SIX

“So where are we going” I asked Ivan who was nodding his head to some loud trap music that'll probably give me headache later in the day. 

He said that the next place we were going to will be our last stop for the day since we've been going around town and I so hope this last stop of ours has something to do with food.

“Benny's” he answered casually.

“Shut the front door!” I exclaimed feeling thoroughly surprised. 

Only locals who have stayed in this town for a very long town knows Benny's– a very small eatery– and Ivan hasn't been here for up to a month, and he knows it already.

“Don't you like the place?” He asked sounding nervous. 

Why the hell wouldn't I like the place and why in the whole wide world is he nervous?

Before I could stop it, my buccal cavity vomited a very stupid question just because my brain is always absent-minded.

“I totally love the place, why do you sound nervous, are you?” I asked before I could stop myself. 

I don't trust my brain, it could sell me. 

My brain is above average but it's always going on vacations allowing the mind to do things of its own choice and I'm absolutely tired of arguing with it.

He breathed out of his mouth, like a sigh of relief. “Nervous? No, why do you ask?” He asked with a more confidence this time.

“I don't know” I answered grabbing one of his hands from the steering wheel to take a look and ignoring all the tingling sensations that were going down my spine and up again as I held his soft but masculine palm. 

I didn't have to look closely to see it was sweating and the steering wheel was dripping wet from his sweaty palms –that was totally an exaggeration.

“Unless you've got excess sodium in your body, I think it's nervousness that'll make your palms to sweat” I said with a little smirk.

“My palms sweat almost every time, that doesn't mean I'm nervous” he said in defense.

“Okay if you say so” I sang finally letting go of the heaven that is his hand. 

“The only thing the Benny's are good at is ice cream, you know that right?” I asked changing the subject immediately because I really hate embarrassing people.

“That's right, everyone in this town knows it but the Benny's don't, it's quite funny you know” he said glancing at me and the road like he's been doing since we've been in the car.

“I know right?!” I said as a matter of fact.

“What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Mine is minty Nutella, I wonder how they do that stuff” he said glancing at me with a small smile.

“Is there really something like that?” I ask laughing a little.

“Of course” he said, his small smile growing into a huge grin.

“Mine is strawberry chocolate with rainbow sprinkles and those cute little marshmallows for the topping” I said looking over at Ivan to see he was seriously trying but failing to hold his laughter.

“Don't laugh at me” I said laughing a little, and he just exploded, laughing so loud and hard that I had to laugh too.  

“The first day I went there, I asked for fries and their fries were the most horrible I've ever had in my life and so is their chicken wings, burger and everything they make except their ice cream”. I said once we've calmed down.

“But their ice cream has made up for all their horrible food” he added while parking his car at Benny's parking lot. 

He came out of the car and went round to open the door for me– oh he's such a gentleman and I really ADMIRE that. He opened the entrance door for me too and when we got to our table, he held out a chair for me and when I sat, he gently pushed the chair towards the table and Linc never did that. 

I'm not supposed to be comparing him with Linc because Linc is an asshole and Ivan isn't my boyfriend.

Everything was going so well until I saw Linc and Sandra walk through the entrance and I automatically froze like the ice cream I was eating.

“Nuts are you okay?” Ivan asked but I couldn't open my mouth to answer him. 

“Hey, what's the problem?” He asked again but all I could do was stare at the stupid couple who now had their hands on each other's waist. I was fighting the urge to cry as I was staring.

They looked so happy together I bet I and Linc never looked that happy together.

I was staring at them so hard thinking of where I went wrong that I didn't notice when Ivan slipped into the chair closest to me, I didn't even notice when he held my hand or when he put his hands around my waist and held me close, his breath fanning my forehead.

“Your knuckles are turning white, stop clenching your fists too tight” he whispered in my ear but I couldn't say anything.

“You seem uncomfortable here, maybe we should leave” he tried again and all I could do was nod. 

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on our side or rather my side.

Just as we were about leaving the table, Sandra spotted us and whispered to Linc who in turn looked towards us and before I knew what was happening, they started making their way towards us.

“Hey Ella” Sandra sang out while Linc fumbled with his shirt and I was mute.

“So won't you introduce us to your boyfriend? Well it's nice you've moved on because I and Linc are the best couple that has ever lived” she said– like who in their right mind says that?– while turning to wrap both arms around Linc who just stood there giving me his "Ella I'm so sorry" eyes and that ignited an anger which has been locked up for sometime now and before I could stop myself, I grabbed the pepper shaker from the table and was about to throw it at Sandra or Linc whichever it hits first when Ivan held my hand and stood between  Sandra and I.

I was about to try fighting him off when he wrapped his arms around me engulfing me in his heavenly smell. 

I was so confused –because of his scent– and surprised –because he wrapped his arm around me– that I didn't notice when he took the pepper shaker from my hand and gently dropped it on the table; then he pecked me on my forehead and said “Babe calm down, just breathe in okay” after that he gave me a lingering peck on my cheek near my lips, then he turned to face them. 

I was too astonished to speak or move. 

My brain was so jumbled up. 

As I was busy being astonished, Ivan turned to Linc and Sandra. 

“I don't know who you guys are and I don't care to know but one thing I know is that your presence makes my girl feel uncomfortable, so I'm gonna give you both a strict warning, to keep away from her or you'll face my wrath. Do you understand?” Ivan said sternly, every word he spoke was laced with sizzling venom and probably hate. 

Oh how grateful and elated I felt. 

While Linc was nodding furiously– how come I didn't notice he was that pathetic, like can't he stand up for himself? Anyways he should be scared, he's so lanky Ivan could break his bones with just the snap of his fingers– Sandra had other plans.

“Oh dear, it's very touching and sad to know that you care for that thing behind you, well it won't be long till you find out just how bitchy and conniving she is and dump her, anyways that's by the way; the most important thing now is that I think you're cute” she said putting her hand on Ivan's chest. 

Linc and I stared at her, utterly shocked. 

I seriously can't believe I called her my best friend not too long ago. How come I didn't see this other nasty part of her. 

Ivan pushed her hand away in disgust and chuckled looking at Linc. “You better hold this bitch on a leash” Ivan told him, then he grabbed my hand and took me out of there.

Oh Ivan!

My knight in a shining armour. I don't know how I would have dealt with them on my own, I might have started crying.

Now the funny thing is that as we were leaving the restaurant( it doesn't deserve the name though, but we'll just go with it to make them happy), I over heard Linc and Sandra arguing. 

“Sandra what was the meaning of that stunt you pulled right now” Linc asked furiously.

“Oh please, can't you see that she doesn't and has never loved you, so it's high time you started seeing me as your girlfriend and not your side chick. You know what will happen if you go back to her” Sandra argued sounding like a hissing snake.

Well that was weird. 

What would happen if he comes back to me?(not that I'll accept him back or anything). 

You know what I don't really care because Linc and Sandra are nothing to me than my dark past.