No.
No?
The reporter blinks.
“Oh?” she laughs lightly. “And do we know this lucky lady?”
And I swear to God I stop breathing.
David pushes his sunglasses up into his hair.
Looks straight at the camera.
And something in his expression shifts.
It’s not performative.
It’s not flirtatious.
It’s serious.
“I doubt it. And I’m not naming her because I don’t put my private life on display,” he says evenly. “But yeah, I’m not single. Hear that, linda? I’ll see you soon.”
The shop explodes.
Bella screams.
Her friends start filming the TV.
Someone yells, “Oh my God!”
But I can’t hear any of it.
Because I’m frozen.
Stunned.
My fingers gripping the edge of the counter so tight my knuckles ache.
Not single.
He didn’t dodge it.
Didn’t laugh it off.
Didn’t say it’s complicated.
He said no. And he said it matter-of-factly.
Like it was carved in stone.
Like it wasn’t up for debate.
The reporter recovers quickly. “Lucky lady,” she says again.
David’s mouth twitches.
“Nah. I’m the lucky one,” he says quietly.