(Darius)
Dinner with Lauren was one of the most irritating experiences I have ever had in years. One minute she was all over me as if staking her claim, glaring at the innocent waitress who wanted to take our orders and aimlessly talking about things that didn't matter to me.
I wanted her to stop, to give me a moment of peace, but Lauren seemed oblivious to the tension on my end. I gritted my teeth, pushing the irritation back as I nodded along to whatever she was saying, though I hadn’t said a single word.
“Darius, you’re not even listening,” she suddenly pouted, leaning forward to rest her hand on mine. “I’m trying to talk to you, but you’re so... distracted tonight.”
Distracted? That was an understatement. It wasn’t just her words that got to me; it was the way she spoke as if the
