Chapter 79

The table they were seated at could easily accommodate five or six people, so even with just the four of them, it didn’t feel cramped at all. After they sat down, Alice gave a quick round of introductions, casually throwing Anthony the “just-a-friend” label. Charles raised his eyebrows a bit but didn’t show much on his face. Edward slid the menu in front of Alice. “Pick something you want.” “Mr. Hawthorne, you can decide.” Alice quickly pushed the menu back toward him. Edward didn’t argue. He flipped it open and went straight to scanning the options. “Do you eat spicy?” “How about Taco with Salsa Roja?” “Oven baked ribs, maybe?” He kept asking—always only asking Alice. Feeling awkward, Alice glanced at Charles and Anthony, then bit the bullet and said, “Anything's fine. You go ahead, Mr. Hawthorne. Don’t worry about me.” Charles looked visibly puzzled now, but he kept his reaction in check. His gaze flicked between the two across from him, like he was trying to figure something out. “T