icy. “This isn’t a scheduled lesson. You can see yourselves out.”
“You don’t get to tell me to leave!” Ruby shot back defiantly.
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10:54 am
Chapter 244 An Unwelcome Interruption
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“If you have questions about your training, contact Kyle. I’m not your instructor right now, and I have no obligation to answer them,” Lucas stated firmly, making it clear their presence was unwelcome. The pleasant mood of the meal had been thoroughly shattered.
“How can you let her talk to me like that?” Shocked that Lucas was still taking Arabella’s side, Ruby’s face cycled from red to pale, her expression morphing into one of pure, seething resentment directed entirely at Arabella.
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