True Love's unexpected twist

37- 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓪, 𝔀𝓱𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of awkward silence and tension-filled moments, their food arrived. The smell of freshly cooked Italian cuisine filled the air as their waiter set down steaming plates in front of them.

They all began eating their food quietly, each lost in their own thoughts about the situation. After a few minutes, Maria suddenly asked Lucas, "Do you like the food I ordered for you?"

Lucas replied awkwardly, "Uh, yes, it's good. I like Italian food." He took another bite of his pasta, trying to hide the discomfort he felt from both Zander and Maria.

Zander just looked at Lucas, his expression unreadable as he continued to eat his own food. The tension in the air was palpable, making it difficult for anyone to enjoy their meal.

Zander noticed that they had different menu items so he offered Maria some of his food. "Would you like to try some of my rigatoni?" he asked, holding out his forkful of pasta. "Maria, do you want to try some?"

Zander watched as Maria nodded happily in response and then took a bite of the pasta, savoring the flavors. It felt like a small gesture but one that could potentially ease some of the tension between them.

Zander spooned some more food onto Maria's plate, hoping she would enjoy it. He glanced at Lucas, trying to gauge his reaction but saw nothing but cold indifference.

Maria took another bite of the pasta and smiled. "Mm, delicious," she said between bites. She looked at Zander gratefully, feeling grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood.

Maria wiped her mouth carefully with a napkin and then used her thumb to remove any remaining sauce from the corner of her mouth. As she did so, she couldn't help but notice Zander staring at her intently, a mixture of curiosity and something else in his gaze.

Maria couldn't help but smile back at Zander as she wiped away the remaining sauce from his mouth too. The gesture felt romantic and intimate, creating a sense of connection between them that had been lacking up until this point.

Zander smiled softly at Maria, his heart racing with a mix of emotions. "Thank you, bby," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. The use of the nickname felt both affectionate and possessive, as if he was claiming her as his own.

As they all continued to eat peacefully, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate slightly. Lucas still maintained his distance but didn't appear as hostile anymore. Maria and Zander shared occasional glances across the table, their eyes filled with understanding and affection.

Lucas cleared his throat, trying to break the silence. "So, where are we going next?" he asked, his voice slightly softer now. His smile was still guarded but there was a hint of warmth in his eyes as he looked at both Maria and Zander.

Maria knew what she had to do; it was time to reveal the secrets that had been hidden for so long.

She couldn't control her feelings anymore and decided to make a good plan. After all, it wasn't like they were going to hate her for telling the truth.

"I want to go to this place," Maria said to Lucas, her voice steady and determined. She had thought about it long and hard, and she knew that it was the right thing to do.

Lucas, who was their personal driver, asked curiously, "Oh? Do you know where you want to go?" He couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety in his stomach as he waited for her response.

Maria nodded, her expression calm and reassuring. "I know, and I'll give you the location later." She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

Lucas nodded in understanding, his mind racing with possibilities of where they might be going. He decided not to press further and simply focused on driving safely through the winding roads leading towards their destination.

As they finished eating, Maria and Zander held hands and walked towards the car. The warmth of their skin, the gentle squeeze of their hands, and the look in their eyes was enough to send shivers down Lucas' spine.

Once everyone was settled into the car, Lucas turned to Maria and asked, "Alright, give me the location." His voice was calm but curious as he prepared himself for whatever it was that she had planned.

As Maria passed her phone to Lucas, showing him the location, Zander simply looked confusedly, but he was too relaxed to say anything. Lucas scanned the directions carefully before starting the car, his curiosity growing with every passing moment.

Zander finally relaxed his head against Maria's shoulder. "Can I borrow your shoulder for a while?" he asked softly, his eyes closing as he felt the warmth of her body against him.

Maria let him be, gently massaging his side body to ensure he was comfortable. As they continued driving, the only sound in the car was the gentle rustling of clothes and the soft hum of the engine.

The radio played a soft, romantic tune, "Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you." The cool breeze blowing through the open windows added to the serene atmosphere as they drove along winding roads under the starry sky.

After a while, they finally arrived at their destination. Lucas was shocked as he recognized the place; it was familiar to him but he couldn't quite place where he had been before. Maria smiled, watching his reaction with amusement.

Maria gently woke Zander who was asleep on her shoulder, his head nestled comfortably against her neck. His eyes fluttered open slowly, still drowsy from the journey.

"Where are we?" Zander asked, his voice groggy with sleep. He looked around, trying to figure out where they were but everything was still a blur to him.

Zander's eyes widened in shock as he finally recognized the place. He looked at Lucas, his voice trembling slightly. "Wait... this is..." His words trailed off as realization dawned on him.

Maria's smile grew wider as she watched the look of surprise and confusion on Zander's face. "Now, both of you, come with me," she said, her voice playful yet mysterious.

Zander and Lucas exchanged confused glances but followed Maria out of the car, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu washing over them. As they walked towards their destination, they couldn't shake off the feeling that they had been here before.

Zander turned to Maria, his voice filled with uncertainty. "Maria, why are we going here? Don't you want to go somewhere else?" He looked at her pleadingly, hoping for an answer that would make sense of the situation.