Chapter 215
“Sir, stay away from me and Mommy.” Adam saw right through Brada. He knew the man was just trying to butter him up to get close to Mommy.
‘Not gonna happen,‘ he thought stubbornly.
Brada chuckled nonchalantly. “No can do, buddy. I like your mom, and I like you too. I’m not giving up that easily.”
Adam pouted and lowered his head, busying himself with his own things and completely ignoring Brada.
Seeing Adam ignore him, Brada didn’t interrupt. He simply sat to the side, chin in hand, quietly watching Skylar work.
The upturned corners of her eyes gave her focused gaze a tender, alluring quality, she looked at her work as if she were gazing at a lover
Brada couldn’t help thinking to himself, ‘One day, I’ll make sure that look of undivided attention is focused solely on me, and not just on her work.‘
Skylar finished her work, and with a sigh, finally let herself relax. She massaged her temples to soothe her tired eyes.
Noticing that Skylar seemed to have finished her work, Brada leaned in closer and, with a hopeful smile, asked, “Skylar, are you free tonight?”
“What do you have in mind?” Skylar hesitated to agree outright, wanting to hear what he wanted before deciding how to respond.
“Skylar, I’d love to take you out to dinner,” Brada said, his eyes shining with hopeful anticipation. “Would you like to?”
Skylar wasn’t keen on dining alone with him. Avoiding Brada’s gaze, she made up an excuse. “My parents probably wouldn’t want me eating out tonight.”
“Is that so?” Brada pondered for a moment, then asked eagerly, “Then could I join you for dinner at your place?”
Skylar was taken aback.
Skylar thought to herself, ‘Wait, are Brada and I even at the stage where we go to each other’s place for dinner? Isn’t that way too soon?‘
Skylar was still trying to figure out how to turn him down when Brada started talking to himself about what to bring for his first visit to her home.
Skylar cut in, “Brada, if you drop by on such short notice, I’m afraid I might not be able to offer you proper hospitality. Maybe we should just call it off for today.”
Brada thought it over and realized that Landishian hospitality involved a strong sense of ritual. Showing up unannounced like this would surely fluster
them.
Also, he still hadn’t figured out what kind of gift to bring. After all, it was impolite to visit someone’s home empty–handed.
“So, can I come over tomorrow?” Brada stared unblinkingly at Skylar. “If tomorrow doesn’t work, the day after is fine too, I’m completely free, just let me
know.”
He was hell–bent on having dinner at her place.
“Alright, tomorrow then,” Skylar said with a quiet sigh. There was just no way to refuse, so she had to agree.
Brada couldn’t contain a quiet cheer. “Yes! Dinner with Skylar tomorrow, this is perfect! See you tomorrow, Skylar!”
Brada could hardly wait to get home and pick out what to wear to Skylar’s place tomorrow.
He still needed to pick out the perfect gift, something thoughtful, not too extravagant nor too perfunctory. He wanted to make a good impression, so this required careful preparation.
He decided to go home and ask his family for advice, and maybe even consult a few friends who had studied abroad. He just wanted to make sure he
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parked out the perfect gift.
Brada bustled out in high spirits. Though Skylar had no clue what he was up to, with him gone, no one would be staring at her while she worked, what a
relief
Adam bit his lip, his little heart pounding with worry.
He thought, ‘Oh no, oh no! Dad’s rival is coming to our house tomorrow. If he manages to charm Grandma and Grandpa, won’t Dad’s chances with Mom become even slimmer?‘
Adam opened his friends list and frantically typed out a message to his dad. [Daddy! Daddy! Emergency! Your love rival is invading our home tomorrow!]
Yosef’s brow furrowed as he read the message.
‘Wait, he’s actually going to Skylar’s place? Does that mean she’s really into him?‘ Yosef thought anxiously, a sense of unease creeping in.
Yosef thought, ‘My alarm bells are ringing wildly!
‘I can’t just sit here doing nothing. I’ve got to make a move, now.’
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AD
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