"May I join you?"
Nadine didn't know what to say. The last thing she wanted to do was to have lunch with Nikolas. All she wanted to do was avoid him but he always ended up showing up around every corner. What was he trying to do? She couldn't say no; that's just rude and mean. Especially, after what he did for her last night and after she just walked out on him this morning.
"Sure."
Nikolas takes a seat across from her. He smiled as she brought the menu in front of her face as in an attempt to avoid looking at him. He brings his hands up and reaches across the table and pushes her menu down.
Nikolas was shocked when came across Nadine at Kelly's. What are the chances? He was looking for her and came in here by accident just to find her here. Talk about fate.
He looked at her across the table with her holding the menu in front of her. He knew she was trying to avoid him; but he wouldn't let her get away with it.
"Do you know what you want?" Nikolas asked
Nadine thought to herself what she wanted and it wasn't food. Nadine smiled at his attempt at flirting. She knew exactly what she wanted but she couldn't let him know that. It has always been Nikolas.
"Yes… What are you doing Nikolas?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you here?"
"I was hungry."
"I'm sure you were."
Nikolas laughed at her response.
"Exactly what are you hungry for, Nadine?" Nikolas asked while having a big grin on his face.
Nadine knew his full meaning.
"Food, Nikolas, get your head out of the gutter."
"Hey, I was referring to food. My head doesn't seem to be the one in the gutter."
Nadine smiled.
The waitress came over and took their order.
"Why did you run out this morning?"
"Nikolas, I'm sorry about that. It was really rude of me. I'm sorry you were so kind to me and you offered me a place to stay and I…."
Nikolas interrupted, "Nadine, of course I offered you a place to stay. You are always welcomed at Wyndamere. I was just disappointed to wake up and find you gone."
"I had to take care of some stuff being my first day back in town."
"Okay…So, where are you spending tonight?...at a hotel?"
"No, my apartment is ready."
Nikolas disappointedly said, "Oh"
The waitress came over and sat down their food on the table. Silence filled the air as they started to eat their food.
"Nadine, I really think we should talk."
"We are talking."
"No, I mean privately."
"Nikolas, no we don't"
Nikolas stared at her with a bewildered look on his face.
Nadine continued, "I am not really interested in bringing up the past and talking about what happened. I didn't come back here for that reason. Nikolas you were really the last thing I thought about when I decided to come back to town."
"Nadine, I know I am not the reason you came back to town. I just think there are things that need to be said especially on my end."
"Nikolas….
Nikolas cut her off, "Nadine, I've missed you. You have no idea how much I thought about you and what we had in the last eight months. You were always on my mind.
Nadine was getting teary eyed. Nadine knew she had to get out there now or she would give in. She just wanted to reach across the table and grab him and start kissing him. Nadine got out of her chair, grabbed her stuff, threw some money down on the table, and ran out of there.
Nikolas thought how they were conversing like old times. They always had this flirty side to their relationship. He missed this so much. He needed to clear the air. As soon as the word came out of his mouth and looked at her he knew he made a mistake. All of the sudden she ran out of there. He knew it was way too soon to tell her all of that. He just threw his head back in frustration. He closed his eyes berating himself for coming clean about his feelings. He didn't even tell her how he truly felt about her. All he had said was that he missed her and that scared her off. He didn't know what he should do next.