sarcastically, then
picked up her menu, and started flipping through the pages. “What are you going
to eat, Me-Len?”
“Today is a special occasion so I’m going to splurge
and have steak.” London knew that her grandmother didn’t have a lot of money so
if she was going to eat steak, she should choose something cheaper. Me-Len was
buying dinner and she wouldn’t let her spend all her money on her.
“I’m not that hungry, so I think I’m going to have
the salad.” Me-Len looked over at London like she had lost her mind.
“A salad? London I know how much you like steak so
you need to get it too.”
“Me-Len, I’m really not that hungry and I like what
this type of salad has on it, so stop worrying about me. Really. You go ahead
and eat the steak.”
Aware that all had suddenly gone quiet, London
looked up to see that everyone at the table was listening to them. Her face
turned three shades of red when she looked back down at the menu. London wanted
to leave. Today was supposed to be special. It was obvious that money wasn’t an
issue to these people but it was to London and Me-Len, finances were tight for
them. They struggled and pinched pennies to make ends meet. Steak was something
that London loved but rarely had.
London’s head popped up when she heard the woman
laughing at her. The woman didn’t even have the good graces to act embarrassed.
Before her temper could get the best of her, Zoey leaned forward and addressed
the woman.
“Jena I think you’re sitting at the wrong table. It
would be wise for you to get up and sit over there.” So Jena was her name.
London leaned over and whispered into her
grandmother’s ear. “Come to the bathroom with me.” Me-Len nodded.
“Excuse us please.” Me-Len said as they got up from
the table and walked to the bathroom. London knew everyone was watching them as
they walked away. You could have heard a pin drop when London and Me-Len got
up.
“Look Me-Len, I’m not feeling good so if you don’t
mind—” London didn’t get to finish.
“No. I won’t eat steak either. If you are having a
salad then I will too. I have saved money just for this occasion, but if you
think we can’t afford it then I won’t have it either, but we are not leaving
until we eat. This is your graduation and I won’t let people like that woman
make me feel uncomfortable.” London could see the expression on Me-Lens face
and she knew not to argue with her. Me-Len turned around and walked out of the
bathroom. She watched as the door closed feeling like a heel. She had allowed
that woman to make her feel poor and cheap. Now she knew they were going to
have the steak. She also had money saved for her drive to New York, but she
could eat cheap on the way, and use some of her money for the steak now. The
bitch wasn’t going to win this round.
Walking back to her seat, London held her head up
and stared at the woman sitting beside Ryder. When the waitress got to her she
ordered. “Yes, I would like the steak medium rare and a salad with ranch
dressing. My grandmother would like the same.” London looked over at Me-Len who
smiled and winked at her.
“Ms. McGregor, I invited you and London today
interrupting your plans so everything is on me. I hope you ordered what you
want today. It’s not every day that my sister and her best friend graduate from
college with honors.” Ryder was talking to her grandmother but he was looking
at London. She knew she shouldn’t get mad, but she also knew that he was only
doing that because he knew they couldn’t afford to pay for the steaks. He was
pissing her off and she hoped it showed through her expression.
Speaking before her grandmother could answer, London
wasn’t going to allow this Alpha to have his way and make her look like she
couldn’t afford a meal.
“That is very kind of you Mr. Malone but I can’t
allow that. I had planned to pay for our meal today. Plus you have so many
people to pay for already, and I’m
picked up her menu, and started flipping through the pages. “What are you going
to eat, Me-Len?”
“Today is a special occasion so I’m going to splurge
and have steak.” London knew that her grandmother didn’t have a lot of money so
if she was going to eat steak, she should choose something cheaper. Me-Len was
buying dinner and she wouldn’t let her spend all her money on her.
“I’m not that hungry, so I think I’m going to have
the salad.” Me-Len looked over at London like she had lost her mind.
“A salad? London I know how much you like steak so
you need to get it too.”
“Me-Len, I’m really not that hungry and I like what
this type of salad has on it, so stop worrying about me. Really. You go ahead
and eat the steak.”
Aware that all had suddenly gone quiet, London
looked up to see that everyone at the table was listening to them. Her face
turned three shades of red when she looked back down at the menu. London wanted
to leave. Today was supposed to be special. It was obvious that money wasn’t an
issue to these people but it was to London and Me-Len, finances were tight for
them. They struggled and pinched pennies to make ends meet. Steak was something
that London loved but rarely had.
London’s head popped up when she heard the woman
laughing at her. The woman didn’t even have the good graces to act embarrassed.
Before her temper could get the best of her, Zoey leaned forward and addressed
the woman.
“Jena I think you’re sitting at the wrong table. It
would be wise for you to get up and sit over there.” So Jena was her name.
London leaned over and whispered into her
grandmother’s ear. “Come to the bathroom with me.” Me-Len nodded.
“Excuse us please.” Me-Len said as they got up from
the table and walked to the bathroom. London knew everyone was watching them as
they walked away. You could have heard a pin drop when London and Me-Len got
up.
“Look Me-Len, I’m not feeling good so if you don’t
mind—” London didn’t get to finish.
“No. I won’t eat steak either. If you are having a
salad then I will too. I have saved money just for this occasion, but if you
think we can’t afford it then I won’t have it either, but we are not leaving
until we eat. This is your graduation and I won’t let people like that woman
make me feel uncomfortable.” London could see the expression on Me-Lens face
and she knew not to argue with her. Me-Len turned around and walked out of the
bathroom. She watched as the door closed feeling like a heel. She had allowed
that woman to make her feel poor and cheap. Now she knew they were going to
have the steak. She also had money saved for her drive to New York, but she
could eat cheap on the way, and use some of her money for the steak now. The
bitch wasn’t going to win this round.
Walking back to her seat, London held her head up
and stared at the woman sitting beside Ryder. When the waitress got to her she
ordered. “Yes, I would like the steak medium rare and a salad with ranch
dressing. My grandmother would like the same.” London looked over at Me-Len who
smiled and winked at her.
“Ms. McGregor, I invited you and London today
interrupting your plans so everything is on me. I hope you ordered what you
want today. It’s not every day that my sister and her best friend graduate from
college with honors.” Ryder was talking to her grandmother but he was looking
at London. She knew she shouldn’t get mad, but she also knew that he was only
doing that because he knew they couldn’t afford to pay for the steaks. He was
pissing her off and she hoped it showed through her expression.
Speaking before her grandmother could answer, London
wasn’t going to allow this Alpha to have his way and make her look like she
couldn’t afford a meal.
“That is very kind of you Mr. Malone but I can’t
allow that. I had planned to pay for our meal today. Plus you have so many
people to pay for already, and I’m
Similar Books
