Chapter 98 Her Preferences
One of the young firefighters started, “Who’s that? Is she Rosalie’s friend? She’s just as pretty as Rosalie is.
Another voice chimed in, “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Hearing that, Edmond glanced over. When he saw it was Ursula, his eyebrow shot up in interest.
Just then, Crispin shoved Edmond aside again, trying to claim the seat. Edmond shot him a mocking look. “Please. Nobody wants your seat.”
He walked right over and sat down across from Crispin.
With her arm hooked around Ursula’s, Rosalie walked in and started pulling her toward the empty seats.
Come sit with me, Ursie.”
Crispin suddenly shouted, “Over here, Rosalie. Captain Yarwood saved a seat just for you.”
All the eyes in the room snapped to Rosalie. She blushed deeply, and she found herself rooted to the spot, unable to take another step.
Rolling her eyes at Rosalie’s awkward state, Ursula dragged her over and plopped her down in the chair
next to Julian. “Sit here.”
Rosalie was speechless.
Ursula looked around and went to sit across from Rosalie. As fate would have it, the seat happened to be
next to Edmond.
The second she sat down, it was like an invisible wall went up between them. They pointedly avoided looking at or speaking to each other.
Rosalie glanced back and forth between Ursula and Edmond. Right then, a tablet for ordering was set
down in front of her.
Julian’s deep voice sounded right by her ear, “See anything you like?”
He was in her space. She could almost feel his warm breath brush against her ear.
She was so nervous she couldn’t even read the menu properly, so she just defaulted to cornbread.
Crispin suddenly leaned over from the nearby seat. “I’ve heard the grilled fish here is exceptional, Rosalie, Captain Yarwood. Shall we try it?”
The words were barely out of his mouth when two voices-one icy, the other deep-answered in unison,”
No.
Rosalie jolted in surprise. She looked up sharply and found herself locked in Julian’s curious gaze.
2/2
Crispin stared for a second before grinning widely. “No way. Did you two just read each other’s minds? You both dislike the same food. I guess you’re just meant to be.”
Julian turned his head toward Rosalie and asked in a low voice, “Why don’t you like fish?”
She dropped her gaze again, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
It wasn’t that she was born to dislike it. But Lucian was so fond of it that she went out of her way to learn how to prepare it, trying every recipe under the sun.
Back in those seven years of her past life, she had fish for dinner every night. It was her hand that had carefully removed every last tiny bone from every bite of fish he ever ate.
That was why the sight of it made her feel sick. Ever since she had a second chance in life, she wanted nothing more to do with it.
After being reborn, she never wanted to see it again, much less touch it.
Rosalie remained silent. Julian didn’t press her, but as he looked down, he caught her biting her lower lip.
There was a faint bite mark across it. Some were the old ones that hadn’t faded, and some were fresh ones from where she had just bitten down.
His eyes darkened for a second. He cleared his throat and stood up abruptly. “I need to hit the restroom.”
The moment Julian disappeared through the door, Rosalie felt some of the tension finally leave her body.
Before long, the waiter brought out sizzling food, loading the table with plates. The firefighters cheered and dug in immediately. The mood lit up in an instant.
With his mouth stuffed with meat, Crispin mumbled, “Where’s Captain Yarwood, Rosalie?”
Rosalie slowly ate her brisket. She was hoping Julian wouldn’t come back because she didn’t know how
to explain what had happened that night.
As she was thinking about it, the chair next to her scraped back. A figure with wet hair dropped into the
seat.
Rosalie glanced over, Julian looked like he had just rinsed his face with cold water. His hair was damp and messy against his skin, making him look less stern and more wild than usual.
He suddenly turned his gaze toward her, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “You’re quiet all of a sudden.
