Page 79 of Electric Touch
Knowing Adrestia doesn’t hate me, at least I think she doesn’t, helps. I’ve still got a long way to go. Things seem fine while we’re in company, but I don’t think she has let me off the hook. I’ll only find out what she really thinks when we’re alone.
“Nash, how do you feel about children?”
“Mama,” Adrestia widens her eyes at her mom.
“In what sense?” I ask, sitting back, kind of amused.
“Do you want children?”
“Someday. But I’m focused on my career right now.”
“Hmph,” she waves a hand at her daughter. “You sound just like her.”
“Mom, you’re being intrusive again.” Adrestia wipes her mouth with a napkin and sets it down. “Remember we talked about this?”
“I’m just asking,” she says with a shrug, then winks at me.
I grin back at her, wondering if she is testing me. Checking if I’ll freak out and run with her asking questions like that. I have no intention of running.
“You spend too much time working,” Dafni says to her eldest. “Not enough time having fun.”
“Tia has fun,” Ariella interrupts. She gives me a sly wink. “We had fun today, didn’t we, Tia?”
“A lot of fun,” Adrestia squeezes her sister’s hand. “And Mama is just kidding around.”
Ariella rolls her eyes at her mom. “Don’t be ridiculous. She is desperate for grandkids,” Ariella’s smile slips but she shakes it off. “Anyway, if I remember right, you always said you wanted fifteen kids,” she nudges her sister with a conspiratorial laugh. “Wasn’t it eight girls and… Seven boys?”
“Well done on the math, sis,” Adrestia glares at her sister. She catches my eye and blushes when I smile.
“Fifteen kids. That’s ambitious.”
“I was nine years old when I declared that,” she huffs, nudging her sister again. “Kids are the furthest thing from my mind right now.”
I glance at Dafni. While everyone else is laughing, there is a light going out in her eyes as she stares at her daughters. Her smile wobbles, but she shakes it off and transforms right before my eyes, laughing with everyone else. What in the hell was that about?
I pass on dessert, because I genuinely feel like I’m about to bust my gut. No one else can fit in dessert, and they all agree to get the check. Ariella heads to the bathrooms while Dafni stacks up the dishes, even though we’re in a restaurant. I offer to pay, but I’m shouted at by everyone at the table. They won’t even let me pay for my meal. I hold up my hands to fend off any more yelling.
“You’ve done more than enough getting my daughters this once in a lifetime experience, Nash,” Dafni tells me. “The least we can do is buy you dinner.”
“Don’t try,” Adrestia warns me. “I’ve never come across anyone who can outargue Dafni Kouris.”
“That’s the truth,” Hank laughs. “We got this covered.”
I thank him and let him take care of the bill when the server brings it. I am kind of relieved. Although I always want to pay my way, the helicopter set me back, even with the discount I got. I need the royalties to start rolling in, and there will be a boost from ticket sales for the tour. It’s just taking a while to hit our bank accounts.
“I’m going to run to the ladies’ room before we leave, too,” Adrestia says.
I rise when she gets up. She gives me a look, then rolls her eyes when Dafni scrunches up her shoulders and titters. What can I say? My mom taught me to be a gentleman.
A few minutes later, the two sisters return from the ladies’ room. Ariella stumbles, causing her sister to grab her arm. I almost get up but they right themselves and Ariella laughs it off.
“You okay Ari-baby?” Dafni asks.
“Too much wine,” she chuckles.
“Let’s get you home then. It’s a long drive back,” Hank says. He turns to Adrestia. “Do you need a ride home, sweetheart?” Hank looks between Adrestia and me.
I’m at a loss. And not sure where I stand with Adrestia right now. She drove over with her family and I followed, so we didn’t get chance alone to talk.