Chapter 705
Dylan had always dismissed murder-mystery games as childish and boring, so the sole reason he suddenly changed his mind was Christina.
The moment Chloe caught sight of Dylan’s brooding expression, she shifted her tone right away. She let out a knowing laugh. “Oh, well, you must have seen how fun this is.”
“Yep,” Dylan replied smoothly, playing along with her. He had to give her credit—Chloe was sharp, quick to pick up on things others might miss.
Christina’s voice cut through the moment as she did a quick mental count. “So, with Morse, there’ll be five of us, right?”
Beneath the table, Eloise’s hands twisted nervously in her lap. After what felt like an eternity of internal debate, she finally raised her hand with hesitant determination. “Can I bring Elliott?” she asked.
Fear of horror gnawed at Eloise’s insides, but she saw an opportunity buried within her terror. Having Elliott there would serve two purposes. He could provide moral support, and more importantly, he might finally get his chance with Christina.
Deep down, Eloise understood that Elliott couldn’t compete with Dylan’s natural charisma and confidence. But she also believed in giving Elliott a fighting chance. Trying might not promise victory, but sitting on the sidelines absolutely guaranteed defeat.
Dylan inwardly screamed in rejection, and his expression instantly turned cold. A wave of regret crashed over him as he realized that allowing Eloise to live here had been a tactical error of massive proportions. Eloise wasn’t just making an innocent request; she was trying to give Elliott a chance to win Christina’s affections.
Panic shot through Dylan’s veins like liquid fire. The reality was crystal clear: if he still wanted to claim Christina’s heart, he needed to double his efforts and stop playing it safe. He wanted Christina to be his partner. Now came the harder part—making sure she chose him back.
The entire group shifted their attention to Christina like spotlights converging on a stage. Every pair of eyes locked onto her face, waiting for the words that would determine Elliott’s fate.
Christina’s lashes fluttered in puzzlement. “If Elliott wants to join us, let’s all go together. The more the crowd, the livelier it gets.”
“I’ll hit Elliott up and check his schedule,” Eloise chimed with enthusiasm, already unlocking her device. Chloe retrieved her own phone as well and added, “I’ll check in with Morse. He’s probably available now.”
A heavy pang of frustration struck Dylan, followed by a sharp surge of dread that fogged his reasoning. It felt imperative to elevate Christina’s culinary standards first; that way, she’d never be content with any other man’s cooking. Once this resolution settled in his mind, Dylan’s spirits rose slightly. Spotting Christina’s empty bowl, he immediately leaned forward. “I’ll get you a refill.”
Christina hesitated briefly, her mouth opening to say she’d handle it herself, but when Dylan’s eyes met hers with a quiet sort of expectation, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. “Thank you.” She passed the bowl into Dylan’s hand.
Her gaze trailed after him as he walked away, quietly admiring the firm elegance of his frame, her heart fluttering unexpectedly. How did a man look so captivating just by fetching more food?
Snippets of their time together flickered through her thoughts, and she barely realized when he returned. “Dig in,” Dylan murmured gently.
Christina blinked out of her reverie, met his stare for a brief second, and then dropped her gaze, fingers nervously wrapping around the warm bowl. “Thanks again,” she murmured, lowering her head quickly, yet her eyes instinctively drifted sideways toward Dylan.