283 Splitting Up Again (1/2)
Members of the party trickled out of their bedrooms without any kind of order. They would all go downstairs and gravitate around a large table until the took a seat and ordered a meal to start the day.
Eliza made sure that she, Daliea, and Lina would be the first two at breakfast. She wouldn't let herself miss the chance to tease Jack about the previous night. Also, she brought Daliea along almost instinctively. Without Keela, who was always going with her to places, Eliza sought someone else's company. And though she didn't realize it yet, Eliza also wanted to allow Daliea to feel included around Jack, unlike what Keela had started to feel.
While Lina began her morning feast, the pair of women didn't have to wait too long. Soon, Jack and Maura were spotted coming down the stairs.
Their appearance was normal and unsuspicious, yet Eliza could see something different in Maura's eyes. A part of Eliza felts jealous as she watched Jack escort Maura down the stairs, something he didn't do with Eliza.
As the couple neared the table, a tinge of blush flooded Maura's cheeks.
”Maura, there's nothing to feel bad or guilty about.” Eliza reached across the table and held Maura's hand in support. ”If anything, we should both be mad at Jack for making us wait so long.”
”Where's the waiter?” Jack spoke loudly, not wanting to let that conversation carry on much longer. ”Waiter, we'll get two breakfast specials with extra pancakes. And two glasses of your freshest juice.”
”Of course, sir. I'll bring the juices right away,” the waiter replied with a bow before he hurried off the kitchen.
”Eliza, Maura,” Jack then looked to both of his women. ”I'm sorry for troubling you and making you both worry. Please, don't think I don't care about you… Because I do.”
”You only care about us?” asked Eliza, hinting at something else.
Jack sighed, ”No… I… We may have been forcefully married, but I've grown to really, really care you both.”
”How much do you care about us?” Eliza continued to poke at Jack's statements.
”I…” stammered Jack. ”I… I've never really said that before, so it's really hard to say.”
As Eliza was about to stoke the fire again, Maura took initiative. The Spellsword reached out with one hand to turn Jack's head and stole a quick kiss from her husband. ”I love you, Jack… I haven't always, but I've grown to love you after all we've been through.”
”I… I love you too.” The answer that was on the tip of his tongue had been coaxed out of him. Jack looked to Eliza next with a tender smile. ”I love you too.”
”I love you too, Jack.” Finally satisfied and not wanting to be outdone, Eliza stood up and leaned across the table to steal a kiss of her own.
”What about Daliea?”
That question grabbed the attention of everyone at the table, including the drunkards who were hungover at the other end.
Hearing Eliza's question, Daliea froze. She wanted to both run away and stay to hear the answer. It was a difficult decision but her body tensed up, not letting her actively choose which path to take.
”I…” Jack took a quick glance at the blushing shadow goblin then looked away, trying to hide his own blush.
Thinking that things were too easy, Eliza prodded again, ”Jaaack… Come on, you can be honest with us. Since you've already got two wives, why not have a third?”
”Pppphheeww!!”
Jack coughed and spat as his wife spoke openly about Jack's relationship options.
”We don't mind, do we, Maura?”
”No… Actually, I'd be happy,” added Maura, feeling much more confident around Jack after the night before.
”See, since your wives don't have a problem with it, why not just make Daliea--”
”We're not discussing this now!” Jack shouted, no longer hiding his red face. ”We've got things to do we need to head out as soon as possible. Now's not the time for this.”
As the waiter neared them with the two newest orders, Jack reached out and pulled his plate down. He stuffed his face with great speed, not showing any manners or decorum whatsoever. Of everyone, Jack was the first to finish eating and then stood up. ”I'll be waiting outside. Don't waste any time.”
While Jack walked away, Eliza giggled, ”I'll take that as a yes.”
”W-what do you mean, Eliza?”Daliea asked.
”Isn't it obvious? He's willing to take you as his next wife.”