I snickered. Funny how I never noticed that about myself. “Screw Jonathan. Fill my glass to the brim.”
I ignored Jonathan’s icy glare and tipped my chin at Frederick.
Frederick looked my way before glancing between me and Jonathan. Suddenly, he pulled out a wooden box I knew all too well from behind the counter. “Since we’re drinking, let’s make it worth it.”
He peeled off the wrapping and pulled out a pink bottle. It was the very bottle of First Love I had just given
to him.
I looked at Frederick in disbelief. Why would he pull that out here?
He suggested, “You gave this to me, but you’ve never had it yourself. Maybe now is the perfect time for your first taste?”
Before I could even say a word, Jonathan suddenly stood up, and I could feel the tension in the room rising. He had never looked that mad before. His eyes were dark, like a storm was about to hit.
As Frederick went to uncork the bottle, Jonathan grabbed Frederick’s wrist in a flash. His grip was so tight that I could see the veins bulging on his arm, his temples throbbing, and rage blazing in his eyes.
He fixed his cold gaze on Frederick. “Where did you say you got this bottle?”
Seeing how pissed Jonahtan was, Frederick chuckled like it was nothing. “You didn’t catch that the first time? I don’t mind repeating it for you. This was a gift from Elise. It’s called First Love.”
In that moment, I caught the storm building behind Jonathan’s eyes. If his stare had weight, Frederick
would have been ripped to pieces.
I shot Frederick a look. “It was a gift. You should keep it to yourself. Why are you offering it back to me?”
Frederick sighed. “I would be happy to give you a taste, but from the way he is staring, you might be out of
luck.”
I steadied my breath and turned to Jonathan, even though I really didn’t want to. “This was meant for him.
You need to let go.”
Jonathan stared at me with a look so cold that it felt like he was trying to burn a hole through my face. Do you even know what this bottle of wine stands for?”
“What else could it mean?” I asked, furrowing my brows. “Isn’t it just a bottle of wine?”
I yanked Jonathan’s hand away before I stood between him and Frederick. “Were you not listening, Jonathan? I stay out of your business, so don’t stick your nose in mine.”
Jonathan ignored me completely and clamped down on my wrist. It hurt so bad that I thought he might actually snap the bone, and I cried out from the pain, “Let go.”
He ignored everything I said and enunciated each word like it carried weight. “I was the one who taught
you how to make this. It was your very first bottle.”
“So what?” I responded. “It’s just a bottle of wine.”
The light faded from Jonathan’s eyes. The air around him turned sharp, cold, and unnerving.
When we were all distracted, Frederick suddenly popped the bottle open.
All eyes were on him, and Alicia immediately yelled, “What are yours?”
you doing opening Jonathan’s wine like it’s
Frederick nonchalantly replied, “Elise gave it to me. I have every right to open it.”
Alicia lunged forward to snatch the bottle from Frederick’s hand, but he slipped out of reach.
Frederick mockingly asked, “Whether it’s Elise’s or Jonathan’s, what does it have to do with you?”
Alicia fired back, “How is it none of my business? That bottle belongs to Jonathan. He gave it to Elise. What gives you the right to open it?
Her eyes were bloodshot, burning with indignation for Jonathan’s sake as she made another move to
snatch it back.
With an irritated grunt, Frederick shoved Alicia aside. She lost her balance and crashed into the bar table.
She cried out in shock, and a nasty cut opened up on her forehead.
Jonathan immediately let go of my hand and turned to Alicia. “Are you okay, Alicia?”
Alicia responded, “It hurts, Jonathan.”
Tears welled up in Alicia’s eyes as she looked at Jonathan. He helped her up before glaring at me and Frederick coldly.
In the end, he locked eyes with Frederick. “If anything happens to her, I’m coming for you.”
Chapt
Chapter 47
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