Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

Even I was taken aback by Hannah's stunt, so Irving who doted on Sammy like nothing else and Olivia were practically hoarse from shouting.

With a soft thunk, the dart Hannah had flung hit the dead center of the dartboard Sammy was holding.

The room fell silent as a grave.

Sammy stood there, dumbstruck, staring at the dartboard in his hands as if he'd turned to stone.

Irving, meanwhile, was sweating bullets, and Olivia was a hair's breadth away from lunging at Hannah with a vengeance.

Nettie, who had been just as startled, had a flicker of awe flash in her eyes.

I couldn't help but scold Hannah gently, "Hannah!"

That seemed to snap everyone back to reality.

Olivia was the first to rush over, checking Sammy's head, "You okay, kiddo? Didn't scare you too much?"

Clearly, she was not amused.

Hannah just gave me a cheeky eyebrow raise, not a hint of remorse in sight.

Irving, though displeased, still plastered on a smile and took his time before finally complimenting, "Ms. Hannah, that's quite the throw."

Once Olivia saw Sammy was all right, she turned back with a forced smile, "Well, Ms. Hannah."

Hannah promptly came to stand by my side, looking up at me with feigned innocence, "I was just teasing Sammy."

The next second, Sammy scurried over to Hannah, full of admiration but stumbling over his words, "How did you learn that? Can you teach me? Please?" "Nope." Hannah rejected him flatly.

Sammy wasn't ready to take it for an answer and immediately frowned, "Why not?"

"If I teach you, you'll go throwing darts at Nettie? I never train students to target people." Hannah stated firmly.

Nettie glanced at Hannah, eyes brimming with respect before quickly hiding it away. But I saw it, clear as day.

I wondered what was going on in Nettie's head. She seemed to be sheathing all her sharp edges. But why was she content to stay in this place that offered her no shred of love?

Hannah's blunt words left Sammy standing there, bewildered and a tad angry, but he held it in. He was angry, and it was high time we took the wind out of his sails.

From the moment I came in, Sammy had been rubbing me the wrong way, and seeing him taken down a notch was oddly comforting.

Olivia glanced at me, then at Hannah, and despite being angry, she managed to get a grip on her anger, "Sammy, how many times do I have to tell you? Stop pestering Nettie. Looks like you've met your match now. Come on, and let's eat. Dinner's ready."

Her words were an olive branch, and Irving quickly stepped in to wrap an arm around Sammy, protective-like, and with a laugh, ushered everyone to the table.

Sammy didn't pull any more stunts and quietly took his seat next to Irving.

But his eyes kept darting back to Hannah, a complex mix of emotions playing out on his face.

Olivia settled down next to me, and Hannah took the spot directly across from Sammy, ensuring he'd have to face her whenever he looked up. Nettie sat beside him, her interest in Hannah now plainly evident. Olivia had prepared a seafood feast.

It was clear, though, that the fancier dishes were takeout, not her handiwork. Only the boiled oysters and crabs seemed to be her doing.

After the pleasantries, I dropped a seemingly out-of-place comment, but it was intentional.

"When I arrived, I saw Jaylan at the front door. Mr. Bradlee, aren't you going to invite him in?" I mentioned casually.

Irving's face immediately took on an awkward tinge, "Well, he's been wanting to go to Australia. I can't possibly help him with that now. He's been at my place, eating and drinking for days."

I watched Irving with a silent, knowing smile, thinking to myself, "What a load of bull!" Jaylan had just gotten out of jail, and he couldn't be living it up at Irving's place.

What a hypocrite Irving was! He knew he kept betraying Jaylan.

Irving continued, looking helpless, "I've told him straight up, but he's pushing his luck, wanting me to foot the bill for his Australia trip."

"He's set on going to Australia?" I scoffed inwardly, thinking Jaylan could dream about that next lifetime.

"He's had this plan for a while, even bought a house there, or so he says. Ms. Wilburn, you're a sharp one, and you get it. He's got legal troubles up to his neck. If I were to help him out, it would make me an accessory to the crime. I can't be part of something like that."

He peeled a shrimp and placed it on Sammy's plate.

Sammy kept sneaking glances at Hannah, clearly distracted and unsettled.